03 Jun 2012 3 Comments

Summer Dress Bodice Pattern and Mini Tute

 

This weekend I’ve experimented a bit with pattern making. Nothing fancy, just a fitted summer dress :)

I already had a bodice made (trial and error, not fancy pattern making skills I am afraid) so I made a simple sketch, took a few measures and proceeded to making a draft paper pattern.

It’s not finished yet, but I thought I could share with you a simple bodice pattern I’ve used four times now – you can make little adjustments and it will look completely different.

If you’re a top size 38 (10 UK and 8 US) you can download and print this summer dress bodice pattern PDF and use it as it is. I suggest making a muslin and adjusting it to your needs – you can make the straps longer, make the bra cup larger or smaller (by modifying the dart), but probably the easiest way to add a size or two is to add a few cm in the sides of the bodice.

This is a preview of the pattern pieces (you’ll print 4 pages).

This is a half of the front piece; you will have to draw the pattern on the fabric folded where the blue arrow is. You can change the shape of the cleavage by curving the edge pointed by the red arrow. My bodice has a heart-shaped cleavage, you can play with the shape and modesty of your dress.

You will need the front and back bodice pieces cut from the main fabric and a lining fabric of your choice.

To sew the bodice:

1. Sew the front pleats, press flat.

2. Sew the neck and arm openings of the front bodice piece to its lining. Do the same with the back piece.

3. Turn the front piece inside out and push the straps inside the unturned back piece. Pull the straps of the front piece through the straps of the back piece and sew.

4. Turn the whole bodice inside out. Press and sew the side seams. You are now the proud owner of a brand new summer bodice :)

Hope you have a nice week!

 

 

 

by sky in Clothes, Clothes, DIY, Download free patterns, Sewing, Sewing Patterns, Sewing Tutorials