A sewing question

[cupcake_goth]

Soooo, if someone was interested in attempting to make their own waist cinchers (and that someone fully realizes that the first few attempts will probably Not Look Entirely Right), what patterns would you more experienced sewing types recommend? What bits of advice do you wish that someone had told you before you attempted to make a corset-y type thing?

Comments

[vienna-la-rouge.livejournal.com]

Looks like I'm not the only one busy stitching today ;-)
Try this for a nice basic cincher. It's an easy pattern that has a few different options:
http://trulyvictorian.netfirms.com/catalog/492.html

I love Truly Victorian so much that I spent nearly $80 today on a bunch of their patterns. Whee!...ouch.

xoxox

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

I use the Past Patterns late Victorian (http://www.pastpatterns.com/213.html). About the only thing I don't like about that pattern is that it's a little too biconical even for me. You might want to add some curve to the hips. Advice?

• Use rotary cutters to make things as precise as possible. One of the biggest problems I had, especially early on, was making the layers match up right. Even balzacq has run into that, he says.
• Get some twill stay case tape. Marie at the Fitting Room sells it, but she seems to have fallen off the web. It's durable, and making your own stay cases is a pain.
• julzerator suggests backstitching at the busk since there's so much stress on those seams. I didn't start doing that until my last one and I wish I'd started earlier.
• Grommet setting tools: I have a punch, mandril, and anvil for plain 0 grommets from Richard the Thread (they sell to real costume shops, so they have everything). Those tools work fine for me; cheaper ones didn't.
• Don't by corset notions from Pacific Fabrics Northgate. Their prices and size selection aren't so good.

Marie at the Fitting Room

[kajafoglio.livejournal.com]

Marie is currently having her Web site overhauled, but she's still in business. If you want to talk to her, I can always send you her e-mail address.

Re: Marie at the Fitting Room

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

Please do! Sending to my username at LJ works. I'm going to need corset supplies myself in a few weeks.

Oh, another piece of advice for prncsmoonbeam: my pattern instructions say to hand-sew the binding. I'm impatient enough to use a machine, but I inevitably break needles on the stays. Your call.

Re: Marie at the Fitting Room

[kajafoglio.livejournal.com]

Well, I can actually send you to the page with all of the ordering info on it. It's here:

http://members.aol.com/fittingrm/catalog.htm

Re: Marie at the Fitting Room

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

Hunh. I couldn't get to that page yesterday. Thanks.

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

I've never made a corset, but I certainly read about them all of the time! This is Laughing Moon's newest corset cincher, and I think it's gorgeous!

http://www.lafnmoon.com/113_underbust_corset.html

Then go read...
http://trulyvictorian.netfirms.com/LM100.html

for helpful hints in making corsets

[wingedelf.livejournal.com]

You may also want to float this question at corsetmakers and/or corsetry.

[mineke.livejournal.com]

Ah crap, I meant to make copies, or scan in, that waist cincher corset pattern how-to! It's sitting on my desk at home. I'll get it scanned somehow...what's your file format of choice? PDF?

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Oooh, thank you! PDF would be just dandy.

[mineke.livejournal.com]

It's just the patternmaking instructions, so it won't show you how to sew the thing. I may be able to find some good sewing instructions around...here...somewhere...

comment with your e-mail addy! or e-mail it to me at kmineke at hotmail dot com

[valerian.livejournal.com]

Some advice is worth taking if you plan on using steel boning (because it has less give than plastic):

Before even considering a pattern, before even getting your courage up, measure yourself in quadrants first to see if you are crooked or not. Such as: horizontally at waist from right side to centre front; left side to centre front; left side to centre back, right side to centre back, etc. And don't assume that both (example) waist-to-armpit measurements are going to be the same. Don't assume; always measure both. And, vertical measurements are just as important as horizontal ones.

Measuring myself like this would have saved me 7 attempts worth of grief. I learned that variations of more than 1/4" can make a HUGE difference on a garment that is meant to be extremely snug with no stretch.
:(

[mahariel.livejournal.com]

It's already been mentioned, but I recommend cruising the memories at corsetmakers.

Tips for the first time corset makers (http://community.livejournal.com/corsetmakers/544.html), Patterns for Waist Cinchers (http://community.livejournal.com/corsetmakers/138446.html), and this post on making seams (http://community.livejournal.com/corsetmakers/564353.html) are great places to start.

-Victoria

[kara-vevina.livejournal.com]

Your icon is amazing! it took me a moment to realize what it is.

[mahariel.livejournal.com]

It's mesmerizing AND educational - I snagged it off one of the posters in that community awhile ago, and everyone loves it.

-Victoria