How To Sew Sequin Leotard for Pole Dance - Part 1
Oh my gosh, friend — if you've ever looked at a jaw-dropping, sparkly, cutout leotard on stage and thought "I could never make that"... I am here to completely change your mind.
Welcome to Part 1 of the FREE Cassia Leotard tutorial series! This is your official invitation to pull up a chair, watch over my shoulder, and learn exactly how I bring one of my most-loved leotard designs to life — the Cassia.
And yes, this is free. Because I want you to see what's possible.
What Is the Cassia Leotard?
The Cassia is a high-cut, halter-neck leotard with a beautiful keyhole cutout at the front — the kind of piece that makes an entire room turn around. It's bold, it's performance-ready, and yes — you can absolutely sew this yourself.
This three-part tutorial series walks you through the whole process, step by step, from fabric prep all the way through to a finished leotard you'll be obsessed with.
What We Cover in Part 1
In this first video, we're laying the groundwork — and trust me, getting this part right makes everything easier later. Here's what we dive into:
✦ The Fabric — Stretch Sequin Mesh Not all sequin fabrics are created equal! I'm using a stretch sequin mesh for the Cassia, and in the video I walk you through exactly what that is, why I love it for this project, and what makes it different from regular sequin fabric. Spoiler: the stretch factor changes everything when it comes to fit and movement.
✦ Cutting Sequin Fabric the Right Way Here's where most beginners go wrong — they grab their everyday scissors. Nope! In this tutorial I show you the specific scissors you need for cutting sequin fabric cleanly, and why using the wrong ones will make your life unnecessarily hard. This tip alone will save you so much frustration.
✦ Keeping Your Pattern Pieces in Place Sequin fabric is slippery, shifty, and a little bit cheeky. I show you exactly how I place my pattern pieces on the fabric so they don't move around while I'm cutting — a simple trick that gives you clean, accurate pieces every time.
Who Is This Tutorial For?
This series is designed for confident beginners and intermediate sewists. If you've made a few things before and you're ready to level up into performance and dancewear — this is your moment.
You do not need to be an expert. You just need to be willing to learn, go at your own pace, and have a little fun with it.
Watch Part 1 Right Here 👇
Want Parts 2 & 3 Now? Here's How to Get Them.
Parts 2 and 3 of the free series will be dropping here in the coming weeks — so make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss them!
But if you're the kind of person who doesn't want to wait (I see you and I love that energy for you) — I've got you completely covered.
🎉 Get the Full Cassia Mini Course
The Cassia & Acacia Mini E-Course gives you instant access to everything you need to sew this leotard from start to finish:
✦ The complete video tutorial series available for 3 months
✦ A detailed directions manual
✦ PDF patterns in A4, US Letter, and A0 layered formats — perfect for home printing and studio formatting yours for life.
→ Grab the Cassia Mini E-Course here
🏆 Or Go All-In with the Leotard Wardrobe Vault
Want more than just one leotard? The Leotard Wardrobe Vault is my complete collection of leotard patterns and tutorials — and it comes with a bonus tutorial and pattern for the Acacia leotard (the stunning red version you can see alongside the Cassia).
If you've been wondering what the Vault is like, this free series gives you a real taste of the teaching style and quality inside. Consider this your backstage pass.
→ Join the Leotard Wardrobe Vault here
See You in Part 2!
I am so excited for you to be on this journey. Whether you're sewing the Cassia for a performance, a photoshoot, or just because you can — you are going to love how this turns out.
Drop a comment below and let me know: what fabric are you planning to use for yours? I'd love to see what you're working with! ✨
With so much sparkle,
Leonie xxx
India Jean
Sew & Strut
Coming soon → Part 2 | Part 3