So I went on the hunt for a good pattern.
I got a Kitty Shirtdress by Sew over It patterns. It has a princess-seam option, which I really like, and other options for collars and skirts. Still, I dreamed of not having to alter the pattern, and here I'd have to remove the collar, adjust the neckline, and figure out how to add sleeves to the princess-seam bodice. Oh, plus only one cup size. I wasn't feeling the FBA. I chickened out.
Sidenote
- The first major problem was printing the PDF. I have been going to Office Max/Depot a block away and they were doing a nice job for an affordable price. No more. They won't use their blueprint printer on patterns, only their poster printer. $30 a page. C'mon. Just say you won't do it anymore. Don't put customers through that bullshit.
So I tried FedEx. They have a DIY blueprint printer, and I used it. It was much cheaper than Office Max/Depot, but still expensive. I don't want to admit how much I paid, but it was a LOT for 6 or 7 sheets.
From now on it's PDF Plotting.com. I just ordered the Kitty pattern printed--$2.45 a page. Now we're talking.
Back to the dress.
I knew I'd have to close up the back and cut the front open to add plackets and buttons, but I didn't think that would be too big a deal.
I don't know what my problem is, but fuck, 5 muslins and I'm still not ready to cut into good fabric.
One thing is I have not been super careful keeping track of things. The first muslin was pretty close, so I guess I was sure if I made a couple tweaks, I'd be there. But no, 5 muslins later and I'm not 100% which mockups are which versions, especially what size sleeves I stuck in each one. Ooopsie.