StyleArc: Sara Blouse (Sara Blouse) - Type:Tops  | | Viewed 425 times
| 2 more reviews | Review rated Very Helpful by 6 people | | Reviewed by: | clothingengineer | 
 | About clothingengineer | | CT USA | | Member since: 5/7/10 | | Reviews written: 130 | | Sewing skills:Intermediate | | Favored by: 51 people | | patterns reviewed: 121 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 2/20/13 7:41 PM | | Last Updated: | 2/21/13 6:23 PM | | Pattern Size: | Plus-Sized Regular | | Project Photo: |  | | Pattern Photo: | 
StyleArc Pattern Info | | Pattern Rating: | Recommend, with Modifications | | | | Related Links | Click on  to add a link |
| UPDATE: I emailed the StyleArc team about the bust issue with this shirt this morning and included some photos, and I already got a response:
"Hi Anne, nice to hear from you, we have had a look at the problem and totally agree with you, it is a side panel not a princess line.....so we are slashing a dart into the front panel and changing the picture on the site. See attached
We will post you off a re drafted side panel and front panel with the small dart in it if you like. We will be leaving the front seam in the same as some dont like a seam over the bust.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention
Have a good day
Cheers Chloe
Liz & Lyn S A Team"
A+++ for customer service! I will revisit this review once I get the new pattern in the mail.
Pattern Description: Fitting princess line shirt
Pattern Sizing: 6-24, I made an 8.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? The amount of ease is fairly accurate but the placement of the front princess seam not where I thought it would be. When looking at the actual pattern pieces I had my suspicions but decided to try it anyway.
Were the instructions easy to follow? Didn't use them.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked the slim fit, and it is a classic style. The side panel is a neat touch.
I didn't like the placement of the front princess seam. Instead of falling on or near the bust point, all the shaping was shifted about 3" or so to the side. A slimmer fit combined with no shaping directly around the bust and the fullness placed at the side seam is a bad combo. Generally women's breasts are in the front and not under their arms! I've had patterns where the princess seams were slightly offset and I thought that would be the case with this pattern, but these were extreme. Luckily I made a muslin instead of cutting into my good fabric.
Fabric Used: Stretch cotton poplin shirting (Fabric Mart)
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
As I mentioned above the placement of the princess seam was in a totally wrong place so if I want this blouse to work, I'm going to have to do major surgery on the front and side pieces. When my muslin was on me I drew with a marker where the princess seam should have been. I transferred the line to the pattern and compared it to the StyleArc Tiffany blouse front princess seam, and my marked line is almost exactly where the Tiffany princess seams are.
Before cutting I did my usual StyleArc shirt adjustments - 1/2" broad back adjustment, 1/4" sloped shoulder adjustment, lengthened the waist 2", and added 1.5" to the hip area. I also did a 1/4" narrow shoulder adjustment. I definitely could have added more to the hips - you can see in my photo that section is too tight. I also shortened the hem 1.5". I lengthened the sleeves but since I didn't add them I don't know if my educated guess with the length was correct or not.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I'm still up in the air as to whether I want to take the time to try to redraft the pattern. I cannot recommend it to others unless you are willing to make a muslin and mess with redoing the princess seams, or you are an AA/A cup and don't need the shaping in the front as it is easy to take in the extra shaping on the side.
Conclusion: Normally I am a huge fan of StyleArc but this pattern left me disappointed. |
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3 Comments
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That seam placement reminds me of an old favorite style from way back in the 60s. The 1960s, not the 1860s, wise guys.... There were a number of patterns then that had that kind of princess seam placement, but there was also a bust dart that started at that seam, and pointed to the full part of the bust. In front, not on the side.... I think it's called panel princess, or something like that. Anyhow...if you could modify the pattern to include that little dart, you might wind up with a favorite new style. Here's Lekala's version, with no side seams: http://www.lekala.co/women-sewing-patterns/shirts/blouse-with-bow-on-sleeve.html
2/20/13 8:13 PM
Thank you Karla, that's a great idea and seems a LOT easier than trying to move the princess seam over with all of the shaping.
2/20/13 8:35 PM
Thanks for the review - so helpful! Your shirt is cute but I understand your frustration.
2/22/13 6:35 PM