After a trip to the fabric store two doors down from Bra-makers Supply, they started laying out their fabric. Ottawa Street is always a fun place to shop for corset fabrics – the choices are incredible!
The they started the construction phase – the first thing is always the busk. There are so many styles and metal finishes to choose from!
I think the scariest part of making a corset is the busk – the toughest part is right at the beginning! Of course, they learned how easy it actually is! Shhh…don’t tell anyone!
From the busk onward, it was smooth sailing. Even the binding was no big challenge to our seasoned sewists!
Eva was making corsets for her daughter but also makes costumes for a theater group – where corset makers are always in demand! She showed us a photo book of all the costumes she’s made over the past 10 years, but until now she’d never made a corset. She used the antique bronze busk and grommets to accent this brick-red and deep jade corset.
Karin made this off-white corset with taupe-coloured ribbons over the bone lines.
On to the underbust corset! Eva’s second corset was an underbust version and this was the corset they could do some design work on. Eva chose some applique trim and applied crystals on hers.
Karin worked some colour blocking into her underbust corset. She also reduced the waist on this corset another 2″ from the regular corset, bringing the total reduction of her waist down by 6″ from its usual size. Colour blocking makes a little of a precious fabric go a long way – that’s important when you are in the business of making corsets for sale.
So that’s our digital fashion show for Corset week! Stay tuned – as coming up next week is Swim Week and we have a full house, so there will be lots to show as the students “dive” into swimwear (bad pun…sorry, folks!)
I am just beginning on my corset making journey. Instead of wearing an ugly hernia binder, I want to make an attractive underbust corset that will accomplish the same thing, only attractive and stylish. Wish me luck!
I am just starting my journey into corset making. I have had a history of abdominal hernias and rather than wear the ugly hernia binder given to me, I’d rather wear an underbust corset with style. Thank you for so much information.
Beautiful Corsets. Making them seemed to be a lost art but lately I'm seeing a comeback.