Taming the Beast

Time to finish this beast.

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In my last post I ended with sewing the boning channels.

Once that was done I put the boning in, put the binding on, laced it up and my fatal mistake. Waiting till every thing was sewn in place to try it on... When making a Corset, you should NOT do this....

As you know I had to lengthen the corset by a few inches to make it fit properly. Well, it was long enough all right. I nearly cried when I tried it on and found that I couldn't sit down it was so long. 

So I proceded to rip out the binding, cutting off about one inch from the bottom, and resewing every thing back up...Once again, I nearly cried when I tried it on the SECOND time. I now had a hard choice to make. Do I let it slide and just avoid sitting down. Or do I do it the RIGHT way and rip out the binding again, cut about half the boning down anywhere from one to two and a half inches....

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I did the right thing. It took the better part of two days but, gosh darn it, I got it done. The third time that I tried it one I did NOT cry.

All in all, I shortened it by about two and half inches.

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Once getting the length finally figured out, I was able to start finishing it.

Fun stuff. sewing the X's at the bottom of the boning, and putting the wide lace at the top.

I am very pleased with how it came out.

One of the best parts is that it is a very comfy corset. I know you wouldn't think that a corset could or would be comfy, but if you have a corset that is made FOR YOU and that fits you like a glove. You can easily wear it all day and at the end of the day not be screaming to take the thing off. 

Hear we have my 1860's corset on top so you can see how different it is!

side by side.

And there you have it! the Beast. When starting this corset I thought it would be a rather hellish sort of project, but it turned out not to be as bad as it could have been.
In fact after making this corset I would like to re-do my 1860's corset. Not anytime soon though...

Happy Corseting~
Kacie




1902 corset part #2.

Where to begin?

In my first 1902 corset post I ended with finishing the re-drafted pattern.

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After getting the pattern ready I had to decide what type of fabric I wanted it to be made out of.

You can use anything from silk, wool or cotton to construct a corset.

I chose some lovely cream colored twill.

                                                                      

You really only need to line a corset if you are making it out of something light weight like silk, or cashmere, but I decided that I would line it anyway. So I wouldn't need to get twill tape for the boning channels.

On the outer seems I decide to do french seems. It takes longer but it makes it look much better. Plus it gives the corset added strength. I did regular seems on the lining. Once I had the outside and lining done I had to wait a few weeks before we where able to order the boning and other needed supplies.

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The supplies arrived and I was able to get back to work.

Marking for the busk. It takes time. If you take that time and do it right, it pays off!!

The gaps where the hook side of the busk go through.

Top stitching for the hook side.

The finished hook side of the busk.

The entire busk complete.

Base stitching the lining and outer to make sure that while sewing the boning channels,

 the outer and lining stay where you want them.

Ready to sew the boning channels.

All the boning, eyelets and lacing.

Some of the pieces that I ordered where to long so I had to cut a "few"* down.

(* when I say a few, well.. I will get more into that in my next post...)

Two of the pieces cut down and ready to use.

Aren't they cute little baby boning? The smaller ones are only 3'' long.

The corset with all the boning channels sewn, washed to get the pen markings out and ready for the "final" steps.

And that's all for now folks!

Happy Corseting~

Kacie