An Edwardian Corset
I always love it when a project comes together much faster than expected and this was one of those times.
Using the Ref Z pattern from Atelier Sylphe on Etsy, I created what was intended to be a working mock-up of a straight front 'S bend' corset. The pattern was drafted from an extant garment in the creator's collection and I selected it as the body measurements were the closest to mine and I liked the general shape.
The supplies I used for this project:
Herringbone cotton coutil and synthetic whalebone: Sew Curvy
Busk, metal boning, cotton lacing and waist tape: Vena Cava Design
Cotton lace for trimming, cotton cavas for lining: Tooting Sewing and Craft Superstore
Remaining boning: zip ties from Screwfix
I followed the construction steps provided with the pattern and found everything relatively straightforward, using my machine for all of the construction. The biggest challenges were finding a hacksaw I could borrow to cut the metal boning down to size and spending a lot of time sanding the plastic boning down to have smooth, rounded ends.
As I mentioned, this was only intended to be a working mock-up so I don't have any photos from the construction process but after I tried it on I was happy enough with the fit that I added the binding, hand-sewed the eyelets, and added some lace trim to the top.
As with any corset, it has slowly moulded to my body shape over the last 6 months of semi-frequent wear and it now gives an even more dramatic waist to hip curve than in the pictures. If making one again in future I'd take an inch out of the pattern below the waist and stop the boning slightly higher as it can get a little uncomfortable if I'm sitting down for too long at the moment. I've also found that I'm not the greatest fan of the way the bust fits on me so I'd also raise the bust line by half an inch which isn't as historically accurate but since I don't like adding bust padding that's not an issue.
I've since added vintage '50s suspenders to the tabs as I prefer to wear stockings with split drawers under this corset and a Prym Fur Hook in the recommended spot at the front to hook the lacing around to keep this bulk below the waistline.
