Thanks everyone, and again for all the good advice I received.

@Acorn I machine sewed one side then ripped it back just because I didn't like the look of it, so hand stitching was the right decision in the end. Not that anyone else will see it, but I will.

@Renegade Sewist I really enjoyed the challenge of constructing the D9P. And thanks, I'm gradually getting my mobilty back, and it's great to be back sewing again. I have plans... .

Seam allowances appear to be not included.

Update: I have finished the back! Finally I decided to omit the armhole shaping in the first pattern, but follow the neck shaping, and add some shoulder shaping. It took me a fair bit of head scratching and calculations to do that because the two patterns have very different stitch size. I'm quite pleased so far - not sure about the fit but I sized up (and kept the original length) so I'm hopeful.

Took all your advice and suggestions on board so thanks 

If you had, say, 21 stitches for each shoulder, then cast 7 off at the start (ie the armhole side) of the row, , 3 times. (Just to be clear, I’m talking about the top of the shoulder, not the armhole, here)


Does the pattern have neck shaping?

Yes it does have neck shaping, iinstructions in the pic in my first post. Will that be a problem if I'm shaping the shoulder? Can't say I understand the instructions but I'm not there yet.

So you mean 21 stitches to cast off on each side. OK so similar to the instructions for the second top only two more rows. I think I've got it now.


     

The bit were it says knit straight for 17cms from the armhole shaping is we’re you loose the length on your original pattern, it won’t affect the neck then.

Just knit for about 4 cms  less ie 13cms.

Hope this helps

That's good advice @Celia. The armhole shaping wouldn't change, so more straightforward.

Novice knitter and first time to attempt altering a pattern, but needs must! I'm going to need your help.

So this is the top I'm making marked A.. The armholes are too low (confirmed by @Celia), maybe 1 1/2", and the bodice could probably be shortened about the same amount. So I need to make the armhole shorter by, at a guess, 1 1/2" to be decided later.

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I'd prefer the armholes more like on this top which is knitted straight up, no shaping until the shoulders, more a cap sleeve.

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So..Q1. Could I forget shaping the armhole on Top A, just knit straight up, then shape the back neck? except then I'll have 18 more stitches? If that isn't a good idea...

Q2. How would I reduce the armhole height? Could I just knit fewer rows but end up with more stitches - I'm thinking this could give me a bit more shoulder coverage.

Maybe I should have picked an easier first project but I'm not going back now . Here's where I'm at:

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What would you do?

Another difference is that I'd be happy to offer a paper pattern openly on TSP, and have done so, I certainly wouldn't do the same with a pdf, even though it would be much less hassle to send it. In fact I removed the pattern company's name and product names from my post in case it looked iffy.

Maybe if I can't do it openly that's telling me something?

I was on an indie sewing pattern website today, checked in my account, in Orders, and found two pdf patterns I have no memory whatever of buying in 2020 and 2022 though I obviously did. They're lovely patterns but I'm quite certain I'll never sew either of them as they're not my 'thing'.

Which got me thinking - if you can buy a pdf pattern as a gift for someone else, what about gifting a pdf pattern that you've bought but never opened or looked at, let alone made, and which you delete from your own files at the same time as you gift. To me it seems morally and ethically permissible to do that, ie my conscience would be clear. But at the same time I'm pretty sure you can't.

For example the T&Cs say "you agree not to reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, resell or exploit any portion of the Service" - fair enough, presumably that's copyright law. However on the pattern it states that only the customer with xxxxx@xxxx.ie (my email address) may use this pattern. That seems unnecessarily restrictive - can they even hold me to it legally? I can't see that they would have lost out if I gifted the pattern to a friend when the chance of them otherwise buying it is close to zero. You could even think of it as promotion, since this friend might be motivated to check their website for other patterns.

I'm curious what others here think. I have so many unopened pdf sewing patterns just going to waste on my Google drive. It seems I may as well delete them, the equivalent of throwing perfectly pristine paper patterns in the bin!