Here is the most recent muslin:
And the simulation-with-fabric:
Not crazy about this one. The reversing curve in front draws the eye to the bottom, whereas it really ought to be on the top. The symmetric, identical curve in back looks a little too formal and symmetric – not like the whim of a drifting leaf.
So I tried a simulation with a totally asymmetric back:
This looks better. I’d really like to take the asymmetry all the way to the shoulder, but my fabric isn’t wide enough and it would produce a jarring seam line at the shoulder as the light panel met the dark panel.
I’m not sure what to do about the front yet – think I may ask Sharon’s advice on that one.
Anyway, I am hard at work revising the pattern for muslin #9. Making the back asymmetric is major pattern surgery: first I need to revise the center back on both right and left halves, then I need to adjust the seam on the side edge to make the panels no more than 21″ wide. Which of course means that I need to adjust the seam on the side panels. Then I get to redraw all the seam allowances. Oy vey!
But I am persevering. I have four days left (including one entire weekend day) before going up to see Sharon to adjust the fit. That’s plenty of time to do another muslin, if I get cracking.
Hi Tien
Thanks for mentioning my blog the other day – nice to think that my personal learning can be of some relevance and use to others.
On the muslin front, it seems to me that the curve starting point is dictated by the collar design and wanting a nice fit with the bust. Given those, you don’t have a lot of length to do major curves and end with that awkward point that is an unfinished curve. Perhaps keeping the curve line more to one side would let you keep the drifting but help the front fall better. The price is not seeing so much of the underside colours, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for visual interest – part of the asymmetry. Or possibly you could keep the curves shallower, but on a general diagonal to the left (looking from the front).
Judy
It strikes me that the front puts the widest part of the lighter fabric right across the waist. I wish there was a way to reverse the curve on the front, but I don’t see how that would work with the collar unless the curve isn’t an extension of the collar. Also, the direction of the curve at the bottom front center means that corner is going to want to curl/kick outward when you’re wearing it?
Love seeing your work in progress and your thoughts on it. Thank you!