Vogue 7457 (OOP): In Pursuit of Stash Busting

My latest project is a circa 2001 pattern that I made a couple of times back when I was in business banking.  I made Views B and C for various work outfits. The tunic was great on its own in over a pencil skirt, while the top worked well with suits. Just 2 pieces, front and back.

I've been looking for a simple pattern to make some tops from. My typical selection method involves picking several, pulling envelopes, reviewing,  then winnowing my choices down--and that's how I rediscovered this pattern. I decided to add an undarted FBA. I used Louise Cutting's video, Industry Insider Techniques Volume 4, and my trusty book, The Perfect Fit by Singer as my guides.  As a Threads Magazine "Insider", I was able to stream the video, but is also available to purchase as a DVD.  The Singer series is out of print, but if you happen to see this one at a used bookstore or a yard sale, grab it. I use it all the time. The fashion photos are dated but the step-by-step instructions, which are also in color, are very helpful. (I just looked at Amazon and learned that The Perfect Fit has been republished and is even available in a Kindle edition. Different cover, but the content looks the same.)

This version of the top is a prototype (aka "wearable muslin") that I cut from some free fabric that I acquired through a Material Girls giveaway.

One of the members of our group used to be the President of our local ASG chapter, and people kept calling her and offering stashes of fabrics and patterns. She took it since she had the space, and we had fundraisers with a lot of it. With still plenty of yardage left over, she started bringing it to Material Girls and giving it away. I have accumulated a lot of nice pieces this way. But since it was free, I figured that there was no reason to hoard it.

And that's why I'm making this top from a piece of stretch silk charmeuse. This stuff is like buttah, and has the added plus of not being overly shiny. It's also drapey yet more manageable than you'd expect. I wouldn't want to make something complex with it but it's great for a simple top like this.

I expect to finish it up later today, so I will try to post a photo once it's done.

By the way, I realize that it's been some time since I've posted, but August was a busy month with out of town visitors, vestry activities, and work "stuff." None of it bad, just time consuming. I am ready for a vacation!