The current project is a tea-stained late Victorian overbust corset with a spoon busk. There are some interesting fit issues that deserve a full explanation once the corset is finished and the photos easy to examine. For now, let’s suffice to say that the front is full length on her torso, but the hips on
Read More
This afternoon I finished the cream silk underbust corset with lace edging. This is not a tight-lacing corset, but it does have a lot of hip spring, so I decided to try an 8-panel design rather than the usual six. I like the smoothness of the shape a lot better than the last tight-lacing corset
Read More
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
This past weekend I was finally able to coordinate time with a friend to take some photos of the grommeted corset. It is made from two layers of natural colored coutil, with leather edging and a leather “belt”, held in place with brass grommets. The boning is flossed in place, it is front lacing, and
Read More
This story is about the 1880’s wedding corset in cream silk with blue flossing. When a customer contacted me about wanting a corset for part of her wedding ensemble, I knew I wanted it to turn out absolutely perfect. I wasn’t worried about drafting the corset to fit her body, but I was a little
Read MoreI finally finished the 1880’s overbust wedding corset. It has two core layers of coutil, a cream dupioni silk cover, and plain cotton lining. The 14″ busk is backed with a 1/2″ wide spring steel flat. All of the boning is 1/4″ wide spring steel flats or spirals. I used four spiral steels on each side, for the
Read MoreI am currently working on flossing the corset. I used a very basic flossing stitch on the tops of the boning because they will be mostly hidden by the lace edging on the top edge of the corset. I am planning to add more decorative elements to the flossing along the bottom, but I’m not
Read MoreI have published a two-part demo/tutorial on how to make a Victorian overbust style corset with quilted gores. It’s the same information as in series of my journals last winter over at LiveJournal, and I compiled it into a formal 2-part article a couple weeks ago. I was originally waiting to publish until after this
Read MoreThe 1880’s overbust is ready for boning, flossing, and embroidery. Unfortunately, I am low on boning and the local store where I buy it is not open Monday or Tuesday, so this project is mostly on hold until then. I still have not done a photo shoot with the new corsets, best intentions aside. I
Read More