Shoulder seams within 1 mm
The front shoulder measures 118.0 mm and the fitted back shoulder 118.85 mm. Their difference is 0.85 mm, inside the generator’s 1 mm tolerance.
Basic Bodice
Create a basic bodice block from your measurements
Generate a free printable front and back bodice block from your bust, waist, shoulder, front and back length, armhole, and neckline measurements. Adjust ease, waist shaping, darts, and armhole contouring, then download the custom block as A4 PDF, copyshop PDF, or SVG.
Important fit note
This bodice block is a drafting guide based on your measurements and selected settings.
We strongly recommend making a test version and checking the fit before cutting final fabric.
Bodice block
Real generated example
From upper-body measurements to a balanced bodice block
Live generator outputThis front-and-back bodice example is generated on this page from the exact measurements below. The drawing is produced by the same drafting class used in the measurement, preview, and download workflow—not by a separate stock illustration.
Example input
- Bust
- 88 cm
- Waist
- 70 cm
- Back length
- 39.5 cm
- Front length
- 41.5 cm
- Shoulder length
- 11.8 cm
- Armhole depth
- 19.5 cm
- Bust ease
- 6 cm
- Neckline depth
- 8 cm
The generator builds both half-patterns, adds bust, waist and shoulder shaping, then measures and automatically balances the joining shoulder and side seams before export.
Generate your bodice block
Enter your own body measurements; this EU 38 starting set is shown only to make the calculation and checks transparent.
Construction checks from this generated block
Balanced sewing lengths
The complete front side seam is 185.02 mm and the back is 184.08 mm. Their 0.94 mm difference is inside the 1 mm sewing tolerance.
Measured neckline and armhole
The generated full neckline is 33.0 cm and the combined front-and-back armhole is 40.6 cm, ready to reference when developing collars, facings or a sleeve.
Files produced from the same bodice geometry
Tiled A4 PDF
Full-size front and back pieces divided across numbered A4 pages with alignment marks and a 5 × 5 cm test square.
Full-size PDF
Both bodice pieces on a large-format sheet generated from the same measured curves and seam allowances.
SVG export
A scalable vector version of the calculated front, back, darts, grainlines, allowances, neckline and armholes.
Related guides
Measurements
Bodice measurements
Review bust, waist, back length, front length, shoulder width, armhole depth, and neckline settings.
PiecesBodice pieces explained
Understand front, back, shoulder, neckline, armhole, waist shaping, darts, and grainline.
MeasurementsSleeve measurements
Check sleeve length, bicep, wrist, cap shape, elbow guide, and armhole compatibility.
Pattern details
Basic upper-body block
The bodice draft is a foundation for tops, dresses, sleeveless blocks, V-neck starts, and sleeve-based projects.
Front and back with neckline and armhole
The key areas are shoulder, neckline, armhole curve, waist shaping, and vertical balance.
Bust, waist, lengths, shoulder, armhole
Small errors in shoulder or armhole depth can change sleeve compatibility and wearing comfort.
Neckline, armhole, and darts
Check front/back balance, shoulder length, neckline shape, armhole curve, dart placement, and waist shaping.
Basic bodice block guide
A made-to-measure bodice foundation for tops and dresses
A bodice block is a close-fitting drafting foundation rather than a finished garment pattern. This generator builds front and back pieces, shapes the bust and waist with darts, balances the seams, and adds printable construction allowances.
Front and back bodice block pieces
The printable draft includes front and back half-patterns cut on the fold, waist darts, a front bust dart, a back shoulder dart, neckline and armhole curves, grainlines, allowances, and a 5 × 5 cm test square.
Bust, waist, lengths, shoulder and armhole
Bust and ease establish the upper width; waist controls suppression and dart intake. Separate front and back lengths, shoulder length, armhole depth, and neckline depth establish vertical balance and the upper contour.
Soft, regular or strong waist shaping
The shaping option distributes suppression between the side seam and darts. Armhole adjustment and contouring provide additional control for sleeveless or closer-fitting variations.
Balanced shoulder and side seams
The generator measures the actual front seams, automatically fits the back shoulder and side seam to them within a 1 mm tolerance, and reports the resulting waistline and armhole lengths for review.
Foundation for tops, dresses and variations
Use the block as a starting point for neckline changes, sleeveless bodices, fitted tops, dresses, style lines, and compatible sleeve development. Add design ease and construction details for the final garment.
A4 tiled PDF, copyshop PDF or SVG
Print at 100% with scaling disabled and verify the test square before cutting. Use tiled A4 at home, copyshop PDF for a full-size sheet, or SVG for controlled vector adjustments.
Who, how, and when
Drafting logic by Nastix Design
This generator is maintained as application code: measurements are converted into vector geometry, related seams are measured numerically where the construction requires it, and the same geometry is used for preview, SVG, copyshop PDF, and tiled A4 PDF.
Generator content and output workflow reviewed 13 July 2026. A generated block remains a fitting starting point; verify measurements, print scale, fabric behaviour, and a test garment.
Common questions
Basic bodice block FAQ
What is a basic bodice block?
A basic bodice block is a close-fitting front and back foundation drafted from body measurements. It is used to develop tops, dresses, necklines, style lines, and other upper-body patterns.
Is this bodice block generated from my measurements?
Yes. Size presets provide starting values, but the final widths, lengths, darts, neckline, armholes, shoulders, and side seams are recalculated from the measurements and options entered in the form.
Does the pattern include bust and waist darts?
Yes. The front includes waist and bust shaping, while the back includes waist and shoulder shaping. Dart intake changes with the selected waist-shaping option.
Can I attach a sleeve directly to this bodice?
The generated armhole length is available for sleeve development, but cap shape, ease, notches, fabric, and intended movement must still be tested. Use the sleeve block as a starting point and sew a test garment.
How should I print the A4 bodice pattern?
Print at actual size or 100%, disable fit-to-page scaling, and measure the 5 × 5 cm square before trimming and joining the tiled sheets.
Flow
01
Enter upper body measurements
Start with bust, waist, shoulder, and bodice length values.
02
Preview the bodice block
Review a simplified front and back bodice direction based on your inputs.
03
Download the printable block
Export the generated bodice as SVG, copyshop PDF, or tiled A4 PDF at full scale.
Next foundation
Build the first bodice block
Start with a measured upper-body foundation, verify it in a test garment, and then develop tops, dresses, necklines, and sleeve-based designs.
Bodice pattern templates
Explore other bodice templates
Choose another bodice variation as a starting point, then customize the measurements and pattern settings.
Fitted bodice pattern
Fitted bodice pattern generator
Create a fitted bodice block with shaping for a close-to-body fit. Perfect for dresses, tops, and structured garments.
Relaxed bodice patternRelaxed bodice pattern generator
Generate a relaxed-fit bodice pattern with extra ease for comfort and casual garments.
Sleeveless bodiceSleeveless bodice pattern generator
Create a sleeveless bodice block optimized for tops and dresses without sleeves.
V-neck bodice patternV-neck bodice pattern generator
Create a bodice block with a V-shaped neckline for dresses and tops.