Not a success, this one. I did a test muslin version of View A of Butterick 4549 (B4549), with a $1 fabric. For this muslin, I've stoped before sewing the sides up (as the invisible zips cost more than the fabric). I can already see that I won't go any further with this View.
This pattern seems to run true to size. Unfortunately, I made it one size too small as every other pattern I've made lately seemed to turn out so enormously bigger than the size would warrant. So next time I'll make it a size bigger.
The neck line is really, really high. On a very small size, this probably wouldn't matter, but on a size 12 it ends up making the bodice seem too covered in material. A bit like a nun's habit? I would cut an inch off the neckline, not just at the front, but all the way around. I also used quite stiff interfacing on the collar, which made it sit stiff like a uniform, so next time I would either use no interfacing or a really, light one. I also found that on this view, the sleeves (which are just basted or pinned on at the moment) somehow made it look stiff and formal, rather than like a casual top, although they might have seemed better if the neckline wasn't so high.
Finally, I added 1-2 inches onto the lower bodice, which I do for pretty much all patterns I make. I would definitely do that again, as it would have looked very, very short without it.
I'll try View C, or D next. Hopefully they will turn out better.
I tried Butterick 4549 View C this time. I did a size 14 this time. The test fabric was red, but the camera couldn't capture it so I greyscaled the photo. I've realised that View C it is just a sleeved top without sleeves, whereas I think I true sleeveless top needs to be slightly more shaped. The neckline again seemed very high or close, and there seemed alot of fabric over the shoulders. For the final version I'll (1) take 1 cm off the outside top of the armseye (at the shoulder) and adjust the armhole curve accordingly; (2) take a 1-2 cm off the inside neckline where it meets the shoulder and adjust the curve along the back and bust accordingly. I also think that in adjusting the curve I might make the final curve resemble the curve line in the Amy Bulter Cabo halter a bit more. I pinned the sides up, but didn't sew them as I won't go any further with this muslin and the invisible zip cost would more than the $1/m fabric.I tried putting a collar on a bit like version D to see if a collar made a difference, but it didn't.
Not a success, this one. I did a test muslin version of View A of Butterick 4549 (B4549), with a $1 fabric. For this muslin, I've stoped before sewing the sides up (as the invisible zips cost more than the fabric). I can already see that I won't go any further with this View.