This pattern was wonderful to work with. I made a few changes to make it more authentic. Since I was making my dress out of cotton I gathered the bodice instead of darting it, added a waistband and switched the pagoda sleeves to bishop sleeves (which I drafted using Elizabeth Stewart Clark’s Dressmaker’s Guide). I also dropped the shoulder seams little, cut the front piece on the straight of grain, added piping to the arms eye seams and flat lined it instead of fully lining it like the pattern suggested. The fitting was accurate, I made size A and only had to adjust the shoulder area and the back of the neck. This may sound like a lot of changes, but for the most part they’re just cosmetic, the bodice went together easily and I’m sure I’ll be using it again.
Rated 4 out of 5
Judith –
As with all of TV’s patterns you should make a muslin first and pay careful attention to the fit around the neckline. I made this version as a modern interpretation and pretty much stuck to the directions, although I did bias bind the neckline. Those beautiful sleeves just cry out for embellishment. I agree with the other reviewer that if you’re doing a historical costume you should flat line instead of bag line although I do like the exceptionally clean finish of the bag lining. The directions are simple and the bodice makes up quickly.
Katherine –
This pattern was wonderful to work with. I made a few changes to make it more authentic. Since I was making my dress out of cotton I gathered the bodice instead of darting it, added a waistband and switched the pagoda sleeves to bishop sleeves (which I drafted using Elizabeth Stewart Clark’s Dressmaker’s Guide). I also dropped the shoulder seams little, cut the front piece on the straight of grain, added piping to the arms eye seams and flat lined it instead of fully lining it like the pattern suggested. The fitting was accurate, I made size A and only had to adjust the shoulder area and the back of the neck. This may sound like a lot of changes, but for the most part they’re just cosmetic, the bodice went together easily and I’m sure I’ll be using it again.
Judith –
As with all of TV’s patterns you should make a muslin first and pay careful attention to the fit around the neckline. I made this version as a modern interpretation and pretty much stuck to the directions, although I did bias bind the neckline. Those beautiful sleeves just cry out for embellishment. I agree with the other reviewer that if you’re doing a historical costume you should flat line instead of bag line although I do like the exceptionally clean finish of the bag lining. The directions are simple and the bodice makes up quickly.