After dropping 20 lbs in the past few months and sizing myself out of all of my self-drafted and altered patterns (I've just crammed reams of pattern paper into the recycling bin; it was both freeing and kind of depressing), I thought I'd try a commercial pattern as a starting place to build a new bodice block. In a pleasant and near unprecedented turn of events, this fit almost perfectly straight out of the envelope. Other than adding a lining, the only thing I altered was the torso length.
Initially I'd planned to add patch pockets with fabric bows, but I could find a placement that looked good and didn't accentuate the hips, so I left it plain. As usual with gingham I love the checks but I don't like how the fabric itself looks and hangs. I wish it were possible to get better quality gingham, but I guess for $3.50/yard and a dress that's basically a wearable toile, I'm not going to complain that much.
(It's probably also time to buy a new dress form. My foam UY that I meticulous fit is too big, and this adjustable one is now also a bit too broad in the upper bust and chest and pulls on the fabric.)
