Do more with your patterns: Jalie Bella Fit and Flare Dress #3460 as a leotard

I love when I have a pattern that I can use in multiple ways, especially when it is a pattern with a huge size range like the Jalie patterns (22 sizes including girls and women's). The Jalie Bella Fit and Flare Dress is a scoop neck dress that includes a leotard attachment.  Today, Crystal is showing us how easy and adorable it is to covert the leotard attachment to a stand alone leotard. She's pair it with the Jalie Ballet Skirt for a perfect ballerina ensemble. Here's how she made the changes to convert the pattern:

Turning the Jalie Bella Fit and Flare Dress into leotard was really simple!  The pattern comes with a leotard pattern that is an option for under the dress.  In the pattern, the leotard is sewn and then attached to the dress at the armholes.  Which means it is a full leotard pattern, just without the armhole elastic!  I made the leotard per the pattern instructions, then measured the armholes on my leotard.  I cut some ⅜” elastic about ½” shorter than my armhole for both sides and then sewed the elastic in place following the same instructions used to add the leg hole elastic.  And Voilà! You’ve got a ballet leotard!

Another great pattern for doing double duty is the Jalie Ballet Leotards pattern.  Nicole covered hers into a body suit.  This is how she did it:

I am becoming obsessed with Jalie and when I saw this leotard, I knew it would be perfect for my other obsession: bodysuits. So I’m here today to showcase how you can turn a leotard with just a few simple changes into a bodysuit. I simply added a snap crotch by adding tape to the crotch portion, adding a neckband over elastic, and lowering the necklines a bit to add some more drama to the bodysuit.

 I really love bodysuits, they are perfect for my pencil skirts or my skinny jeans. The Jalie Ballet Leotard pattern will also serve as a good base by mashing up a pencil skirt to the upper portion for a beautiful dress.

Xoxo

 

Nicole