Belen Bodysuit Sew Along: Top

This blogpost is an addition to the Belen Bodysuit PDF pattern that can be purchased in my webshop. The photos and explanations will guide you through making the long sleeve version of the Belen Bodysuit. For this tutorial I used two different fabrics for the top and the top lining, to make it easier to understand the photo instructions. When you sew the bodysuit at home, you can totally use the same fabric for the top and the lining.

The Belen Bodysuit is about femininity and comfort, featuring two sleeve options: Sleeveless or long sleeves. Belen sits tightly, making sure to show off your beautiful curves. The front fea-tures a boat neckline with a lower cut back. The bodysuit top is lined for extra support, giving the neckline a beautiful seamless look. The crotch can be finished with sew in snaps, hooks and eyes or it can be sewn together like a swimsuit.

I hope you love making and wearing your bodysuit just as much as I loved creating the pattern for it.

You can choose to print the sewing pattern in A4 format at home or you can take the A1 (sleeveless option) or A0 (long sleeve option) format to your local copy shop to save time. Once you have your PDF pattern printed on paper, it is time to cut out your fabrics. Follow the cutting instructions on your pattern.

You have cut out two front tops and two back tops. The two sets are identical when using the same fabric for the top and the lining (in my case one is back and white and the other one is pink to make the photos easier to understand in this tutorial). One set will be your main top (the outer layer) and the other one will be your lining top. If you are using a normal sewing machine, make sure to change your needle to a Jersey sewing needle, it makes a big difference.

We will start by joining the side seams and shoulder seams for the main top and the lining top. Take the main front top and the main back top. Place them together right sides facing each other and sew along the side seams and shoulder seems using a zigzag stitch (1.5 cm / 5/8” seam allowance).

Repeat with the lining front top and lining back top. Press the seams open.

Turn the lining top inside out and place it inside of the main top so the right sides are facing each other.

Carefully pin the neckline in place.

Sew the two pieces together along the front and back neckline (1 cm / 3/8” seam allowance).

Snip into the seam allowance around the neckline every 4 cm / 1.5” to allow it to turn easily.

Now we are going to stitch the seam allowance to the lining fabric. This will hold the lining to the inside so it is not visible once your bodysuit is finished.

Turn your top inside out. We are going to understitch the neckline. Gently press the seam allowance and the lining away from your main top. From the right side of your lining, understitch along the neckline with a zigzag stitch. Sew close to the seam, making sure to catch the seam allowance underneath.

In the end, your neckline should look something like this:

Well done, the top of the long sleeve bodysuit is now finished. In the next blog post, I will show you how to sew the sleeves.

The fabrics I used to sew up this bodysuit are kindly gifted from A+R Fabrics. Trin has opened up her online fabric shop this year and is stocking the most amazing fabrics, go check it out!