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Lesson 5.3

Dress Assembly: Joining the Bodice and Setting Puff Sleeves

In this lesson, you will assemble the front and back bodice pieces and attach the sheer sleeves. You will gather the slightly wider back shoulders to fit the front, finish the seams and shape the sleeve heads to create a lantern-style puff.

Materials to Prepare

  • Prepared front and back bodice pieces

  • Sewn sheer sleeves

  • Pins

  • Hand-sewing needle and thread for gathering and basting

  • Sewing machine and matching thread

  • Overlocker, if available

  • Scissors

Learning Outcomes


By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Gather the back shoulder edges to match the front.

  • Sew and finish the shoulder and side seams.

  • Gather the sleeve heads to create a puff shape.

  • Pin and optionally baste sleeves into the armholes.

  • Attach both sleeves to complete the bodice.

Your Practice


Gather the slightly wider back shoulder edges with temporary stitches, drawing up the threads until they fit the front shoulders. Join the shoulders and remove the temporary gathering threads. Finish the seam allowances as demonstrated, using a zigzag stitch or an overlocker if preferred.


Sew the front and back together at both side seams and finish the raw edges.


Add gathering stitches along approximately 5–6 cm at the top of each sleeve, following the demonstration. Draw up the threads to shape the sleeve head, then position the sleeve in the armhole and secure it with pins.


Baste the sleeve in place if helpful before machine sewing. Attach both sleeves to complete the bodice.

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