Monday 6 February 2017

Firebird corset Dress Diary



Inspired by fabric


First Toile, unboned.

Pattern pieces of toile after lots of tweaking. Corset fitting is a precise art.



Comparison of second (coutil toile) to first.


Final toile transferred to card, with bust extension added.


Cutting out the silk (coutil lining already cut out and pieced together)


Flames ready for sealing.


Flames after sealing (non-natural fabrics can be sealed by running a flame carefully along the edge)

The insides after boning.


Applying eyelets. Hammering was very hard work, so borrowed a vice to squeeze! Corset making can use some heavy equipment.  There may be an eyelet press in my future...


Main corset done, with edges still raw.

Edges finished (rear view, which was changed from original design slightly).

Edges finished, front.  At this stage the corset is done and could be worn (apart from some finishing on the lining).


Pinning on the flames before tacking into place.

Finishing the inside edges for neatness and strength.


It fits!


Posy shot,  I realised at this point that the ragged edge of flames didn't really work for me, so there was a bit more tweaking after this.


Still fits, but not sure I'd be daring enough to wear it out!

Rear view, finished.

Detail of hip panel flame.

Finished front view.

Detail of back.