Pink-A-Dilly

Revisiting a pattern two years later, out-of-print McCall's 5803, "Misses' tops and skirts: Fitted tops A, B have cut-in armholes, princess seams, front bands with ruffles, armhole facings and front button closure; top A has collar with collar band; top B has collar band..."

One that I found that closely resembles view "A" is an INC International Concepts top from 2 years ago.

"Think Pink" for Pinktober 2011. Three colleagues of mine have fought bravely against this disease and currently are survivors. I hope and pray for the cure.

I cut a "10" at the shoulders and a "12" elsewhere.   I used a printed cotton.

The Directions

They seemed much more understandable the second time around or two years after sewing my first top from this pattern.  I sewed view "A" which required 10 pieces: front, side front, back, side back, collar, collar band, front band, front ruffle, front armscye facing , and back armscye facing. 

What I learned from my first version was to: 
(1) cut 4 pieces of the front band (2 interfaced to attach to the front over the ruffle and 2 for the facings)

(2) cut two additional pieces of the ruffle to act as facings and hence, avoid the awkward and extensive hemming on large bias-cut pieces

(3) transfer all markings, cut out the notched triangles which help with aligning pieces together prior to sewing

(4) replace the armhole facings with bias binding made from the same fabric as the blouse.

(5) do lots of iron pressing for a smoother finish (especially at the front bands, collar/collar band and lower edge of the front ruffle)

First version, summer 2009

Heather and me at the county fair, summer of 2010

Favorite Features
I purchased this pattern two years ago for the sleeveless and ruffled front style.  The top is fairly simple to sew, especially if the front ruffles were omitted.  The top could also be made without the ruffles for a more casual look.

Modifications/Alterations:
*Facing the ruffles (instead of cutting 2 of the ruffle pieces, I cut 4) with the same fabric to avoid a narrow hem with "puffs and waves". However I needed to set my thread tension to "0" to be able to gather the top edge of each ruffle  that consisted of two layers of fabric due to it being self-faced.

*My usual 1" petite adjustment at the waist
*Instead of using the armhole facings, I cut two rectangular strips on the bias (approximately 20" in length, 1 3/4" width, stitched a seam joining the ends, right sides together, attached it from the inside and turned to the outside of the armscye and topstitched close to the edge.

*Topstitched the edges of the front bands instead of "slip-stitching" or handstitching the hem of the front facing to the front band on the "wrong" side of the blouse.


Recommendations
I plan to sew another top sans the ruffles.  Although it has been out of print, I recommend it.  This style seems to suit any figure type.