Its Day 3… Bodice Day!  Have you had your morning coffee?? Good! Let’s get started!

First things, first.  Decide if you want your straps in the traditional spot (like the original pattern) or if you want them flipped, so they are enclosed in the front bodice and button closure is on the back bodice.  If you choose to change your straps to back button closure, you will have more room on your front bodice for “all the pretty things”.

Embellish your front bodice
So technically, the schedule said to embellish yesterday, but somehow all my pics ended up here on Day 3.  If you already embellished your bodice, Great! You are a step ahead of the game, skip down to attaching the straps. 🙂

Before we start sewing things together, now is the best time to embellish your bodice.  Add lace, trim, ric rac, appliques or monograms.  If you are doing the traditional strap placement, that leaves you a little window of free space on the bodice.  I’m making a 5 width, 6 length for my daughter, so I chose to do a 4″ monogram from The Itch to Stitch.  Measure how much space you will have by laying your straps on top.

Embellish your front bodice at this time.

Strap Placement
Follow the tutorial if you want your straps to button on the front bodice.  If you want to switch them so they button on the back bodice, continue on here.

To Enclose Straps in Front Bodice
You have two options here: 1) Straight Straps and 2) Angled straps.
Option 1: Place strap and bodice right sides together.  You want the raw edge of your strap to be in a straight line.  Line up the inside edge of the strap with the top of the bodice.  The outside edge of strap will stick out past the curve of the front bodice a little.  The outside edge of strap should be 1/2″ inside the outer edge of bodice.  Pin in place and repeat on other strap.

Option 2: You could also choose to line up the raw edge of your straps with the raw edge of the bodice totally.  If you sew your straps in like this, your straps will be angled.  It is a different look, so you can pick the way you prefer! 😉

Place bodice lining on bodice front, right sides together, and stitch per tutorial instruction.  Don’t forget to lift your lining as you are stitching to make sure your straps haven’t shifted position!

Turn and press your bodice.  I’m going to use the greatest notion ever, again… the point former and tube turner from Nancy’s Notions.  Use a pointed edge to push out the corners and press well.

There! Soooo pretty! 🙂  I love how clean the inside of this bodice is.  And the lining is a nice place to add some special fabric for a contrast.

Here is my bodice with the straps enclosed into the front bodice… You can see how the straps are more angled here.  That is because I lined them up with the curved edge of the bodice.  It’s all about how you place them!

Side Seams
Time to attach the front and back bodices!  Open up both bodices, as instructed in the tutorial.

Right sides together, line up the side seams.  Really take the time to make sure your seams match.  It will be noticeable if they are off!  Even more noticeable if you are using a contrast lining like I am.

Stitch, per tutorial instruction and press lining to inside.  Topstitch around the top of bodice, if desired.

Tadah! The bodice construction is finished!! Do you see the light at the end of the tunnel yet? 🙂  Make sure you share your progress pic in the Day 3 album in the Made for Mermaids Patterns Group on Facebook or Instagram #katelynsal #m4msal #katelynjumper.  See you tomorrow, when we work on the skirt and POCKETS!!!