Below are images of the finished Victorian bodice pattern. It is inspired by one of the court gowns of Empress Elizabeth of Austria (a couple of the reference photos provided by customer are below). This is just the bodice, which includes a drape that is gathered into a bustle extension on the backmost panels. I
Read More
This is a commission for a sweetheart Victorian overbust pattern. I will also be making a gown bodice pattern to go with it, as part of a full Victorian gown creation, inspired by a court gown of Empress Elizabeth of Austria. I’ll post more details about that after I finish the bodice pattern. Canvas surtout
Read More
The customer who purchased the white tightlacing underbust also purchased a copy of the pattern. It is a fairly typical, 6-panel underbust Victorian pattern. The other pattern was commissioned solely as a pattern. It is a plus-sized, sweetheart overbust, with low hips and shoulder straps. She is long-torsoed as well, so the pattern is particularly
Read MoreThe reason you worry about grain is that all fabrics (even coutil) have stretch on the bias. In order for a corset to retain as true a shape as possible, the bias stretch needs to be minimized. To that end, I place the bias such that the pull on the panel will be as close
Read MoreI drew up a quick sketch and some basic tips on LiveJournal in regards to corset pattern drafting. It’s not much, but for what it’s worth: I actually sat down with a chemical engineer friend to confirm the practicality of using a mathematical formula to determine the amount of hip-spring to draft into any corset.
Read MoreI am currently working on a tight-lacing, double-satin Edwardian ribbon corset. Unlike the previous corset, this one is actually made from a spool of 2.25″ wide ribbon. Coutil will still be used for the busk, grommet pannel, and side panels. When finished, the corset will also feature a removable bow at the top of the
Read More
As part of a donation drive on LiveJournal, I was commissioned to make two different custom corset patterns. One person specifically wanted an adaptation of the Khaki Corded Corset on pages 62-65 of Jill Salen’s book, Corsets: Historical Patterns and Techniques, ISBN-13:978-0-89676-261-9. Normally, adapting a pattern to measurements is all a matter of mathematics. You
Read MoreOne of my current orders is for an 1880’s style overbust corset, to have a cream silk cover and blue flossing and embroidery. It’s for under a wedding dress. :) I am doing a mock-up of this one since the piecing in the front is very different from styles I have done previously. What follows
Read More
I finished the Victorian overbust corset I was making for myself, and took some photos so I could show the finished product. I designed and created the entire corset, from drafting through to the final details, and posted detailed progression photos in my scrapbook on LJ, including a serious after-completion modification to the bustline.
Read More