I was tired and draggy and a little bit on the short-tempered side this weekend and you would think that would be a perfect time to hide out in the sewing room. But I didn’t. I worked pretty extensively in the garden eliminating masses of overgrowth which had overtaken everything in the last month, and I went to the farmer’s market, planned the menus, did the shopping and went to the gym. I increased the intensity of my gym workouts last week, which probably accounts for the dragginess.
I realized this morning that I could have been playing with my new sewing machine feet, which I picked up on Friday:
This would have been the perfect thing to do when I was too tired and grumpy to actually cut something out or trace and alter a pattern. Just playing with seams might have perked me up enough to actually make something. But they are still here, waiting for the perfect moment, waiting for play time.
The plan had been to whip up a couple of tees this weekend. I have the Jalie tee pattern I have long wanted to try, but I realized late last night that I really need to test a pattern or two in from the Marfy catalog so I can figure out which sizes to order. The patterns I bought last year, based on my full bust measurement, and guessing the translation from Big 4 patterns, were too big through the upper bodice even then, more so now.
Based on the best calculations I can manage from the size ranges they give and a few judicious measurements on the pattern sheet, I think I need to cut either a 44 or a 46 in order to get the best fit through the upper chest and upper back. Of course I will have to alter from there. It is kind of strange to think that I really have no idea, or only a vague idea of where to begin. Perhaps I should have started with a 46, but instead I started tracing the 44 off this morning early, before breakfast, and I will finish it this afternoon. Then I will compare it to my basic bodice block, which is granted a little too large at this point, but I think I can figure out how to make the transition to my new size.
I am not going to make a wearable muslin at this point, just basic muslins, to figure out which size works best for me. This whole thing may be silly as I have lost 15 pounds but will more than likely lose a good bit more. Of course I will have to add to the 44 at bust, waist and hips, I am just trying to fit the upper chest, and for this pattern at least, 44 is the smallest size.