Thank you Kate for your fitting advice for my princess-style top. It worked! Rather than keep on taking in more seams on the back of the garment, I decided to experiment with using the size 14 option for the back and using the size 18 for the front. The front is a bit big now at the sides below the sleeve to the bottom. I will take more in until I get the right fit there.
However, I also have a problem with what some people call gaposis in jewel necklines. I am about a 38-inch bust and quite high as well. The depth from the throat to the bust line is probably less than usual. I take in some extra on the front shoulder seam at the neck edge (up to 7/8th inch instead of the regular half-inch) and this relieves the gap a bit.
Do you think I should now slash the pattern in three or four places and overlap up to 1/4 inch on these slashes? My Fast-Fit book recommends this. I don't seem to have the same problem with a high V-neck. Sometimes a slightly smaller facing will draw in the gap, or if I am using a narrow binding of the same material I can ease the gap into the binding.
Have you any other suggestions? And can you please tell me why I have this problem? It would be illuminating for me!
Thanks a bunch