Real, Edwardian-period Corset

[FayeOfTheFairies]

*edit* I'm so sorry! I typed Edwardian instead of Elizabethan by accident, which TOTALLY would change the style of the corset. I meant Elizabethan! Sorry! *

Yeah, I know I might be crazy, but I am a Renaissance FREAK. I go to the fair every year, and never had a corset before - but it's pretty much an essential piece of the outfit because it creates the whole silhouette of the outfit!

So, lo and behold, I set to work on making a corset (or, more accurately, stays)! I made this completely from scratch - I even made my own personal pattern! Tell me what you think(:


http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff137/laurenlovex/Photo1769.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff137/laurenlovex/Photo1770.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff137/laurenlovex/Photo1772.jpg
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff137/laurenlovex/IMG_3781.jpg

Pardon the whole breasts-spilling-over-the-top thing but.. That's what corsets do! :D
Oh, and P.S. : This corset is fully-boned, which means completely supported with plastic (for me) boning.

[coolbeans]

i absolutly love this. i have an obsession with corsets but i can never find one with unflexible stays and it seems so complicated to make one. how hard was this to make?

[FayeOfTheFairies]

It wasn't actually that difficult, just VERY time consuming. I could maybe make a tutorial sometime for it. Also, be prepared for sore fingers. I used polyester/plastic boning, which is sort of an in between in flexibility, and my fingers were still sore for like a day. If you want a corset in this style, there's a website where you type in your measurements and it gives you a way to trace your own personal pattern - though it has some flaws, and I found myself fixing it to how I wanted it. Thank you so much, by the way!

[coolbeans]

that sounds great i'd defiantly love a tutorial on this!

[CocoColette]

very historic looking! love it but it looks a bit uncomfortable! LOL

[Vampy]

I think it looks awesome! I love corsets so much! My friend Tess has one. She is stuck to it.

[lindsay_pai]

it turned out great! nice job :D

[ryanmoore]

i would love a tutorial
my school is doing pride and prejudice next year
and i'm designing it
i would love to use this!

[patchwork_kitty]

First of, well done! You did a great job for a first time corset.
It is a bit off though, especially for being a historic corset, so here are a few tips for the next one you make. =)
Corsets are intense even for professionals, and most do use store bought patterns.I would recommend using one for your next corset. Simplicity and Budrick make wonderful historically accurate patterns, and they are also affordable. You also may want to think about ordering some metal boning for the next one. Its the best for cinching your waist, and giving your corset a long life of use. The plastic will eventually warp and buckle.

So the big things to think about when you make another one are...
-It looks like you are tight lacing (exactly what it sounds like) Your breast should be pushed in and up, but not spilling over the top.
-The corset should end at the top, or half way down your hips, depending on the era its from. You have yours ending at your natural waist line. On top of it being uncomfortable, its also bad for your body to wear it like that.
- The classic cinched waist on a corset comes from the fabric pieces being curved in and out, and then pieced together. When the corset is laced, it brings the waist in more then the rest.

I found this website on Google (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.koshka-the-cat.com/edcorset/ed_corset5.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.koshka-the-cat.com/ed_corset.html&h=550&w=368&sz=28&hl=en&start=11&um=1&tbnid=Y0odlddcKKGAIM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dedwardian%2Bperiod%2Bcorset%26um%3D1% 26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3DfUm%26sa%3DN), its a woman talking about her Edwardian corset she made. Notice how her waist in cinched, and how she doesn't have fat or boobs spilling over the top, or out of the bottom. This is a perfect example of a good fit, and a historical styled corset.


Hope this all helps! Once again, great first time corset!

[ysmeine]

I have to agree it is quite short and not exactly Edwardian. However, if you are looking for an Elizabethan corset the overall structure is not bad. I would add a wooden busk to the front though. Here is an Elizabethan corset pattern generator, you just plug in your measurements and you get detailed instructions on cutting and sewing your corset. http://www.elizabethancostume.net/custompat/index.html

[FayeOfTheFairies]

Agh, I'm sorry. I meant to say Elizabethan - it was seriously a mistake of mine.

To reply to patchwork_kitty: Elizabethan stays weren't made for cinching in waists (that's Victorian, etc.), then were made for creating a flat-fronted silhouette and a large, and sort of smushed (in and up!), bosom.

I recommend making your own - or at least seriously adjusting - patterns for corsets. I have friends who have horror stories of doing so much work on a corset and it did not fit because of that.

I've done serious researching, and have taken classes on historical clothing. I know what I was doing with this corset - In Elizabethan times, this was how the corsets were made. You don't tight-lace for this type of corset, and mine isn't.

For the plastic warping: it doesn't do so as much if you do not wash it - which, for corsets, would be the kiss of death (usually), anyhow. The point of corsets is for it to be exactly form-fitting. You need it to warp to your body. If you aren't tight-lacing, which is NOT accurate for Elizabethan, then you'll have no problem with the buckling. The main focus for this period was for a flat front and large bust, as I said, not a tiny waist. In fact, if you were larger it was seen as attractive: it meant you were wealthy enough to afford the food.(: !

To ysmeine: I used that website! (: I just had to change a few things because it wasn't the right size still, but I got the basic structure and instructions from there. It's great! About the wooden busk - I REALLY wanted to, because I know that it's historically correct, but I really didn't know how to do something like that :\ if you know, please tell me!!

[diypirate]

wow that looks great, and yeah i know what you mean about that website not giving the right sizes or whatever cause i used that to make my corset and well...it's way to small :P

but i love yours

[Ms. MaCabre]

i love corsets!!!!! that one was fantastic

[Da Vid]

good idea for the boning!

[patchwork_kitty]

Im sorry that my advice obviously offended you. I've been sewing for my whole life,and professionally for high scale theater productions for 3 years. Most of my work is historical reproduction, and no matter what era that corset was created for, its your first one, and it has some flaws. But thats totally what first time corsets are for, there are one of the trickiest garments to create. I still think you did a wonderful job for a first time, I just thought I would help you out for your next one.

For the washing: washing is not the kiss of death for a corset.(unless it was made very, very poorly) You have to make sure you pre wash all of your fabrics , and then always hand wash, and rack dry. Works like a charm, no matter what the corset is made out of. I cant imagine how smelly the corset room in my costume shop would be if we didn't wash them!

[crafty.rebel]

What's Edwardian?

[wiche603]

That corset is awesome. I've always loved the Elizabethan items because they're just amazing. And you did an amazing job on the corset. It's so cooooooooooool!

[FayeOfTheFairies]

That corset is awesome. I've always loved the Elizabethan items because they're just amazing. And you did an amazing job on the corset. It's so cooooooooooool!

Thank you thank you!

[ysmeine]

for my corset I bought an oak plank 2" wide and 1/4 " thick from Lowes. The length I purchased was about long enough for two. I tapered it using a rasp/file and then sanded it smooth. Two holes are drilled into it near the top to lace it in place. Before I had my busk finished I used a wooden spoon.

I found the measurements worked for me, but everyone is different. I still say you did a great job.

[April Pie]

Nicely made bodys. it's always good to have good stays.

[Rainshadow]

Did the word 'edwardian' make anyone else think of Edward from Twilight?

Yeah...i'm screwed up, haha

But sweet corset.

[meeshybop]

coool
i like it, you did really well!
i designed a fully boned working victorian corset to get onto my costume degree course, i loved making it!
I covered it all though but i still have pictures of it plain.

[mulitiplemajesty]

soo cool! how long did it take to make?

[ladyjanewriter]

I love it!!!