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November 3, 2003

Traced my pattern size and then made a mock bodice. I had heard that this ran small, but I wasn't sure, so I just made up the size that looked the closest to mine. It was too small and I ended up adding 1 1/2" to each side piece. I didn't take any pictures of the mock bodice. Sorry! I also made a sketch of where I would like to put my cording and bones. Below is the diagram:

    

Click on the pictures above for a larger view. The first one is the full diagram and the second one is a close up of where I plan on adding a bit of embroidery. I got the idea from this picture:

Also notice on the bottom of the gussets in that same picture of the embroidery, you can see that they have been over stitched with thread. I also did this on my gussets. It's very simple. Just do a button hole stitch at the bottom edge of each gusset. This covers up any loose threads that may be sticking out and also strengthens it.

November 4, 2003

Today I ran to the fabric store and picked up some cotton sateen for my stays. I washed all my fabric and then cut out the pattern. There are three layers to this corset. Two layers of cotton sateen and an inner layer of cotton coutil. The coutil I am using is left over from a corset I made several years ago. There was just enough, in fact a bit more, for this corset! The directions in the Mantua-Maker Regency Corset pattern says to sew each layer separately, but I decided I wanted to baste the coutil and the front layer of the corset together before assembling the corset. This adds a little more strength to the seams, and it also allows me to only have to sew two separate layers instead of three. :-)

November 12, 2003

Well, it's been a while since I last updated this. I finished sewing both the inner and outer layers as well as the lining pieces. I then basted them together and have started making the casings. It was a bit difficult to sew the coutil and lining pieces, especially the gussets, since there were so many layers. I'm sure it wouldn't have been as difficult if I did it by machine. But, it looks fine and I'm all through with that now. ;-) I just ordered a custom made busk from Corsets Jardinière and I'm sure I'll find it perfect for this corset. I will be cording most of my corset, but also adding four steel bones. Two in the front and two in the back opening. You can see where I plan on putting those in my cording diagram above. I am using 1/16" wide hemp for the cording. I plan on doubling it for each casing. Jenny-Rose has wonderful directions on how to do the cording runners on her website. I tried her method on a sample of my coutil and sateen fabric and it works beautifully. I can't wait until I'm ready to do the cording!