A Wearable Muslin – the Granville Shirt

While patience is a virtue, and a quality I attempt to pursue, I would not consider it to be my best attribute.

Many sewists truly enjoy using the PDF patterns. I too love the instant gratification of downloading a pattern, but assembling 30-page patterns is an event in and of itself. I wanted Sewaholic’s Granville Shirt enough to download the pattern late one evening. Online access to sewing patterns is certainly advantageous, especially for re-printing purposes, but printing and assembling a pattern adds additional responsibility and time. It takes patience for sure!

After assembling and cutting my pattern, I chose to skip out on the muslin process. I opted to sew a wearable muslin before cutting into the piece of silk I’ve envisioned from the Granville Shirt pattern.

The pinstripe fabric is a stretch woven shirting from my stash. I sewed contrasting front bands, the inner collar stand, under collar and inner cuffs with an Amy Butler remnant from the wedding party robes.

Wonderful reviews have surfaced since the Granville shirt was released and they are well deserved. The shaping is very flattering and the pattern is well-drafted, but patterns rarely fit me out of the envelope!

To quote Susan Khalje, a pattern is just the starting point. I made my typical adjustments by shortening the bodice and sleeve length, but I wish I had taken the time to make a true muslin.

Let’s look:

The top is a little tight in the bust. The length is a little short. The arms are a little long despite my initial alteration. I suppose I can turn up the cuff

There is bunching in the back,

and excess in the shoulder back area.

I like it regardless, but changes are in order before I cut the silk!

I don’t know if the lesson lies in knowing my level of patience or developing more patience. Either would have paid off with this project, but would it have led to the perfection I’m seeking? That’s an entirely different sewing issue ………..

Until soon