Finally got round to it

Last September I started making this corset as a little project for myself. I had been gifted several historical patterns, so I thought I would try one out. It was a bit more of a challenge because they were entirely in French, but I got there.

It had been tucked away in a corner since then, finished apart from the bones, bias binding and eyelets. A friend very kindly offered to do a photo-shoot for my Wollaton costumes for me, so it gave me a push to finish it off so I could add it in.

I really like the shape of the front. According to Harriet, my flatmate who kindly agreed to model for the shoot, its really comfortable.

I think she quite enjoyed herself.
I don’t really have a use for it, so I’ve put it in my etsy shop.

2 weeks, late nights, and a lot of ruffles

It was a different project to what I’m used too, instead of lots of time on one outfit with a decent amount to spend or a decent amount donated for a very special occasion. This time I had to be very quick, and spend as little as possible.

I like to make my corsets to the best standard I can, hand sewing the bias-binding etc, because of the time constraints I had to machine stitch the bias-binding, and it actually made me cringe to do it. It was very satisfying to see everything come together so quickly though.

This is why I’m not the photographer

I wish I knew her name, here are the pictures taken by the professional that uni organised for the end of the project. I get my feedback about how I did soon, hope it goes well.

In the mean time, I’ve been feverishly corset making. 2 down, 3 to go, I have 5 full sets of Moulin rouge costumes to make for my flatmates birthday night out next Wednesday.

Goodbye fingertips

Today I did all the finishing off stages on Ron's corset (the one with the belt of appliqué panels). The majority of this was bias binding, measuring cutting it out, sewing it on the front with the machine, and invisible stitching it onto the lining.

I enjoy the hand sewing parts, though this corset was harder than usual, the lining layer was cortile. So instead of the nice thin silk or cotton like I had sew through before, I had extra extra thick material that really doesn't appreciate having a needle shoved into it. To the point I even had to use pliers a couple of times.

But now its finished, with a tiny 18" waist when its fully closed. We are doing a photo shoot on Sunday so I will be able to show its full glory then.

You may call me the Eyelet Queen

There are quite a lot of different ways to set eyelets. I have used a cheap little hand punch one before, but it never gave very good results. However after eyeleting about 100 little holes over the past few days, I'm pretty sure I have mastered this better method.

You need: Something to eyelet, I was doing a corset toile,

Some eyelets,

Same number again of washers,

A solid base for hammering onto,

A hammer,

An eyelet base,

An eyelet steadying stick thing.

First make a hole, I used a hefty metal hole punch, but you can ease the fabric threads aside or very carefully use scissors. Then push the eyelet through the hole, make sure the right side is on the right side.

Now place the eyelet, still in the fabric, onto the eyelet base so that the front sits neatly in the little dent.

Place the washer over the top of the wrong side. It needs to be the way up so that it makes a little circular trough, this gives a place for the squashed eyelet to sit.

If you get it the wrong way round (like I did when I wasn't paying attention) it looks messy and isn't as strong, use some small pliers, carefully ease the pieces apart and start again.

Place the small end of the stick thing into the eyelet over the washer, and give it a few raps with the hammer.

It should now look like the top two eyelets in this picture. If it sticks up too much, put the stick back on and hammer it some more.

Now turn it over and tah-dah! Neat little holes, perfect for lacing.