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A basic {BODICE} pattern

Updated on by Sarina

sew a simple top

Make a Pattern for Sewing a simple BODICE.Ā 

What is a Bodice ?

It is the body of a dress or blouse – the garment which you wear on the upper part of the body. The method I have described here is a very simple BODICE pattern which you can draft and sew with the bare minimum sewing knowledge.

You can experiment with this, give darts or any adjustments you want to it. Add sleeves (draft different types of sleeves) Change necklines (Draft different neckline) or any embellishment to make it your own. This is where it starts.Ā 

Related posts:

neckline types designsĀ types of sleevesĀ Ā collar typesĀ 

How to make a Bodice top

If you are new to sewing checkout this post with many tutorials on tips on learning to sew and many sewing techniquesĀ 

Checkout this detailed post on taking the basic body measurementsĀ . If you would like to know more about reading a tape measure properly checkout this post.

You can either make the sewing pattern on a paper or draw directly on the cloth with chalk. Start by marking on paper assuming the line A-B is folded cloth . If you are directly marking on the cloth take the two front and back pieces and fold in Ā half and take the folded side as AB in the diagram and start marking

bodice pattern

The basic measurements you should take are :

Desired length – How long do you need the top to be (add 3 -4 inches to this measurement)
Waist length – measure from where shoulder meets your neck to the waist
Shoulder – From where your shoulder meets the neck to the tip of the shoulder bone
Bust measurementĀ  – Around the bust
Waist measurement – Around the waist
Sleeve length
Sleeve round – Where you want the sleeve to end
Neck depth – Both front and back.
Hip round – measure around hip loosely

basic bodice

 

A-B = Length + 2″

A-C = Neck width ( minimum 3″ or as per table)

C-D = Front neck depth ( Minimum 3″ or as per table)

Neck depthĀ ( this is how deep you want the neck to be – MarkĀ the front neck depth and back neck depth); Ā – Mark from C to the line A-B. Ā Front neck depth can be taken as per the above table, Back depth depends on your preferenceĀ 

A-F = 1/2 of shoulder to shoulder + 1/4 inch

F-L = 3/4 inch ; this is for shoulder slope From point – Ā F on shoulder tip mark down 3/4 inch to point LĀ ( please make this 1/2 inch for kids) Give the shoulder slope by joining the line C-L.

K-N = 3/4 Inch

Mark A-E Ā which is the armhole depth or the bustline – as per table or 7.5″ for adults. This is the bust line. E-G is marked on this line. You can learn more on marking the armscye and correct way of drafting armhole measurements here.Ā Ā 

Another measurement for armhole line is to calculate it by the bust round.

Armhole depth = Bust round divide by 8 plus 3.5 inches.Ā 

Another measurement for a more fitting armhole

Bust round -Armhole measurement
28 inchĀ  – 4 3/4″
30 inchĀ  – 5
32 inchĀ  – 5 1/4″
34 inch – 5 1/2″
36 inch – 5 3/4″
38 inch – 6″
40 inch – 6 1/4″
42 inch – 6 1/2″
44-46 inch – 7″
48-50 inch- 7 1/2″

Draw straight line down from F so that it intersects with line E-G Ā .Ā 

E-G = 1/4 * bust round + 1/2 inch ease

(Ie if my bust is 36 inches, that divided by 4 is 9. Add 1/2 inches ease which will be 9.5 inches ; seam allowance of 1″ shoulde be added later )

A-H = Waist length

P-H = 1/4 * waist round + 1/2 inch

B-M = 1/4 * hip round round + 1/2 inch

Add 1 inch seam allowance along G-P-M

Step 2

bodice

Back armholeĀ Ā – Where the lines from F & G intersected (name it K ) go outside ( measure the distance between G& K and divide by two) . Mark the point as X . Make a curved shape of the armhole from L-X-G – this is the back sleeve line.

To mark the front sleeve line Ā Mark from K to the inside 3/4 inch for adults and 1/2 inch for kids. Mark this point as N . Draw up a straight line toĀ L . From N Go outside 3/4 inches diagonally to Y as shown in the diagram. L-Y-G is the front armhole line

Draw a soft curved line touching YĀ from LĀ to GĀ – This is the front sleeve line.( Blue line)

Give the neckline you want – refer here for different necklines

Make sleeves as per the instructions here and you are good to go sewing.Checkout the post on different types of sleeves for your options

Ease – I have added 2 inch ease to the body measurements . You can alter this to your preference as per the standard chart of ease given below

ease in clothing
Chart for ease in clothes

Here is another bodice block with dart added.

bodice block

What I do when making this pattern to sew tops is to draw directly on to the cloth with chalk. Both the front piece and the back piece will be kept folded . Ā I will draw the pattern on the top piece ( which finally will turn out to be the front piece), cut out the back sleeve line and neck, remove the back piece ( which is the back piece now) , then continue cutting the front sleeve line and neckline on the remaining Ā cloth with the marking lines already there. This way, no need to mark the front and back bodices seperately .Cut the two pattern pieces and makes sure that the lines drawn are all cut away.

basic bodice pattern

basic bodice

bodice pattern

Checkout this tutorial to see how to make facings for the necklinesĀ for a clean and neat finish

bodice top

Do the same for the back neck and front neck.Join the shoulder seams . Checkout the different types ofĀ seamsĀ you can use in your bodice. Join the sleeves. You can add this to a skirt to make a dress or adopt different design features to make it your own.Ā 

bodice

I decided to add this bodice to a paneled skirt to make a Ā long gown.Ā 

bodice top

If you would rather make a more casual top with a looser fit along the body you can make the bodice asĀ  per the pattern belowĀ 

make bodice top

A-C = Length of the top
A-B = 3 1/2″
A-G = 8 1/4″
H-J = A-G
H-I = 3/4″
D-E = 3″ (OR 4″)
A-H = 1/2 of shoulder point to shoulder point + 1/4″
G-F = 1/4 of Bust round + 3/4″
E-L = 1/4 of Hip round + 2 “
K-J = 1/2 of F-J

 

If you want a more fitting pattern with a close body fit you can add darts – this will ensure that the bodice fits the contours of your body. Check out this post on adding darts to your sewing patternsĀ 

bodice

 

The sewing tutorial to make an A-line dress has the method to sew the bodice explained in a different way than given below .

a line dress sewing pattern

Sewing a basic bodice block for kidsĀ 

You can make a similar bodice block for kids . Checkout the post on sewing for children and a ready reckoner of body measurements here.Ā 

Happy sewing

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41 thoughts on “A basic {BODICE} pattern”

  4. Kris

    Re: Bodice drafting instructions. Such a GREAT resource! I only wish there was a printable version for those of us with Internet service issues or ā€œoldiesā€ who find screens hard on the eyes. Is there one and I just havenā€™t found it? When I try to ā€œsend to printerā€ from the website, the ads will place randomly and cover the information. Tried selecting and then ā€œcopy & pasteā€ into a note taking iPad app (from which I can print) but only the text shows up. Iā€™m going to use a bunch of screen shots but that makes for a much bigger file and when I print, will waste ink (being photos). Iā€™d really prefer to spend my time sewing than fighting with technology.

    Reply
    1. Sarina

      Hi Kris
      I am sorry I have no simple solution to your question. What you can do is may be paste the whole thing in a word document on google drive or something and then print – though I would prefer that you come and visit the website šŸ™‚ Bestwishes

      Reply
  6. Beki

    This….THIS is what I have been looking for for TWO years….all this info right on this page…. thank you SO much!! šŸ˜€ xxx

    Reply
  8. Lata Sundar

    In the very first draft, should’nt A-E be 7.5 ” as per your table or as per body measurement PLUS the shoulder slope of 1″ or 1.5″? Can you please clarify?

    Reply
  10. Hamisu

    Thank You Very Much For This.
    My Question Is: What Does Mean By 3/4 Inch. It’s 3 Inch Half Of What, This Is Whats Confusing Me.

    Reply
  11. Cindy

    Thank you! I have a wonderful dress for dancing but the bodice was fitted to an alien species. Now I can replace it!

    Reply
  19. Mary Aku Gyimah

    I just went through your demonstrations. It’s very helpful, I will start the tutorials early in the morning. Thanks a lot

    Reply
  28. Omotayo

    Thank you for your tutorials. Do I still need to add seam allowance after drafting the pattern or it is already included?

    Reply
  29. Lorie

    From another of your posts: Could you please explain cutting on a ‘different bias’ when making your own bias tape? Do you mean make the bias angle slightly more, or less, than 45 degrees? Thanks.

    Reply
  30. Lorie

    Wonderful directions! Thank you! How would one go about sewing two of these tops together to make it reversible? Thanks

    Reply
  31. Okolo, Henrietta.k.

    Good morning ma, thank you the teaching. Please I will like to have a copy of the body basic pattern, thanks you.

    Reply
  32. Lucia

    Hello Sarina, thank you so much! I just checked it and you are absolutely right. I measured the AF line incorrectly – across the chest including the whole shoulders šŸ™‚ Now I know how to fix it and I also learned what happens when the line is cut longer. The other article you refer me to is also great and very helpful. Thanks!

    Reply
  33. Lucia

    Hi, I really love your website with all your helpful tips. Thanks to it maybe I will finally learn to properly sew. However, trying to sew this bodice, I ended up with a nice bodice which had kind of sleeves and pulled the fabric a bit from underarm to shoulders. Is this how it should look or did I measure something wrong? On your picture of your golden bodice the shoulder straps are narrow and you added the sleeves afterwards. My shoulder straps are wider than yours including the sleeve, even though I did not add any sleeves. Is this fabric excess there on purpose or do you have any ideas what I did wrong?

    Reply

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