Making a Bodice Block From a Fitting Shell Pattern

Make yourself a working bodice block and open up a world of pattern drafting...

Some Fitting Shell and Block Patterns:

Music and Sound Effects from Epidemic Sound. Other Music from YouTube Audio Library.

More from me?

But wait there's more! A PO BOX finally wahoo!

First, a disclaimer: So many of you have kindly offered to send me things, including vintage items you may have inherited, and I am so honored you would think of me and of course I do adore vintage treasures, however, unfortunately I only have so much storage space currently! So there is a chance that if something just wont work for me, or doesn't fit me etc, that I may not be able to keep all of your lovely things. Please only send things if you are okay with the possibility that I may donate items I just cannot keep. If you would prefer I put things that I can't keep into the TCH Etsy shop to help raise funds for me and the channel, please specify this in a note or letter in your parcel. Thank you so much!

Bianca Esposito
PO Box 632177
Highlands Ranch, CO 80163

Thank you for watching!

[chaotic-goodartistry]

Tip from someone who drafts their own patterns: a lot of wrapping paper has a 1" grid on the back, and is very cheap right after Christmas

[squeece]

I DID IT!!! I made my bodice block! I watched this video ages ago thinking “I’ll come back to this later…” and that day has finally come. 14 (I think) versions, 10 metres of calico, and a million weird fit issues later…and it is finally perfect. Or at least, perfect enough lol. With this, I shall be unstoppable.

I would not have even considered this to be possible without your wisdom and guidance. Thank you for everything you do!

[baricala]

It looked fantastic for only a 3rd mock up. I like to remove the seam allowance from the neckline and armholes because I can visualize better where it needs to sit. And one thing I think is worth doing: sew your mock up and wear it for a few hours. The wrinkles in it will show you things that will need fixing but didn't show when you were just trying it on. This is particularly useful when you have a skirt mock up attached to the bodice. Walk, bend over, sit down, cross you legs, do what you'd normally do. It will show if you need to shorten or add to your waist and even on the side seams. The way it fits and feels will tell you a lot about adjustments that need to be made.

[AngelCCD]

I'm discovering this 2 years after you posted this, but I thank you very much for this video

[skylights]

I am into my 55th year of sewing and this is the first doable block-pattern lesson I have ever come across! Thank you.

[vintagecameragirl]

You attacking that parchment pattern paper with those scissors really got across just how much you detest them lol

[elainebye]

I did it! Yesterday I drafted my own bodice block from scratch--as you show in one of your other videos, and today I drafted trousers! Yay!
I wouldn't have tried without you, Bianca. Thank you.
After a lifetime of ill-fitting clothing both bought and made. After giving up in tears over ever fitting a pants pattern to me, I finally see light at the end of the tunnel. I know mock-ups are not easy, but I'm excited!

[verylikecheryl]

32G short waisted person here who tried to do this 6 years ago and gave up when the armscye started to look like a little cup hook. Surely not! But, yes! It’s a thing! I can do this!

[janiceb]

I was watching your videos about making a basic pattern. Great idea as I often was unhappy with several clothes that I sewed. But the other day I was in a thrift shop and tried on a blazer that fit beautifully. It was an 18w, Talbot, with tags still on. In a print and fabric I would not wear. Today I went back and bought it. I am going to try using it to make a pattern.

[NoDecaf]

This is so detailed, I am learning so much from you 😍 knowing how patterns are manipulated to accommodate larger bust size, esp on an hourglass shape, is great. I can relate and that makes a lot of retail clothing difficult unless it is very blousy. Also, this knocks out the "Why darts?" question, really demonstrating their usage.

[elizabethstykes]

I've tried to do this on my own and wasn't ~super~ successful so I'm extremely grateful for such a helpful video! Thanks for breaking this down for us newbie sewers so we have something to start slashing and spreading with you in the future! ✂️ 🪡

[HopeEvey]

So I can't bring myself to cut up yardage to sew back together into a quilt. But I bet I CAN make mockups out of pretty quilting cotton, then cut those up to make quilts! Thank you for the instruction and the inspirational 💜💜💜

[Gweynavere]

As a complete beginner *and huge fan* I have been going through this process. I really appreciated you saying that it didn't need to be perfect - I struggled with perfectionism and that was the push I needed to wrap up sooner rather than later. My sloper is close, hopefully after these changes it will be close enough

[Rotten_Ralph]

Perfection is the enemy of done ✅. My mantra in the sewing room is by Samuel Beckett, try once fail, try again fail better.

[Vixenventures]

You probably won't see this since this video is from a year, but I'm going to comment anyway in hopes that you may. 😁 Woof, it took 2 days to follow along with you and make my own block that I made with just my measurements, but only 2 tries!!
I'm a beginner sewist and stopped sewing for a year because absolutely nothing was coming out even halfway decent on me and it was heartbreaking. Then, I found your channel and have been avidly consuming your videos and seeing all the things about the patterns that just never would have worked, no matter how hard I tried. So I decided to use my birthday weekend to follow your guidance and make a bodice block to remedy the ridiculous situation that is my pile of patterns.
I just finished today, so I haven't made anything yet, but I can't wait to make something now and hopefully it'll come out at least wearable. Next I'll be following your guide on a pencil skirt block.
Would you ever consider a video for a pant block?? If that's a thing... Or, would you ever consider making a merry widow?? I'd much rather make my own one day rather than she'll out a gross amount of money for something that likely wouldn't even fit me anyhow. I'm 5'10 with a long torso and tummy issues from losing 80lbs, so I don't fit any general shape now, lol. Which is why I greatly appreciate your guidance in finding how to make things that work for me and not some mystery model clothing companies has decided is the ideal shape. Thank you ever so much.

~Evie

[suev]

As a woman with similar proportions to you, this video was an inspiration. I have attempted making clothing, never with a successful fit. I'm going to put the effort into developing block patterns; thank you for giving such detailed instructions and encouragement to stick to the process. Thank you so much for all your generous efforts.

[Jessica_Jones]

This video was 51 minutes long??! Um...totally felt like only 20 or so. Truly a testament to how valuable this information is and how well presented. As Molly Brown might have said, "Dip me and fry me!" 😁

[jennishoesmith]

I’m late to the party but thank you so much! I had given up on sewing after my last dress was ok but had demon bust darts that would not sit flat. Now I think I’ll try again thanks to your wonderful tutorial.

[tishie]

I own this pattern, and the way you did your fba is exactly how they show you how in their directions. 😊 Thank you for sharing this and taking the time to encourage others to just do the thing! Do the work... No matter how much we want a perfect pattern handed to us, it will still require work...That only we can do with our own bodies. But, I think it's half the fun, learning what myself actually looks like and needs to achieve the goal silhouette from my clothes. 💚

[kornellas]

It is SOOOO nice to see pattern adjustment tutorials from someone who is more along the line of my body type. Thank you! Great tutorial!