Step 6, 7, 8 & 9: cut down the shirt to match the pattern, cut and attach princess panels (test run)

This is actually going to be easy, now that I have a pattern, assuming I've done my pattern work properly.

But I won't know until I've tried it whether or not my pattern will work.  Therefore, I'm using the "disposable" shirt and muslin princess panels.

Here's the shirt, cut using the pattern I made, with seam allowances included.

Now I'll sew on the muslin panels.  Below you see the results.  I've decided I think it's good enough, and after experimenting with sleeves, I think sewing on the sleeves will actually solve the last of the fit issues I have with the shirt.

Step 4 & 5 - Sleeves off, pattern from men's shirt

Hello!  It's been a while.  I've been busy with other things, but I'm back.

I've purchased another men's shirt in the right size, one that was on sale and which wasn't necessarily one I liked in particular.  I needed one I could cut apart and experiment with, without feeling as though I was ruining the one I bought for the project.

First, I tried picking the seams where the sleeves attached to the shirt, but they were, under all the stitching, glued on.  Yes, glued on.  So, instead I cut them off of the body of the shirt, leaving the attachment connected to the sleeve.  It seemed that was the way to go, it gives me something to stitch to, and helps keep the shape of the sleeve.  Plus, I'm narrowing the shirt through the shoulders anyway.  Look:

I also removed the collar, so I wouldn't have to work around it, and sliced open the side seems.  You can see how well the body of the shirt actually drapes, the shoulder angles work quite well:

And, here are the pattern pieces I altered to work with this shirt, similar but different from the other pieces, mainly because they need to work with a different sleeve hole size and shape:

The center back needs to be lengthened, but that's easy.