Help! My first muslin!

Blogoshpere,  I'm calling for your advice and guidance.  As you know I am making the Rooibos dress.  So I have measured and made my pattern ready.  The next step in the sewalong is to make a muslin.  At this point I thought I would only sew up the bodice because the pattern looked quite short in the armscye and I didn't want to waste time and fabric if I was to need a larger size.  Now I don't know anyone who sews that can help me with the fitting of the muslin.   I can't do it alone, so after much coaxing by myself I managed to get David to help.  Finally...I'm pinned in!  (He made it seem like  such a mammoth task - I had no idea!)  

Front view

Back view

What's with the boobs on my back?

Obviously I need to adjust the back darts as they are way to sharp creating a back bustline.  After more pinning (and loss of blood, not mine - David's hehe!) the darts are much better but I continue to have wrinkling across my back.  What is the causes this?

This is my first attempt at a muslin and I have not done any fitting before other than minor shortening etc.   I'm at a loss as to what to do hence my seeking your advice.  My dilemma is this.  To remove the wrinkles from the back should I a) lift it out at the shoulder (note- I'm short and always make shortening adjustments at waist level but I probably really need to take it from between the shoulder and bust if that makes sense) or b) do I need to make a full bust adjustment.  But then maybe I need to make a size larger as it is very firm.  I do like things to be well fitted but also with room to move.

The pattern also has a fitting problem at the shoulder, it's to wide for me.  I don't know how I should correct this either.   In the past I have just redrawn the seam line.  Is this the right way to do an adjustment here or do I make pleats/tucks in the pattern?  I have no idea!

So what do you think?  Is there some secret to knowing where or what adjustments I should make?   Or is my short curvy figure just not suited to this pattern?  Maybe my fitting assistant is not cut out for the job although I'm very proud of his efforts.  Even though he claims he needs a blood transfusion.  Hehehe!  Both the back darts are pinned to the same length and that in itself is a great achievement.  I'm going to put this project aside for a few days so I can return with, hopefully some guidance from you, my internet friends...

Fabric chosen

I have been following along on many blogs for several months now and it has opened my eyes to the fact that there are so many more pattern choices out there other than the major ones we see supplied in the shops.  I had no idea, although it had crossed my mind that there should be, I had never looked. 

One company in particular that I have discovered is Colette Patterns.  So many of you have made at least one of the designs from Sarai which I have liked since seeing the first one, that I thought I would take a look at them.  She has such lovely designs I found it difficult to choose which one I should make first.  I took the plunge and ordered the Macaron dress, then the very next day Sarai announced the Rooibos Sewalong.

I was quite excited about this and signed up as soon as I saw the announcement.   Is anyone else sewing along?  I've never participated in a sewalong before and thought it would be a fun way to make this dress.  I ordered the pattern and waited for it to arrive, all the while thinking about what fabric I would use.  Should I make it in a Summer fabric or perhaps a heavier one more suited to Spring and Autumn?

Rooibos pattern & fabric

Eventually I decided I would use this beautiful rich wine coloured bengaline and a floral rayon sateen for the trim.  I think this will work for all three seasons.  I can add layers or a cardigan when the weather is a bit cooler.  With fabric chosen and pattern in hand I hope to start this weekend.  I'm looking forward to this and perhaps learning some new techniques along the way.

Have you participated in a sewalong, if so, how did you find it?