The One in Which I Realize I Am not a Petite French Woman

Details:

Pattern: Pauline Alice Carme

Fabric: gray cotton voile

Notions: 5 3/8" buttons, 4 5/8" buttons, extra light interfacing for collar only

I have lusted over this pattern forever.  

Is the pintucks?  Is it the placket at the neck?  Is it the sleeve tabs which make it not so girly?  

Is it...the girlyness?

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I don't honestly know, but I remember loving it when it came out, pinning it to pinterest, and coming back again and again to sigh about.  Maybe I just secretly want to be Pauline Alice.

In any case, I did it.  I bought it, I downloaded it, and I jumped in with both feet.

And then I realized I am not a petite French woman.  (Spanish woman?)

I'm Midwestern.  And you'd think at 38, I'd know that by now.

But, hey, a girl can dream, right?

First off, the pattern went together perfectly.  Everything matches up well.  Directions make sense, pdf went together easily, etc.  I, however, am not perfect.  But I have decided I'm worth perfect fit.

So, me and Carme: we're close.  Tinker-y close.

An extensive list of personal alterations:

• lowered front neckine 1".  Adjusted collar and placket accordingly.
• 1/2" forward shoulder adjustment at shoulder line only.
• 1/2" broad shoulder adjustment.
• extra 1/8" ease added at fold line when cutting out the back piece
• 1/2" dart taken out of side front strap on muslin to pinch out extra fabric at top bust. (Ends up rotated out of seam where front placket meets shirt front...)
• Lowered armscye 1/2" to add back in ease.

That said, I'm so glad I got this pattern.  I LOVE the way it finally turned out.  The length is perfect, the sleeve length is perfect, and it is just loose enough to be comfortable while still being fitted.

I actually love all of Pauline Alice's patterns--they're a good mix of modern with vintage details, slightly feminine, and peppered with interesting details--and would love to try more.

Pauline Alice has a sew-along and youtube videos to help with construction here, although to be honest, I didn't really use them.  Her instructions are pretty and concise, and I may have imagined myself drinking coffee while sitting in a street-side bistro in the golden sunshine while making this. 

Which is weird, because I don't drink coffee.  

But still, a girl can dream, right?