Shirtdress pattern arrival reveals a silly Ebay error

Wow, it's been a while since I wrote anything.  That is because there is not much to report. My back has settled down but it is still bossing me around.  The kids have had field trip after field trip and sports are keeping us going.  


My McCall's 5484 FINALLY arrived.  This is absolutely NO FAULT of the seller but of the post offices.  To refresh:

Size 40 - but wait, see in that rip/crease in the bottom right corner?  Size 40 DOES NOT mean 40" bust but rather a 42" bust, AS CLEARLY INDICATED ON THE FRONT OF THE ENVELOPE!!!!

That means my pattern is:

Bust: 42"

Waist: 34"

Hips: 44"  

This is considerably larger than my body.  I had thought that I would only have 2" or so of grading to do.  But now it is 4" or more.  Poop.  I still really like the pattern so it will be worth it to me.   Just more work than I wanted.

The day after the shirtdress pattern arrived, this one came:

This one is a 38" bust which is right on.  The waist and hip are still sized too big by 2 - 3".  Patterns of the late 60's and 70's seem to be sized for my body type but not these earlier ones.  I can see this pattern as being a very versatile pattern so it will be worth the time and energy.

Work on my Simplicity 6341 is coming along very slowly thanks to my back and busyness and never ending need to modify patterns.  To refresh:

I had EVERY intent on making up the pattern as shown.  But...so far I have made the key hole close with ties so I can open it up if I get hot, added a piped waist band, taken away the wrap ties and used buttons to close it at the back waist and I am now drafting a new skirt which will have 3 panels in the front with the sides wrapping around the back and a cool pocket. I look forward to posting photos when I am done.  I have taken care to make a pattern for my changes/additions so I can recreate it again.  

I really adore the idea of the wrap but find ties and gathers at my front waist are not my best look.  And I still have two dress patterns coming.  One in a style that I didn't even know I liked until I saw it and the other because I fell in love with two dresses on Etsy that were too small and knew I had to make a dress just like it.  I'll show that in a separate post. 

Oh ya, and as a side note,  one of my pups, Floyd, hurt his leg/hip quite bad today but I am not sure how.  I suspect it was while racing down the stairs for his morning pee.  He would not put any weight on it most of the day but didn't seem to be in too much pain.  Fortunately tonight he will walk on it albeit stiffly.  I will be keeping a CLOSE eye on it and carry him around as much as possible.