Bodice Front Style 09

Figure A: Style 09 shown on a croquis (3D version of the design)

The bodice of this garment has one dart (for the half-block) in the CF waist.

Example: Outcome

Figure B shows the block being used on the left (1-Dart Block), and the pattern that will be created (Style 09) on the right.

The focus of these instructions is covering the theory and practice of manipulating darts and the exercise finishes after the dart manipulation has been done. For production ready patterns you would need to take further steps to add seam allowance, pattern labels, pattern piece numbers, the grainline, etc.

Figure B: Style 09, final 2D flat pattern

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 1

In these images I have used color for emphasis only. Use a hard pencil (4H-6H) when hand drafting patterns.

  • Draw the new design line on your block; from the side seam to the Bust Point (not the Dart Point!).

I have marked the points A, B & C on the block to assist in the instructions.  You do not have to write these on your block.  Note that A, B & C relate to the points where the dart leg meets the edge of the block, as shown by the arrow tips. 

Trace the block
Style 09, Instructions Figure 1

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 2

  • Holding the block firmly in place so that it doesn't move, trace around the block in a clockwise direction from point A (the new dart line) to point B (the first waist dart leg).
Draw the design line curve
Style 09, Instructions Figure 2

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 3

  • Mark the Bust Point on the paper underneath the block by putting your pencil tip through the BP hole.
  • Extend the dart leg line (B) past the edge of the block. To make sure the line true, use a ruler to line up the Bust Point and the dart leg on the edge of the block, and continue that line beyond the block onto the paper (shown by a red arrow in the image).
Mark dart legs
Style 09, Instructions Figure 3

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 4

  • Holding the block down at the Bust Point, pivot the block clockwise until the waist dart is closed. (i.e. Dart leg C reaches the line you drew in the last step - the red arrow in the image).
Rotate block to close the waist dart
Style 09, Instructions Figure 4

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 5

  • Making sure the block doesn't move, finish tracing the remainder of the block from A to C.
Continue tracing block
Style 09, Instructions Figure 5

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 6

You can lift up the block now and put it aside. We will now see what we have on the paper underneath.

  • Draw the new dart legs from the Bust Point to points A1 and A2.  (They should be the same length, but check to make sure).
  • Finish off the dart, remembering that the Dart Point stops some distance before the Bust Point.

If you are unsure about how to finish off the dart, see the pages on Finishing off Darts,which gives a few step-by-step examples. 

Draw the dart legs in the new pattern
Style 09, Instructions Figure 6

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 7

  • If this was a production ready pattern, you would need to label the pattern piece,  add seam allowance, cutting instructions, grainline, note the pattern piece number and the total  number of pattern pieces, etc.
Finished flat pattern
Style 09, Instructions Figure 7
</figur

Bodice Front Style 09

Figure A: Style 09 shown on a croquis (3D version of the design)

The bodice of this garment has one dart (for the half-block) in the CF waist.

Example: Outcome

Figure B shows the block being used on the left (1-Dart Block), and the pattern that will be created (Style 09) on the right.

Note: The actual pattern would need seam allowance or cutting instructions added; this has not been done here we are just covering the theory of manipulating darts.

Figure B: Style 09, final 2D flat pattern

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 1

In the instructions, color is used for emphasis, so you can see more easily what I am referring to.  You will be using a hard (4H-6H) pencil.

  • Draw the new design line on your block; from the side seam to the Bust Point (not the Dart Point!).

I have marked the points A, B & C on the block to assist in the instructions.  You do not have to write these on your block.  Note that A, B & C relate to the points where the dart leg meets the edge of the block, as shown by the arrow tips. 

Trace the block
Style 09, Instructions Figure 1

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 2

  • Holding the block firmly in place so that it doesn't move, trace around the block in a clockwise direction from point A (the new dart line) to point B (the first waist dart leg).
Draw the design line curve
Style 09, Instructions Figure 2

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 3

  • Mark the Bust Point on the paper underneath the block by putting your pencil tip through the BP hole.
  • Extend the dart leg line (B) past the edge of the block. To make sure the line true, use a ruler to line up the Bust Point and the dart leg on the edge of the block, and continue that line beyond the block onto the paper (shown by a red arrow in the image).
Mark dart legs
Style 09, Instructions Figure 3

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 4

  • Holding the block down at the Bust Point, pivot the block clockwise until the waist dart is closed. (i.e. Dart leg C reaches the line you drew in the last step - the red arrow in the image).
Rotate block to close the waist dart
Style 09, Instructions Figure 4

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 5

  • Making sure the block doesn't move, finish tracing the remainder of the block from A to C.
Continue tracing block
Style 09, Instructions Figure 5

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 6

You can lift up the block now and put it aside. We will now see what we have on the paper underneath.

  • Draw the new dart legs from the Bust Point to points A1 and A2.  (They should be the same length, but check to make sure).
  • Finish off the dart, remembering that the Dart Point stops some distance before the Bust Point.

If you are unsure about how to finish off the dart, see the pages on Finishing off Darts,which gives a few step-by-step examples. 

Draw the dart legs in the new pattern
Style 09, Instructions Figure 6

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 7

  • If this was a production ready pattern, you would need to label the pattern piece,  add seam allowance, cutting instructions, grainline, note the pattern piece number and the total  number of pattern pieces, etc.
Finished flat pattern
Style 09, Instructions Figure 7

The bodice of this garment has one dart (for the half-block) in the CF waist.

Example: Outcome

Figure B shows the block being used on the left (1-Dart Block), and the pattern that will be created (Style 09) on the right.

Note: The actual pattern would need seam allowance or cutting instructions added; this has not been done here we are just covering the theory of manipulating darts.

Final flat pattern after dart manipulation; design in 2D
Figure B: Style 09, final 2D flat pattern

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 1

In the instructions, color is used for emphasis, so you can see more easily what I am referring to.  You will be using a hard (4H-6H) pencil.

  • Draw the new design line on your block; from the side seam to the Bust Point (not the Dart Point!).

I have marked the points A, B & C on the block to assist in the instructions.  You do not have to write these on your block.  Note that A, B & C relate to the points where the dart leg meets the edge of the block, as shown by the arrow tips. 

Trace the block
Style 09, Instructions Figure 1

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 2

  • Holding the block firmly in place so that it doesn't move, trace around the block in a clockwise direction from point A (the new dart line) to point B (the first waist dart leg).
Draw the design line curve
Style 09, Instructions Figure 2

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 3

  • Mark the Bust Point on the paper underneath the block by putting your pencil tip through the BP hole.
  • Extend the dart leg line (B) past the edge of the block. To make sure the line true, use a ruler to line up the Bust Point and the dart leg on the edge of the block, and continue that line beyond the block onto the paper (shown by a red arrow in the image).
Mark dart legs
Style 09, Instructions Figure 3

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 4

  • Holding the block down at the Bust Point, pivot the block clockwise until the waist dart is closed. (i.e. Dart leg C reaches the line you drew in the last step - the red arrow in the image).
Rotate block to close the waist dart
Style 09, Instructions Figure 4

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 5

  • Making sure the block doesn't move, finish tracing the remainder of the block from A to C.
Continue tracing block
Style 09, Instructions Figure 5

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 6

You can lift up the block now and put it aside. We will now see what we have on the paper underneath.

  • Draw the new dart legs from the Bust Point to points A1 and A2.  (They should be the same length, but check to make sure).
  • Finish off the dart, remembering that the Dart Point stops some distance before the Bust Point.

If you are unsure about how to finish off the dart, see the pages on Finishing off Darts,which gives a few step-by-step examples. 

Draw the dart legs in the new pattern
Style 09, Instructions Figure 6

Instructions (Style-09) - Figure 7

  • Of course, if this was a pattern, you would need to label the pattern piece,  add seam allowance, cutting instructions, grainline, note the pattern piece number and the total number of pattern pieces, etc.
Finished flat pattern
Style 09, Instructions Figure 7

Subscribe to my Newsletter

I will send you an email to advise you when new content has been added.  From 2025 I will be adding more content regularly.