weekend corset
As promised, here're some pictures of the corset I made during JoAnn Peterson and Barbara Muran's Victorian Corset Workshop this weekend.


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I'm wearing the chemise from the same pattern set.


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The back


The pattern is Laughing Moon 100, Dore, but with extra hip gores in the lower back to accommodate my ghetto booty.

I brought the fashion fabric along, just in case it was needed, but the class really did provide for everything. Regardless, I flatlined the brocade to the coutil and used that as one layer, and the lining as the under layer. All bones and grommets and the busk (even the gold one I used here!) were provided with the cost of the class (only $100!).

The really interesting thing about the fitting technique is that Barb and JoAnn had each size available, already mocked up, then wrapped each participant in various sizes to see what would be the best fit. Then we adjusted from there. As my torso length is standard, we didn't need to adjust the pattern in that way for me, but others did.

I cut my fashion fabric as a size 20, but put in a hip gore between the center-back and side-back panels. When we fit the assembled (unlined) corset on me, we decided to take in the top by 1/8" between the center back/side-back panels and side-back/side panels. (total 1 inch reduction on the top). The hips were too big still, so I added an extra hip gore between the side-back and side panels. With those pieces added, the back laces evenly.

After that, I assembled the lining, attached it to the rest of the corset, stitched the boning panels (no boning channel tape or sandwich methods or any of the crazy channeling contortions I normally do), slapped on the bias, inserted the spring steel bones (no spiral), put on the top bias, laced it with the ribbon in front to create a curve over the bust area, and voila!! Finished from start to finish in about 12 hours! Easiest corset I ever made!

While I was there, Barbara had some gorgeous coutil she had embroidered for the front panels. I couldn't resist the purple on black and snatched it up:




(there's a picture of a finished corset with this detail here)

I'm looking forward to making up the black and purple one for everyday wear. Purple flossing!! MMMMM....