I made the bodice with a few alterations. I made it shorter so it was waist length, added boning, and replaced the cuff with a circular ruffle. The instructions do not call for boning in the bodice. I assume this is because the top is attached to the skirt and the skirt holds the bodice in place. The pattern was rather straight forward and the instructions easy to follow (as Simplicity usually is). I did find a design flaw in the collar. The instructions called for interfacing, crinoline, two layers of fabric, embellishments and ridgeline boning. Constructed as directed, the collar’s weight was too much. It continually flopped back onto the shoulders. My remedy was one layer of latex, one layer of cut velvet and extra boning. 1/4 flat steel was used in place of ridgeline. (I have a personal aversion to ridgeline, although here it may have been a better choice). This reduced the weight of the collar considerably and it held (somewhat). For some reason the collar does not lie perfectly flat as in the picture. This was a pleasant surprise. It gives a bit of fluff to the look and becomes helpful. I installed a snap on the underside, attaching it to the bodice. Now the collar does not fall. One small note: for those who can not tolerate anything around their necks, this is not the pattern for you as the neck band is the primary support for the collar. The bodice, if cut to pattern, is incredibly low. So low in fact, that it would have ended up under my bustline instead of over it. I added 1-5/8 to the pattern piece and a row of trim of the finished garment. It is still so low, I needed to alter a bra to wear under it.
Maryann –
I made the bodice with a few alterations. I made it shorter so it was waist length, added boning, and replaced the cuff with a circular ruffle. The instructions do not call for boning in the bodice. I assume this is because the top is attached to the skirt and the skirt holds the bodice in place. The pattern was rather straight forward and the instructions easy to follow (as Simplicity usually is). I did find a design flaw in the collar. The instructions called for interfacing, crinoline, two layers of fabric, embellishments and ridgeline boning. Constructed as directed, the collar’s weight was too much. It continually flopped back onto the shoulders. My remedy was one layer of latex, one layer of cut velvet and extra boning. 1/4 flat steel was used in place of ridgeline. (I have a personal aversion to ridgeline, although here it may have been a better choice). This reduced the weight of the collar considerably and it held (somewhat). For some reason the collar does not lie perfectly flat as in the picture. This was a pleasant surprise. It gives a bit of fluff to the look and becomes helpful. I installed a snap on the underside, attaching it to the bodice. Now the collar does not fall. One small note: for those who can not tolerate anything around their necks, this is not the pattern for you as the neck band is the primary support for the collar. The bodice, if cut to pattern, is incredibly low. So low in fact, that it would have ended up under my bustline instead of over it. I added 1-5/8 to the pattern piece and a row of trim of the finished garment. It is still so low, I needed to alter a bra to wear under it.