Recent finished corset commissions

Here are a couple of my recent finished projects.  At the moment I'm not getting anything done, as I'm bedridden with my back again.  I'm really hoping I'm doing better next week, as I'm attending All-Con in Dallas and presenting two different corset panels.  And I would like to be able to enjoy the con!

But anyway here are a couple things I got accomplished in the last couple months.

  A foundation corset for a repeat customer with a large bust.  Who says you can't waist train with an overbust?  You can with a well-fitted one.   Two layers of nude spot broche coutil, 3/8" spiral bones reinforced front busk.

Silk brocade custom underbust with vintage lace applique.  The black-on-black nature makes it hard to photograph.  And of course the fact that it doesn't really fit my form.

Finished Corsets

Well I've been pretty quiet.  I had a couple of posts planned about recent projects I did, like making my new steampunk belt.  But all the pictures I had for those posts were lost when the flash card in my camera broke.  Oops.

I've been busy making corsets, though.  Two that I've finished were for commissions and now that the clients have seen them, I can share photos of them.

The first one is a one layer underwear corset in nude spot broche coutil.

The second is another underwear corset in grey spot broche coutil.  This one is super strong, with two layers of spot broche and 3/8" boning.  This is the third corset I've made for this client.

And finally, since it's been 106 degrees here, I'm happy I have made myself a mesh underbust.  It's super comfy.

I'm teaching another Beginning Corset Making workshop in a couple weeks, located south of Dallas.  Check out the info here and get your ticket ASAP if you are interested!

Recent Corset Creations

I'm unfortunately still laid up with my back, 4 weeks later.  I haven't sewn in FOUR WEEKS, OMG.  It sucks, and there's not really much more to say.

I thought I'd share my last two completed commissions.  They were both rather challenging overbusts to fit.  The first was a plus size overbust with a waist yoke.  The fabrics are difficult to photograph, so excuse the flash.  This is on a dress form that doesn't have the curves of the intended wearer, but you get the idea.

The next was a commission for an underwear overbust from a steampunk friend who is gifted in the bust region.  She wears a 40H bra!  It was quite a journey getting the fit right, but we both are happy with the result.  She got great shaping and is thrilled with how it feels.  At one point I had to resort to drafting the pattern in 3D paper form to figure out how to make the bust work.  It's a trick I like to use when a flat pattern just isn't enough and you don't have time to sew a trial.










And here's the finished corset.  It's two layers of white coutil with bones in internal coutil casings.  The top layer is floating per client request.  Normally I wouldn't float the top layer because I think you get a smother result without it floating, but I aim to please.

In the side view you can see just how much bust curve there is.  Many corsetmakers would say this much bust increase requires a pattern with gores, but I think I've proved that wrong. With good patterning and lots of bones, you can avoid gores.  The full bust circumference is spread over three panels.












You can see when the corset is on it's intended body, many of the wrinkles smooth out, although I'm still not happy with the look of the seams.  This was definitely my most trying corset to fit ever, but my client is thrilled with the result and has already ordered one in black, too.

Portfolio: Costume

 (Left) Victorian 1880s bustle dress
(Right) Overbust brocade corset with matching Victorian skirt, bolero, and overskirt.


Bustle skirt, jacket, overbust corset.

(Left) Victorian Vest, shirt, cravat, Leather hat, military styled spats.

(Right) Steampunk vest with epaulettes, military sidecap, spats.

(Above) Peacock Mini top hat from scratch, for matching outfit.

(Left) Victorian women's Riding Hat

Steampunk Cleopatra costume, recreation and variation on an extant photograph, using Victorian patterns.  Corset, trained underskirt, pleated and bustled overskirt, accessories.

Edwardian ensemble: jacket, skirt and top hat, commission.

Portfolio: Corsets

In an effort to make examples of my work easier to find for prospective clients, I'm adding some portfolio pages to this blog.  Because I'd rather not try to make a second website.  :)

Please excuse all the amateur photography.  I am looking for photographers to collaborate with.

Victorian Pattern recreated to fit myself, with waist yoke, eyelets, and gear and clock hand embellishment.

Waist-training underbust with large hipspring






























Modest sweetheart overbust with extreme hipspring with lace overlay.

 Commission Old West Saloon style overbust.

(L) Closed front Star Wars comic underbust. (R)Gold and Brown Brocade underbust

Commission Floral Cotton underbust, pattern matched.