"It would give me such a thrill . . ."

. . .  just to wear a dress with puffed sleeves."  

These particular sleeves might not be quite puffed enough for Miss Anne of Green Gables, but I rather enjoy them.  Come to think of it, I seem to recall that Anne had an aversion to the color pink, so she might not approve of the outfit at all.  But that is not going to stop me from wearing pink, even if I do wish my hair was a shade of red or auburn.

Considering that this top was created as an afterthought with some leftover yardage and meant to be a wearable muslin in order to test out some alterations to the original dress pattern, I am very pleased with the outcome.

This pink skirt has been getting a lot of play this summer, and surprisingly enough, so has the top (although not necessarily paired together).

This is what comes of working with a color that matches a bunch of separates already in the closet!

Having made the dress version of McCalls 8108, I knew that the shoulders were quite wide, so I altered the bodice slightly to narrow that part of the design.

And after wearing the top a few times, I can confirm that the alteration is definitely an improvement, although I could have taken in the center back slightly, as well.  

Since I intend to make another version in blue denim to match my skirt, I will probably make that additional change.  However, a scooped out front and back bodice is always going to have a tendency to want to slide off of the shoulders.  But that's okay - the line is so pretty, it's almost worth the extra aggravation.

The empire style/raised waistline was one of my favorites when I started making my own clothing years ago, but I moved away from it because it's not the most flattering look for me.  

Adding a fitted midriff yoke remedies that.  And it makes me want to play with some different style lines . . . but that's for another day.

Top: Made by me, McCalls 8108
Skirt:  Made by me, Stanwyck Skirt
Necklace:  Judith Jack
Shoes:  Nine West