How to make a corset - Foundations Revealed

Cathy Hay interviews Melanie Talkington, owner of Lace Embrace Atelier Inc., corsetiere to Dita von Teese and Cathie Jung, and antique corset collector.

Three awesome questions & solutions: fitting 1770's stays for curvy figures, changing overbust corsets to underbusts, and corsets for apple shape figures.

We talk to Kate Mior of Totally Waisted Corsets about how she juggles a business in corsetry with a career as an international street performer!

If you're a complete beginner, here's where you need to start. From picking a pattern to adjusting it to your size, the first baby steps are here.

This month we have three questions and lots of great answers!

Tilia asks for help in creating a corset pattern for an asymmetrical figure, and receives lots of great advice! Alessandra asks for advice with dealing with models, corsets and photoshoots Suzannah wonders how to clean everyday corsets

Two questions and a short story on the Letters page this month:

Zeina inquires about how to make a set of the 1660 watered silk stays from the V&A. Bernicia wonders about alternative lacing and where to find colored eyelets (hint: its in the most unexpected place!) A short story from 1913, in which the lady's undergarments play a starring role (it's a nice clean story, nothing risque actually happens!)

 

This month we have four questions:

Tips on transferring marks to the garment How to sew a challenging area on an 1891 Ageless patterns corset Question about bias cut panels on Teens corsets How to adjust a pattern for a client's challenging hip area

 

Practice + experience = better corsetmakers, but at FR we believe that we can help accelerate that process just a little.

Let's look at a challenge that'll get you thinking ahead and avoiding construction problems to come up with a fantastic corset on the first attempt.

It's all very well to know how to make a basic corset, but when you get a big, inspiring idea, it probably won't be a big, inspiring idea about a basic black underbust.

You want wings; you want to defy gravity; you want rows of tiny, deadly spikes down each boning channel. Whatever it is, you get the sinking feeling that this is going to be a tough call.

 

I can't believe that it's December already and that the Holiday season is almost upon us!

There are two questions this month. One on patterning/fitting a corset for a figure where the waist is almost as big as the hips. The other is on horizontal boning channels in 18th century corsets.

We also share a letter we received from a reader were she shares what she likes and what she'd like to see more of. Read it and see if you agree!

Do you have an antique corset in your collection that you'd like to see featured on FR? Click to read more about writing for us.

If you run your own business as a bespoke corsetmaker, you'll know how fragile a process you're getting into. How do you know that your client will pay? How do you know that they won't ruin and try to return what you've made them?

The answer to most concerns is to have a good contract. (And it works especially well if you're not in business, but making something for a friend or family member.)

This article appeared in its original form in Your Wardrobe Unlock'd some time ago; it appears here in an updated and reworked form, especially for corsetmakers. If you've read it before, read it again - are you doing all of these things to protect yourself?

On this page you can ask questions about any aspect of corsetmaking or historical underwear, however basic, advanced, general or technical, and receive answers both from our contributors and from other readers. We'd also love to publish your own tips, techniques and stories.

This month Suzannah asks about corset mannequins, Laurie inquires about the different site look and Natalie wonders how adaptable the corset drafting tutorial could be for other styles of corset.

How to make your own personalised custom corset pattern, based on corset designs of the late 1870s... this might just be the best corset pattern you'll ever use.

Those of you who know Your Wardrobe Unlock'd will already know about the "Letters, Questions and Advice" page, which we'll be doing here at Foundations Revealed too.

On this page you can ask questions about any aspect of corsetmaking or historical underwear, however basic, advanced, general or technical, and receive answers both from our contributors and from other readers.

Additionally, we'd also love to publish your own tips and techniques and stories.

Email the Editor with your questions, letters and advice for next month's coloumn.

This month we have two questions, supplied by those readers who subscribed early - one on copyright-free patterns for corsets made for retail and on proper length of bones. Plus, we share a 1910's silent corset commercial with you.

Thank you very much for passing the news on to our friends - that shows a great spirit of generosity,and that's what we need if we're going to spread the spirit of craftsmanship worldwide. There's enough for everyone, so why not share?

As our thank you to you, here's the special bonus chapter as promised.

Download The Corsetmaking Revolution: The Next Step here(Suitable both for Mac and PC users)

Use it, enjoy it, and feel free to ask questions by contacting us at info@harmanhay.com!

 

 

The revolutionary, free tutorial that enables you to create a unique, beautifully fitting corset from ANY pattern - antique or new.

It's the sixty-four million dollar question: how much should you charge for your work, without either selling yourself short or discouraging potential clients?

I'm going to give you a lot to think about here. I'm going to challenge you to think again; I'm going to tell you the biggest pricing mistakes that corsetieres make. Most importantly, I'll show you where to find the confidence to charge what you're worth. Take heart: success is out there waiting for you!