How to Add a Bust Ribbon to a Corset

How to Add a Bust Ribbon to a Corset, by Sidney EileenThe bust ribbon is a small ribbon along the top of the bust which can be tightened to cinch in the top of the bust slightly, or just tied into a nice little bow for decoration.  This tutorial shows the bust ribbon added to a corded Regency style corset, and I used narrow silk taffeta.

Edge the entire top edge of the corset before adding the bust ribbon so pulling the ribbon will not create friction and potentially fray the raw edge of the corset inside the edging.  By doing this the bust ribbon can also later be removed or replaced without causing any harm to the corset.

This is an easy detail to add to a corset which is otherwise already finished.

How to Add a Bust Ribbon to a Corset, by Sidney Eileen
If your edging is not wide enough, stitch two lengths together along their sides.

My edging ribbon is not quite wide enough to cover the existing edging, so I stitched two lengths of ribbon edge to edge.  Ideally, you will want an edging ribbon or bias tape which is naturally wide enough.

How to Add a Bust Ribbon to a Corset, by Sidney Eileen
Attach the edging to the outside of the corset.

You need to leave a small hole at the center of the bust where the ribbon will emerge, so, following the same procedure as for normal edging, start just to the side of center and stitch until you are under the armpit.  Leave roughly one inch of edging ribbon loose under the armpit.

How to Add a Bust Ribbon to a Corset, by Sidney Eileen
Thread your ribbon through the hole.

Repeat the procedure on the other side, leaving a hole about 1/4″ or 1cm wide.  This photo shows two silk taffeta bust ribbons threaded through the hole.

Alternatively, you can make two small holes with a small stitched area between, threading the ribbons each through one hole.  If you do this, the knot for the bow will stay outside the edging.  If it emerges through a single hole, the knot will pull back into the edging when it is tied, leaving just the loops and tails of the bow visible.

How to Add a Bust Ribbon to a Corset, by Sidney Eileen
Sew your ribbon end to the end of your edging material.

To secure the outer end of the bust ribbon, stitch it to the loose end of the edging ribbon.  I used a zig-zag stitch and went back and forth several times to make sure it would hold.

How to Add a Bust Ribbon to a Corset, by Sidney Eileen
This photo shows the silk bust ribbon stitched to the cotton edging ribbon and threaded through the hole.
How to Add a Bust Ribbon to a Corset, by Sidney Eileen
Finish the new binding around the bust ribbon.

The new layer of binding around the edging ribbon is finished exactly the same as normal edging, but be careful not to catch the bust ribbon in the stitching.  The outer ends are folded under, but not stitched.  That way if the bust ribbon needs to be replaced, new ribbon may be threaded in from the armpit area and secured by hand.

How to Add a Bust Ribbon to a Corset, by Sidney Eileen
This photo shows the bust ribbon pulled slightly, so there is some gathering along the top edge.

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