Corsets Sewing

Replacing a Broken Busk the Unconventional Way

by Sidney Eileen

I discovered a couple weeks ago that list time Diana wore her green silk overbust corset, she managed to break the busk.  She did not notice at the time, but was intending to wear it at Clockwork Alchemy at the end of May, so that meant I needed to replace the busk quickly.

Drab Green Silk Overbust Corset - Broken Busk; Corset by Sidney Eileen
The drab green silk overbust corset, busk removed so you can see the damage. One side was snapped, and the other was bent about 45 degrees. I cut off the busk area and removed the bones to either side of the busk. The edge is raw in the photo.
Drab Green Silk Overbust Corset - Busk Repair In Progress; Corset by Sidney Eileen
This is the drab green silk overbust corset, with the repair in progress. I decided it would be more interesting to replace the busk with a different closure, so I have sealed the raw edge with some ribbon binding.

Part of my motivation in making a different closure was to make the corset more steampunk, and the other part was to use materials I had on hand and not expend any money.  To that end, I made use of rivets, D-rings, leather, parachute cord, and a piece of brass which a friend graciously cut to size for me.  I had intended to use speed laces, but I only had four left, which was not enough for this use.

Drab Green Silk Overbust Corset - Replaced Busk; by Sidney Eileen
The drab green silk overbust corset, with its new busk and closure. I entirely used materials I had on hand. A friend graciously cut down the brass “busk” piece to the correct length. It is secured into a leather strip with rivets and leather pockets on the top and bottom. The leather is secured to the corset with more rivets. It will spiral lace closed, via the D-rings on the other side.

Since Diana will be wearing it at Clockwork Alchemy, my hope is to get some photos of it being worn at that time.