Hench wench chic - the bodysuit tutorial

[Iwa_Hoshi]

Bodysuits one of the annoying things that my dolls seems to constantly wear (that's why they never have normal clothes)

Note - Just so you know. Its a simple pattern based on estimation and the doll in question. Its just the long sleeve version, if you need to make it sleeveless/leggingless. Alter as needed. But if you want a nicer and a smexier looking bodysuits instead. Go buy one.


Red denotes cutting,
Blue denotes sewing
Purple denotes tacking stitch to hold cloth before you permanently sew
Green for fold at line
Yellow for excess cloth after folding / sewing
Orange for zipper

What you need
Choice of cloth - Lycra (I haven't try other material)
zipper (because I choose zipper instead of velcro)
needle and thread
scissors
Your doll - I used medium bust 2 piece Obitsu to measure my bodysuits. Somehow what's snug for an Obitsu turns into skin tight for a BBI Perfect body. I don't how it works for bigger dolls but you can always try

For me it didn't matter if the zipper is at the back or the front as the body suit was meant to be used both ways

Fold the cloth in half. Place doll on outside of the cloth so that her shoulders touches the fold line.


Turn cloth inside out. Put doll back on top of cloth. For me this is the back of the outfit. See point from shoulder (the fold line) to the naval of doll. Cut a slit from fold line to doll's naval.


It should look something like the pic below when unfolded



Turn fabricc outside.
Cut a piece of lycra about 5-6 cm in length (i.e one index finger in length. Of course yours could be longer or shorter than mine. Measure on the doll's neck) and 1.5cm in width (i.e Thickness of on index finger).
Sew it on so that you have a collar of sorts


With the Zipper inside the outfit. Sew it on



Turn fabric inside out. Make doll wear it so you can get idea of body shape. Use tacking stitch to hold fabric in shape.


Remove doll. And now sew it[. If you want it to be tighter. Sew it closer to the inside of the tacking stitch. Or it can be outside and looser


And then cut out the excess material and turn it back outside



Zannah's wearing hers back to front being the reversible thing that it suppose to be

[Greyhaunt]

I remember this tutorial! Thanks for bringing it over here

[leopardessmoon]

gotta love zipper cleavage!

[silverbeam]

huh, good tips. Might try it sometime.

[cirquemom]

Excellent tutorial! I would only add that if you are shopping for fabric, try to find 4 way stretch fabric and you will have a lot less headaches. 4 way means that if you hold it and pull it with both hands, it will stretch both up and down, and across. Most stretch fabric only stretches 2 ways (generally from side to side). If you are going to JoAnn Fabric, look in their "dance and swimwear" fabrics- those a usually 4 way stretch.
If you can only find 2 way stretch fabric, then make sure you lay it out so the stretch is from side to side (in other words, the stretch will be around horizonally, instead of up and down the length of the doll).