Angela - Recommended
Again, Truly Victorian (TV) has another good pattern on their hands. What I like best is that the sizing of the patterns are truer to the modern figure and are easy to adjust for size. NOTE: The two Truly Victorian bodice patterns that I have purchased (TV405 and TV422) have the same pattern design (they work off of the same pattern structure with very minor alterations to the decoration of the bodice) – I imagine that other TV bodice patterns are the same. For the novice sewer, this is a benefit in the fact that once the sewer has mastered one TV bodice, other TV bodice patterns are mastered by default.
With this particular bodice pattern, the armscyes will have to be adjusted according to the wearer’s measurements. In my case, being 5’9, I had to add nearly 4″ to the length of the arm, redraw the bend in the elbow (naturally it is further down on the upper arm), and slim the width of the sleeve at the armscye by 3″ and by 1″ at the wrist. Further, the shoulder width was too long, allowing the shoulder seam to droop over the arm like a baggy T-shirt (and for me, this is quite a feat, considering I have broad shoulders to begin – lol) – so, the shoulder width needed reduced. If these adjustments are not made in the armscye and shoulder (and possibly length in the sleeve if you’re a tall gal like me), the sleeves will look a little “stunted”, the shoulders sagging, and there will an odd pleat at the upper arm that clearly should not be there. If these alterations are not made, will these details kill the look of the bodice? No – this is just me being the nit-pick perfectionist that I am – lol!
For my bodice, I used a medium weight striped white satin for the outer fabric and a fine white satin for the lining. The bodice is trimmed in black braid and black lace, with decorative black pill buttons down the center front. Bodice is closed by 15 hook and eye. Because of the bulkiness of Autumn overskirt, which I used for my Victorian ensemble, I removed the tails in the front of the bodice (to see the original design of the pattern, please click on the TV405 link above) for a crisper look.
For questions regarding this bodice, or any of our reviewed patterns here at the Emerald Parlor, please contact us – Tonia and I are glad to help! 
Arm pattern adjustment
Corrected shoulder and armscye
