Pendrell 2 and understanding your body

Hello all! I'm still alive!

Where have I been?

Central Coastal California, where else?!  That's a winery first, and some random, cute house in Carmel by the Sea underneath.

Anyways, right before I left for my trip I finished my second Pendrell bouse, this time in view A.

First, you may have noticed that I've gotten better at modeling! Gary coached me a bit this time, and I'm glad he did, because I actually look decent and my eyes are open.

As this was my second time making this pattern, I found it really easy and straightforward.  But since I wasn't concentrating so much on construction, I had more brain cells to spare for thoughts on sizing.  I'm infamous for buying the wrong size.  I've been buying shoes too big for years, I finally (mostly) figured out what size I am.  I have no idea what size I am in retail clothing.  Clothes in my closet range from extra-small cardigans and size 4 dresses to size 9 jeans.  This no longer makes me feel bad, it just is what it is, size is just a number.  But since I don't know what size I am, I just grab whatever, and sometimes I think it fits but it's actually too big.  Which leads me into Pendrell...

I know this design is meant to be loose fitting.  So the first time through I thought it was just the way it was meant to be.  But on round two, I had a few epiphanies about my body:

1.  I am more pear shaped than a pattern line designed for pear shaped women.  How sad.  This fits great around the hips, but even taking in the positive ease in the design, I need to go down a size or two on top.

2.  I have a small back.  How does one have a small back?  I can't really figure out how this works, but I do. I've mused about this before in other patterns, but I think I need to automatically cut the back (in tops) a size smaller than I cut the front.

Anyways, my adventures in figuring out my bizarre body type was a good thing, no complaints! I'm very happy with how the blouse turned out, even if it is a little roomy.  I had a lot of extra fabric (got this fabric $1/yard) so I made a little sash.  I find that I only like my first Pendrell tucked into a skirt as this gives some waist definition, and this way I have the option of also wearing it with jeans and the sash, like I did in these photos.

I'm going to try to get some sewing done on Sunday, but if anything there are only 14 (!!!!!) more days of school left, so pretty soon I'll be able to crank out a whole new wardrobe and write a book of blog posts!