This started out of a combination of boredom, a desire to work on some corset making skills and a desire to make use of a pretty gold and pink brocade fabric I bought as a remnant a few years back.
I made my first corset for my costume for halloween just gone, part of a steampunk Dorothy outfit. It came out pretty good but there’s always room for improvement.
Steampunk Dorothy Costume
The first corset was designed to go over an undershirt so I didn’t do a lining on it (just two layers of duck canvas core and a top decorative layer) and it the top of the neckline went straight across the bustline. For the new one, which will be a stand alone piece of outerwear I wanted to go for a much higher sweetheart neckline, fully line the corset and make a lacing panel for the back.
So that’s the plan but it’s a long way down the line.
Step 1 was drafting the pattern. The pattern I used was this one. Sidney Eileen is a great resource for beginner corset makers and the method I’ll be using is entirely hers.
Next step was adjusting the pattern to my measurements, for which I used the method here. I have a feeling I’m going to need to make some changes to the pattern so for the first mock up I traced the pattern from the draft.
I started this a few weeks back so I had already drafted out the pattern and cut out a mock up from some plain white duck canvas. This weekend’s project was putting together the mock up, which I’ve almost completed. I just need to add a zip to the front for a mock up busk, add some grommets at the back for lacing and it will be ready for the first fitting. Progress 🙂
mirandamakesthings 