Week 1 Journal
August-October 2026
Despite feeling defeated by my last curriculum, I've gotten off to a strong start with the new one!
Topic: Dark Academia Classics
I stopped at the library earlier this week and found a copy of Brideshead Revisited (after checking online to make sure it was on the shelf). The Secret History is evidently in high demand, so I put a hold on it.
I enjoyed the preface to Brideshead Revisited, which was written by Evelyn Waugh for a later reprint. He described the book as being full of "gluttony," as it was written in the throes of World War 2. He also admits that he thought grand manor houses would fall to the wayside after the war, but turned out to be incorrect, as many great houses were turned into places the public could visit, even if a family still lived there.
Given that Waugh wrote it while serving in WW2, it is interesting that he uses the war itself as a framing device - an English Army officer finds himself suddenly camping with his company on the grounds of a manor that he used to know well, and reminisces on how he originally came to know the place.
Waugh's descriptions and analogies are really wonderful, and I look forward to reading more of the book.
Topic: Basic Block Pattern
I cut out the paper sloper pattern that I'm using as a starting point last weekend. Based off the pattern envelope size chart, I probably would have started with a size 12, but the fitting instructions inside recommended taking your high bust measurement and picking a size that way. (The pattern is drafted for a B-cup, which I am.) That resulted in a size 10, which does indeed fit well in the bust, but I needed to add about 2in to the waist line.
I'm on version three of my fittings for the bodice. Most of it fits very well, but there is some pulling between the waist and bust darts.
I posted to Instagram for help. One person suggested letting out the waist darts a bit, which I'll try this evening. I'll also be taking it to my sewing circle to get opinions.
I added small shoulder darts to the back bodice, as the original pattern only had a tiny bit of excess which you were supposed to ease into the front shoulder seam. I also raised the point of the back waist darts. I thought I'd have to round in the top of the center back seam to keep the neckline close-fitting, but I think the shoulder darts helped with that somehow, so I can leave the center back seam straight.
On the front, I had to adjust the dart placement because my apex point is not where the pattern apex point is. I've also made significant changes to the armscye and shoulder area, including bringing the armscye edge of the shoulder seam forward by about an inch to account for my forward shoulders. I also carved a lot out of the front armscye seam because of those forward shoulders - the distance between my armpits is a lot shorter in the front than across my back. The armscye won't be finalized until I start working on the sleeves, tough.
*Note to self: I need to make sure the back of the armscyes sit far enough out.
