Tutorials and Articles - Sewing

All of the information contained in this website reflects my own personal experiences and preferences. There is more than one way to make a quality garment or corset, and as many opinions on sewing-related topics as their are sewing enthusiasts. I hope you find these articles and tutorials informative, helpful, or at least interesting, and as with any complex subject I would encourage you to research other viewpoints and try these methods for yourself before deciding whether or not they are right for you.

Informative Articles

Corset Care and Cleaning
With proper care, any well-made corset should last for years of regular wearing. This article describes how to store, deodorize, clean, and care for your corset so it lasts as long as possible.

Corset Alteration Tutorials

Corset Alteration - Reducing Bust Size
In this tutorial I will discuss how to fit and take out a dart at the bust to reduce the bust size on a corset. In the example corset shown, I removed a little more than one cup size from the bust.

Corset Alteration - Adding Hip Gores
This article describes how to add a triangular or trapezoidal gore into a fabric panel. No one method will work for all situations, but where possible I mention alternatives while describing the process I used for one particular corset.

Corset Detailing Tutorials

How to Add Lace Edging to a Corset
Lace edging can usually be added to a corset at any time, simply applied over the existing edge binding.

Corset Making Tutorials

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 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 Make 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 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.

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.

How to Edge a Corset
This tutorial shows how to edge a gently curved or straight-edged corset using bias tape or ribbon. When I have occassion to create photos of the process, I will add instructions for edging tabs and other sharp corners using bias tape. Ribbon, no matter how high quality, does not work well for sharp corners.

How to Make A Boned Lacing/Modesty Panel
A lacing panel (also called a modesty 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. It is usually a separate piece, but is sometimes sewn to one side of the corset to prevent it from becoming lost.

How to Make a Basic, Two-Layer Coutil Corset
The most basic kind of corset I make is a two-layer, plain coutil corset, using vertical panel piecing. This tutorial describes exactly how I make these corsets, and will note any simple variations you may want to try for yourself.

How to Make a Mesh Corset Using Sport Mesh - Part 1
How to Make a Mesh Corset Using Sport Mesh - Part 2
This tutorial demonstrates in detail how to make an underbust or waist cincher Victorian corset using a synthetic sport mesh. Mesh corsets were made in the late Victorian, but they were constructed using strong, natural-fiber mesh, like linen canvas for embroidery.

Construction Demo - Quilted Gore Victorian Overbust - Part 1
Construction Demo - Quilted Gore Victorian Overbust - Part 2
This is detailed construction walk-through of a Victorian-style corset with quilted gore piecing. The core is two layers of coutil on the panels, three layers of coutil on the gores. The cover material is peacock blue dupioni silk. Boning is spring steel flats, flossed in place. The first part of this demo covers the assembly of the body panels, and the creation of the boning channels. The second part covers how to quilt and insert the gores, and how to edge the corset.

Off-Site Tutorials and Articles

All of these articles and tutorials are written by me, but hosted on other web sites. Many of them duplicate information available above. They are listed in order of posting, with the most recent on top.

How to Make a Corset Using Sport Mesh - Part 1
Saturday, 10 April 2010
This tutorial demonstrates in detail how to make an underbust or waist cincher Victorian corset using a synthetic sport mesh.  Mesh corsets were made in the late Victorian, but they were constructed using strong, natural-fiber mesh, like linen canvas for embroidery.  Heavy-duty sport mesh is a...

© 2010 - Fashion Students Online

How to Make a Corset Using Sport Mesh - Part 2
Sunday, 02 May 2010
This is part two of a tutorial demonstrating in detail how to make an underbust or waist cincher Victorian corset using a synthetic sport mesh.  Mesh corsets were made in the late Victorian, but they were constructed using strong, natural-fiber mesh, like linen canvas for embroidery. ...

© 2010 - Fashion Students Online

How to Make a Double-Busk
Friday, 04 December 2009
The first time I made a double-busk for a corset, I was absolutely stunned by the difference in the strength and stability of the 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...

© 2009 - Fashion Students Online

Corset Care and Cleaning
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
With proper care, any well-made corset should last for years of regular wearing. Even if it's not worn regularly, caring for a corset properly is very important. It can be very disheartening to pull out an expensive item like a corset, only to find that it is ruined by improper storage, or has...

© 2009 - Fashion Students Online

How to Add Waist Tape to a Corset
Thursday, 05 November 2009
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. I typically use tailor's tape,...

© 2009 - Fashion Students Online

Corset Alteration - Reducing the Bust Size
Saturday, 24 October 2009
This is the first in a series of tutorials I will be writing on the subject of modifying an existing corset. In this tutorial I will discuss how to fit and take out a dart at the bust to reduce the bust size on a corset. In the example corset shown, I removed a little more than one cup size...

© 2009 - Fashion Students Online

Creating a Tabbed and Boned Elizabethan Corset - Part 1
Monday, 19 October 2009
In this tutorial, I explain how to create a fully functional, boned and tabbed Elizabethan-style conical corset. The pattern shown is not 100% historically accurate, but the shape is based on one existent historic corset, and is consistent with modern re-enactment. The corset shown is...

© 2009 - Fashion Students Online

Creating a Tabbed and Boned Elizabethan Corset - Part 2
Monday, 19 October 2009
In this tutorial, I explain how to create a fully functional, boned and tabbed Elizabethan-style conical corset. The pattern shown is not 100% historically accurate, but the shape is based on oneexistent historic corset, and is consistent with modern re-enactment. The corset shown is...

© 2009 - Fashion Students Online

Grommetting By Hand
Saturday, 26 September 2009
This tutorial shows specifically how to grommet a typical corset, but the technique is sound for any occasion where fabric needs to be grommetted. The setter and the grommets shown are size#0 that may be purchased at most any hardware store, fabric store, craft store, or corsetry supply store, as...

© 2009 - Fashion Students Online