Fall for Cotton Plans

True story: I have never sewn a Colette pattern before, and honestly have been kind of hiding from them, for the sole reason that I don't want to have to do a Small Bust Adjustment.

I follow the Colette blog.  It's awesome.  I like their styling; it's pretty awesome too.  I even have the Colette Sewing Handbook, again, awesome.  But still haven't sewn a thing out of it.  My feeling has always been that they have a curvy fit model, and while I have curves, they are not those curves.

Until I got the Parfait pattern from Suzy, and thought, Hmm.

fabric detail: any guesses on approximate vintage?

The fabric is from a shopping weekend with my mom, dad, and youngest son a couple of weeks ago.  We spent the day browsing in antique stores, and in the basement of one, I found what looked to be vintage cotton, labeled 2+ yards for $2.50.  I like the colors, thought it would make a great gathered skirt, and really, for that price, why not.  Just as I was leaving, though, I spied the same fabric on a garment rack.  It turned out to be a half-finished smock, rather large sized and only a dollar, so I grabbed that too.  I'm not above cutting facings or small pieces out of other garments.  When I got home, I realized I actually had about 3 yards of approximately 36" fabric, and at least another yard in the half-finished sleeveless shirt.

I used this tutorial from Sew L.A. for the bodice modification, and honestly, it wasn't so bad.  In fact, I'm kind of impressed with myself.  I may or may not be secretly thinking about using this method to alter sleeves for my strong arms (ahem: big guns)  : )  Also, I'm in love with Swedish tracing paper.

Muslin for altered bodice

My muslin is pretty ugly for many reasons, but we're not getting technical on this.  It fits.  

I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but my dress form wears a slip.  Maybe its for modesty, but more likely its because she's clothed in some funky jersey-ish material that is kind of grippy, and not all that lovely to slide dresses over.  Sorry.  She's also broader across the back than I am, but I have her beat in the butt area.  So we're even.  

If we were taking score, that is.