Shay Dress Sew Along | Preparing the Bodice

Unless noted the seam allowance included is 3/8" ( 1 cm) for joined seams.

First, clip or mark notches indicated by 'T' marks.

STAYSTITCH THE MAIN BODICE NECKLINE

Before handling your cut pieces too much, sew a stitch line 1/4" (0.6 cm) away from the fabric edge on the front and back main bodice pieces at the neckline. This will prevent the neckline from stretching out. I have already added the center back fusible for View A (for the center back zipper).

VIEW A | CENTER BACK ZIPPER

The center front is cut on the fold, and the center back pieces are cut two.

VIEW B | CENTER FRONT BUTTONS

The center front is cut two, and the center back pieces are cut on the fold.

ADD FUSIBLE INTERFACING AND FINISH MAIN PIECES - VIEW A ONLY

Attach the fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the sleeve placket facing (if adding sleeves), center back bodice main, and the back skirt tier 1 pieces. The fusible will help stabilize the center back invisible zipper. Tricot fusible interfacing is recommended but you can use any lightweight fusible interfacing. Finish the center back edge of the bodice and tier 1 pieces. I missed this last step. You'll see as we go along that the center back seam was never finished.

ADD FUSIBLE INTERFACING TO THE MAIN PIECES - VIEW B ONLY

Attach the fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the sleeve placket facing (if adding sleeves) and the center front placket. The center front placket fusible will help stabilize the center front buttons and buttonholes. Tricot fusible interfacing is recommended but you can use any lightweight fusible interfacing. For the sew along I am sewing the tank version of view B so you won't see sleeve placket pieces.

ADD FUSIBLE INTERFACING TO THE BODICE LINING

Attach the fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the bodice lining pieces. You can block fuse a piece of fabric and cut the bodice lining pattern pieces from fabric already bonded with fusible.

VIEW A | CENTER BACK ZIPPER

VIEW B | CENTER FRONT BUTTONS