Blouse #2

Yesterday I finished another version of BWOF 2-2007 #108.  OK, first of all, please excuse the hat hair. It was cold here this morning and I was wearing a hat. I didn't fix my hair to take these pictures! That being said, I basically made this blouse the same as the last, but this time just did a few fit adjustments.  I let out the sideseams a bit and this eliminated the pulling across the bust.  I also made the elastic in the arms about 1/2" longer, so they are a little more comfortable too.  I'm not sure I'm so happy with how high the collar is on this pattern.

 This fabric has a little more body that the one I used on the first version, and so the collar really stands up high.  I'm not sure if that is just the cut of the collar, or if I need to lower the neckline a little bit.  The one on the model looks like it lies down flat.  Since this blouse only has a partial stand, you can't make the blouse using just the stand and not the collar unless you design a new band.  You can, however, use binding around the neck instead of a collar for a different look.  I've made a few more adjustments on the pattern now, so I'd like to make this again in a long sleeve to see how the adjustments work out.

I'm not sure what to do about the collar.  I think I need to lower the neckline by about 1/4 inch all the way around and that might help.

UGANDA UPDATE

Many of you know I have been planning a trip to Uganda.  I am scheduled to go at the end of next month, but now I'm not sure if I will be able to go or not.  One of the vaccines you have to take to go to Uganda is the Yellow Fever vaccine.  It is a live vaccine.  I have rheumatoid arthritis and have to take chemotherapy drugs in order to keep the disease from progressing.  You cannot take a live vaccine when you are taking immuno-suppresant drugs like methotrexate and rituxan.  You can, however, stop taking the drugs, and then get the vaccine after a certain waiting period, and then resume medications after another waiting period.  According to the CDC, I would have to wait 3 months.  According to the local travel health clinic, I would only have to wait 4 weeks, and therefore, be eligible to go because of when I stopped taking medications.  Of course, they are looking at selling me almost $700 worth of vaccines and medications for this trip, so of course they are going to tell me it is safe to go!  Anyway, I have a visit scheduled with my doctor tomorrow afternoon to discuss this and hopefully come to an appropriate decision.  If I do not get to go in March, I'm hoping to go this summer.  I really want to go, but not at the price of compromising my health.