Altering for My Uneven & Sloping Shoulders....

One fitting challenge that I didn't even attempt to conquer with the Crepe was my uneven, sloping shoulders. Since the sleeves are designed as cut on, the alterations require that you cut the sleeve off & move it. This scared me. This still scares me. But I'm warming up to the idea in anticipation of sewing the Sencha.

The Pendrell is much less intimidating. After reading FFRP (again & again), consulting my body graph, and making the following notes, I feel prepared.

My Very Own Body Graph

Up until fitting my Crepe, I found the idea of a body graph (recommended by the book Fit for Real People) to be overkill. First off, the need for butcher paper put me off (of course, I've since thought of a ton of things you can use instead: Swedish Tracing paper, wax paper, freezer paper, the reverse side of wrapping paper...the list goes on & on).

When I fitted my muslin, I was sure that there is something up with my shoulders. But I wasn't sure what (other than they were uneven, but that isn't too big of a deal according to FFRP). Which lead me to doing my own body graph. I recruited DH to do the majority of the work ;) it turned out pretty well. And it was quite easy considering the insight that it gave.

It took me quite a bit of digging through FFRP (comparing my proportions to the "ideal" proportions) to get it all figured out, but now that it's done, I think I've got it down.

Fit for Real People

Hmm. So, I did a bad thing & bought a new copy at Barnes & Noble of Fit for Real People (at full price $25). And I gotta say: It is way over my head. I can see how it could very well be the fit book, but yikes. I'm just not there yet.
A body map seems like a lot of work, a wealth of information, yes, but a lot of work. Also, the pictures. Oh, the pictures. They could use some updating. But that is easy enough to look past. Fitting problems are the same today as they were then.
The book also talked a lot about shoulder pads. Yeah. There will be no shoulder pads in my garments. I don't care if I do have a sloping shoulder.
That said, I'm probably going to keep it around. Becuase one can never have too many books. And down the road, when I have a few projects & fitting problems under my belt, I'm sure it will come in handy.
So, all that being said, I'm still in the market for a down & dirty fitting book. Amy mentioned Fitting Finesse in a comment (thanks Amy!!), any other recommendations?