Corset

Corsets were worn by women – and sometimes men – in the Western world from the 16th to the early 20th century, although corset-like garments can be traced as far back as 1600 BC. Are corsets from the Victorian era? A staple of Victorian fashion In 18th and 19th-century Europe, corsets were a mainstay of […]

“hip spring” is a corsetry term for the ratio between the waist and hips. A bigger hip spring means bigger hips compared to waist. For these corsets, I’ve added 2″-3″ (depending on size) to the hip measurement compared to my Victorian and Regency styles. That means you can achieve a greater hip spring in your […]

Broken steel bones Remove the binding on one end of the corset, just up to the affected boning channel. Remove the broken bone, and measure the full length of the bone. Order a new steel bone online, and the most difficult part is waiting for that bone to arrive in the mail. What can I […]

The S-bend silhouette emerged about 1900 and reigned supreme until the end of the decade. Created by a specific style of corset, the S-bend is characterized by a rounded, forward leaning torso with hips pushed back. Who invented the S-bend corset? Inès Gaches-SarrauteApparently, they were invented in the 1890s by Inès Gaches-Sarraute (a medical doctor) […]

Our alterations experts can add thin or thick straps, cap sleeves, short sleeves, or long sleeves to any David’s Bridal strapless wedding dress. If your dress zips in back, we can transform it with a glamorous lace-up corset back (which gives you extra breathing room too) or a delicate button-up closure. Can you add a […]

For good corsetry, you need two part metal eyelets with a wide’ish collar – not too wide so as to look clumpy and bulky, and not so narrow that the fabric soon works its way from under the rim and the eyelet falls out, ruining the corset. What size eyelets should I use for corset? […]

1828 | Metal eyelets are invented, allowing the corset to endure greater stress during lacing. 1830–1840 | The hourglass figure—emphasizing a full bust, a small waist, and full hips—becomes the idealized silhouette. When was the metal eyelet invented? Before the invention of the bone eyelet (early 1800s) and the metal eyelet (around the 1830s), there […]

Eyelet holes are comparable to #00 grommets in size (which has a hole diameter of 5/32″ (4.5 mm) when set). Eyelets and grommets cannot be set using any setter but their own ie. How big should corset grommets be? Rule: Grommets in a corset should be size #00 (5mm) or #0 (6mm) and have a […]

Steel Corset Boning These bones are coated in a white plastic to make them water proof. Spiral boning is made up of two continuous steel wires which are coiled together then pressed flat into strips of spiral steel the same size and shape as the sprung steel bones. They have capped ends to cover the […]

Yes the ‘bust gore’ or the ‘hip gore’ are just triangular inserts of material that allow you when you make a corset, to add extra curve to the top or bottom. They were used more in the Victorian times when waists were smaller, but I have seen a number of modern corset patterns with them […]

While the cosmetic benefits of corsetry are obvious, not all women wear them for the sole purpose of looking svelte. Corsets can also have physical and emotional benefits. In other words, they can make you feel good on multiple levels. Some women wear corsets to correct their posture and reduce lower back pain. What is […]

Measure your waist size (or the person who will wear it). If the corset is to be smaller than the waist, take off 2 – 4 inches to get the size you need the pattern to be. You may need to add a few inches to the waistline to make it fit, or take off […]

coutil. Fabrics. Perhaps the oldest and the most popular fabric, coutil is a form of twill cotton that was created especially for corsetry. It is very strong and durable, has a tight weave that helps prevent poke throughs of boning, and is able to stand up to tension. What fabric should you use to make […]

Flossing. Flossing is both decorative and functional way to finish boning channels. Initially it fixes the bone in place and protects corset fabric from wearing damage. But it also adds unique colorful touch to your corset. What is the purpose of flossing on corsets? Corset flossing was first introduced by the Victorians, and was designed […]

three fabric layers. All Timeless Trends corsets have three fabric layers, two of which are strong cotton twill. How much fabric do you need for a corset? 2 yards may seem long, but it makes it easier to get into the corset by yourself. 2.5 yards of 1-inch-wide ribbon of your choice (for variations 1 […]

Most corsets commonly have six panels on each side of the body. Waist tape / waist stay: A sturdy “tape” (non-decorative ribbon) that reinforces the waist to minimize stretching. How many layers are in a corset? threeAll Timeless Trends corsets have three fabric layers, two of which are strong cotton twill. What are the parts […]

There are usually two bones at the busks (one on each side), four bones at the laces (two on each side), and one bone for each seam between panels. So, if you have eight panels, for example, there would be six bones, for a total of twelve in the corset, including busks and laces. (Lots […]

Don’t get rid of it, just give it a new beautiful corset back that will add some inches to make it fit perfectly. I’ve been altering formal dresses for 5 years and have learned that one easy and lovely way to make a dress bigger is to remove the back zipper and replace it with […]

fusible woven interfacing. There are various types of interfacing on the market, but the one most suitable for corset making is fusible woven interfacing: this consists of a woven fabric which has heat-activated glue on one side. To adhere the interfacing to the corset fabric, it is pressed onto the WS of your fabric using […]

The best way to save space when packing your corsets is to roll them up and place them in corset bags if you have them, or pillowcases in a pinch. How do you travel with a corset? Car seats and strollers can be checked just like any other item (at no charge at most airlines). […]