Wave-O-Lution

A forty-one-year-old pattern that I purchased from ebay several years ago...

This pattern was one of the earlier ones that I purchased on-line to start my "retro" pattern collection.  I recall being inspired after watching some of my favorite classic television shows that appeared on the TV Land network or elsewhere.  For months now, I have been in a phase of sewing "collar-less" tops.  During one particular week last summer, I was on a shirt-sewing spree which included using a Burda commercial pattern, a Marlo Thomas 1970's pattern, and this pattern.   

 Pattern Description:  "The top-stitched men's and misses' shirt V. 1 and 2 with forward shoulder seams and slash opening at neck edge have collar, set-in sleeves and slit openings in side seams.  V. 2 with long sleeves gathered to buttoned cuff is worn with self fabric tie belt.  V. 2 with short sleeves has optional purchased belt."

Size:  Misses' size 14, bust 36

Here is the back of the pattern envelope that also includes information on men's sizing and fabric requirement. 

I made this top from a cotton woven blend from fabric.com. 

Favorite Features:

*I like the tunic-style of this top, although the fit and overall style look a bit dated due to the decade of the pattern.  This pattern would have been ideal  for dressing Mr. and Mrs. Brady and their children during their early 1970's heyday on television.

*I replaced the sleeve cuffs and plackets, with pleated flounces, for a more feminine look.

* The directions and illustrations are user friendly and non-intimidating for beginners who want to sew collared and cuffed shirts, without such features as front buttons and buttonholes and collar stands.   I also find that sewing with such basic patterns help return some sewing "mojo" before tackling more challenging  projects.

*The front slit is easy to create using the stitch and slash method as described on the instruction sheet. 

All the directions are on one sheet, front and back.

Not-so-favorite features

* Dropped sleeves (approximately an inch and a quarter past each shoulder) and excess gathers/ease, which do not appear on the illustrated models on the pattern envelope.

*No shaping at the side seams. 

Modifications

* Performed my usual petite adjusmtents at the upper back and at the waistline.

* Changed the cuffed sleeves to pleated sleeves for a flounced look.  It seemed that I cut the width of the sleeve cuff/flounce 4"-5" inches wider than the circumference of each sleeve at the wrist's location, and distributed 5 little pleats as evenly as possible before attaching it to the end of the sleeve.

* Sewed the collar from the inside, or the wrong side of the garment, leaving the facing portion free between the clipped points (right side of collar to the wrong side of the neck line), instead of sewing from the outside (right sides of the collar and neckline together). Then the collar is flipped to the outside and topstitched to the neckline. I recall a similar method I used to construct a 1950's blouse. This leaves a sleeker and cleaner finish from the inside of the neckline leading to the upper front and no erratic topstitching on the neckline seam on the outside.



Conclusion:

I probably will not use this pattern again.  It's a fairly easy pattern that I would recommend for those who like styles from the early 1970's or for a retro-themed event.

Two pairs of dangling gold "waves".  I purchased a pair of the Veronese from hsn.com last year.