Pattern and Instructions: The Niagara Keyhole Bodice
The Niagara Keyhole Bodice pattern was inspired by the gorgeous pink wiggle dress Marilyn Monroe wore in Niagara (1953), created by costume designer Dorothy Jeakins.
This fully lined bodice has a sexy keyhole opening and a lower, wider, and deeper V-neckline than the Lisa Bodice (which was released in March). It is meant to be worn off the shoulder, and we’ve included a clever sewing trick to help it stay snug.
Even better, it’s in the Lamour series, so you have more than a dozen different skirts, pants, and shorts to pair it with!
You'll find the tiled file (for printing at home on A4 or letter size sheets and taping together) and the A0 file (for printing at a copy shop like ThePlottedPattern.com). Please note that we have two size blocks, so make sure to download the correct files for the size you're making. If you have any questions about which size to sew, don't forget to read our blog post with all the details!
Don't forget to share your makes with the hashtags #niagarabodice and #charmpatterns!
xoxo,
Gertie
P.S. If you don’t want the midriff-baring keyhole (or you want a longer sleeve option), you’ll LOVE what we’re releasing on the 15th!
Comments (57)
No line drawing? That frustrates my filing system.
I have a similar filing system! I found there is one on the website https://charmpatterns.com/shop/niagara-keyhole-bodice/
Are there any visual diagrams or a video for the Niagara pattern? I am too much of a visual person. Written instructions break my brain ;)
I would love if Gertie also did an upgraded version of Butterick 6322 too, to make it more accessible, I love it, but I can't get my hands on one. 😭 It reminds me of Rapunzel.
How can the pattern be lengthened into a blouse/top like the one Gertie wears in the last set of pictures?
I think it's a jumpsuit with Ginger as the bottom. I had the same question so I was studying the photos and the zipper seems to line up too well down the cb to be separates. My instinct is to just add a hem allowance and use a separating zipper but I haven't thoroughly read through the instructions yet 🙈
Has anyone tried with the Wanda skirt - I fancy making this as a wiggle dress with the wanda back vent option
Is this kind of like an updated version of the Butterick one? I had to do a lot of finagling with the pattern to make it fit when I made it a few years back so I'm very excited to remake it!
I am so excited! I was hoping for this pattern and here it is!
That black with white polka dots is perfection, and I am looking forward to the expansions
Wow!! This is a fin pattern!!! I’m not sure what bra I can wear with it tho but I’m gonna have to figure something out! This is hooooot!
It looks like there have already been a few questions in this vein but just logging it here in case it gets lost in the sauce. I love the idea of this. My question is specifically for those of us with capital B boobs or with heavy breast tissue, what would be the best way to handle that? Would it be to build in a sort of corselette? For a lot of us the standard WKD Merry Widow doesn't fit and for this design would be very visible. Would there perhaps be enough demand to maybe have a future Charm Patterns Merry Widow that we could make ourselves out of sturdy mesh to wear underneath options like this? Really love the option with the Millicent! It's very Raye!
Yes please! I am 100% into a Charm merriwidow.
beautiful! what kind of bra would you recommend with this? would a regular strapless bra be ok or would it be a better idea to get an adhesive bra to avoid the band showing through the keyhole?
Is there a non- keyhole version?
Which skirt pattern was used for the polkadot dress? I think this will be one of my outfits for fall Dapper Day!!!
I was wondering the same thing, and I could be wrong but it looks like Millicent to me
Amazing! What pants are the black ones?
Ginger Sailor Pants
The one I bought from Pinup Girl Clothing years ago was made from stretch bengaline - anyone know of a cheap woven stretch fabric that would be good for a muslin so I don’t have to waste the bengaline? Since the pattern says that it’s for wovens and that stretch wovens only might be OK, I might have to do a few mockups.
I know they don't have the best rep with everyone, but I source cheap stretch rayon bengaline from hobby lobby. Especially on weeks they have their 40% off on fabric. There's 2 different types of bengaline though, one of them has less stretch. I suggest bringing the PUG dress with you to compare stretch percentage!
Yay! I made the butterick version a couple years ago and I’ve honestly never looked hotter! Being a midsized boobed person I NEVER go braless, but I made it tight in a sturdy fabric and was quite surprised at how supportive it was. Almost like 18thC stays! Very cool and nice that there will be a closed front option for people who that doesn’t work for!
Will the bodice without the keyhole be available for the princess tier? Thank you, Gertie.
All bonus patterns are available for the Glamour Circle tier and up!
Isn't this a redo of your Butterick pattern B6413?
YES thank goodness because now I can actually get the correct cup size and do a plus size for my daughter 😍
I’m thinking this would be super cute with the Elsa culottes as a jump suit!
I super love it!! I'm so excited to make this! I've lost a lot of weight and my cup size went down quite a bit but... what bra am I supposed to wear with this? A fully boned strapless bra would be great for the off-the-shoulder look, but you'd be able to see the bra through the keyhole! Wearing a normal bra would work but then you have the straps showing! Do you wear this braless?? I'm so confused! I watched Niagara for the first time like 6 months ago and loved the dress Marilyn wore, but I'm just lost on what the foundations are supposed to be lol
depending on your comfort and size of course, you may want to consider adding built-in cups to the bodice?
Amazing!! Any chance of photos from the 18-34 size block? It would really help me visualize how it might look on bodies like mine!!
I completely agree. Hopefully the version on the 15th will have plus sized photos.
😍😍😍
I freaking LOVE this! I made this dress years ago with the old pattern. But since my boobs are huge, I am looking forward to this in cup sizes! YES!!!!!!! So excited!
So very excited for this one!
oh you know i love a lamour series! thank you!
In love with the polka dot version 😍
This bodice with the full skirt is so beautiful 😍
I am so excited for the release on the 15th, I love this bodice but the keyhole is not for me and I love that I don’t have to work out how to fill it in! We are spoilt, thank you Gertie! 💕
Just a quick practical question for large bosomed gals like me: what kind of bra do you wear underneath and that won’t show. I hate it when my bra shows.
I felt the same but then was pointed out she says in the PS will be a pattern hack for that so bra doesn’t show :-)
So excited! The photos are amazing. I am so excited to sew this given that I've made two of the butter version years ago.
Which pants is Gertie wearing? Im blanking on where to find those and need to pair with this 🥰
They're the Ginger Sailor pants
I knew it!!! Jumping with joy!!!
Oh ma gawd!!! I was like meh, then I saw the polar dot dress!! Then I saw the top!!!!!!!
Ooooo I'm definitely making a playsuit with this!!!
AHHHHH!!!! It's meeeeeee! The photos came out amazing, I cannot wait to make one for myself!
Thanks for being a model for this one. We loved having you visit us!
Hell yeah!! Just in time for me to make a playsuit for my vacation!
😱😱😱 oh a play suit would be amazing!!!
Very cute! 💖 Though I think I’ll be extending the midriff up to cover some of the keyhole - I know it’s sexy but I need to be able to support the girls! So until I can make my own merrywidow with a keyhole that’ll have to do… 😜
I think she's releasing a pattern hack on the 15th to not have the keyhole
This is very cute! Any pics of it on someone plus size please!
So cute!!
YESSSSSS
Oh wow. This is fantastic!
Love it!