Corset Making Tutorials – Individual Tasks

Brown Herringbone Underbust - Flat Lining, by Sidney Eileen

How to Make a Floating Lining

This tutorial describes how to create a floating lining for your corset. A floating lining is when the lining is only attached around the edges, and not at each seam. The advantages of a floating lining are reduction of bulk at the seams while sewing and it can be replaced at a later date if needed.

Cream Silk Underbust with Lace Edging - Front View, by Sidney Eileen

How to Make a Floating Cover

A floating cover is when the cover of a corset is only attached at the edges of the corset, rather than being stitched into the core layers and boning along every seam. Sometimes this is done so that the boning channels are hidden from view. This tutorial shows how I make floating covers on corsets. In the process, I also create a floating lining.

How to Grommet by Hand

This tutorial shows specifically how to grommet a typical corset, but the technique is sound for any occasion where fabric needs to be grommetted.

How to Insert a Corset Busk, by Sidney Eileen

How to Insert a Busk

There are many ways to insert a busk in a corset. As long as the busk is held in place and can close, it will work. I use a dual-core method for constructing almost all my corsets, so the method I use takes advantage of the two layers. If you are constructing a single-core corset, this method can still be used, but the busk panel must be two-layer.

How to Add a Double-Busk

A double-busk (also called a backing bone) is quite simply an extra 1/2″ or wider spring steel flat, placed directly behind the busk opening. It serves not only to visually prevent undergarments or skin from peeking through the busk, but greatly strengthens the busk and helps to prevent the busk from popping open if the wearer is physically active, particularly with curvier figures.

How to Make a Busk Pocket, by Sidney Eileen

How to Make a Simple Busk Pocket

This tutorial was created using photographs from the corded Regency corset. It shows how to make a very basic busk pocket, applied to the front of a corset which does not have boning in the busk area.

How to Add Waist Tape to a Corset

Waist tape is twill tape, tailor’s tape, or other sturdy ribbon used to re-enforce the waistline of a corset. It’s not essential, but it does increase the durability of a corset by easing stress on the seams along the the highest stress point – the waist line. This tutorial describes several different methods of including waist tape in your corset.

How to Edge a Corset

This tutorial shows how to edge a gently curved or straight-edged corset using bias tape or ribbon.

How to Edge Around Tabs

This tutorial shows binding the edge of a corset around tabs using a sewing machine, and describes partial hand-stitching for the binding. The binding can also be entirely hand-stitched, but to save time I normally either completely machine-sew the binding, or machine-sew the front side of the binding.

How to Make a Boned Lacing Panel

A lacing panel is a lightly boned panel that fits underneath corset lacing to provide a fully finished look without skin or undergarments showing down the length of the corset.

Boning Channel Alignment Trick - 6, by Sidney Eileen

Boning Channel Alignment Trick

This demo shows one trick you can use to find the vertical placement of boning on a corset, regardless of piecing.