So I just got a 11 yrd bolt for 10 bucks.

I'm going to be doing a swatch with 4 different layers to test how it works with silks and what not in this case I'll be using brocade to test since I can't afford silk at the moment to test.

All fabrics will be pre shrunk, etc


How is everyone doing btw the way, those of you who read me. Like I said before I've been swamped and only had time to work one one corset for a client.

I'm also asking those of you who read for info to ask for me to do certain experiments. If you can think it up and it won't cost me a ton, I will try it and give my thoughts on it. You got something you want to know but are to scared to try? Throw it at me!

anyway, take care all. I'll be posting this weekend if all goes well

Remember me folks?

I'm not dead I promise. I've been swamped with MCAT and PCAT exam crap, applying for med schools, school and a tutoring job.

I've lost 4 pounds in the last month. I'm happy bought that and I've just joined a gym with the help of my mother.

So I just wanted to let everyone know I'm alive and am will be posting the corset for my latest client as soon as I get a chance. She needs to model the corset for me so I can get good pictures.

This isn't going to make a lot of sense to everyone, and I don't care either way I just want to vent off this team that's eating me up inside.

I should have known better. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. I should have just accepted who I am and stop wishing for something that will never be. I should know better than to think there is somewhere that's legit and wants me and in that fast of a time span.

Better now than before signing anything. Or having to spend money for anything.

I still feel like shit either way.

This threw me in a bad swing, I haven't had one this badly in a while...I'm trying not to let it get to me, but I can't seem to help it. I know I'll be fine in the morning if I just think about other things like my MCAT and PCAT exams....

we'll I'm off to go stuff carbs down my face for dinner. Yes i know it's late but I tend to go to bed at 7 a.m.

So first up. I'm purchasing a bias tape maker. Granted I realize that it probably won't be the best for working with slippery fabrics, but I'd rather take the extra time on those and get a nice bias tape than just cut a strip and sew it on. Raw edges make me nervous and I still don't have a serger (mom's getting ours fixed) so I have to make due with what I have. I will test it out and let you guys know how it goes.

Second. I have acquired a box from my uncle and grandmothers liquor store (oddly I don't drink and I grew up in it) I'm not sure what to do with it. I do know I want to strip it and varnish it but I have neither the funds nor the workspace.

ideas guys?





Third. I have my first client corset. Granted it's a close friend but it still counts!

Here is a picture of the fabrics being used. Two are interlining to strengthen the outer shell, because both of them a refragile but she wanted very pretty soft lining and a brocade for the outside.

Now, normally I'm a pretty calm person about embellishment on stories. I mysef love to embellish...makes for great story telling. I do not however enjoy being flat out lied to.

I've had this happen with someone from the steampunk community. I know them through someone else and did not appreciate being lied to. Granted it made for a good laugh at first to hear all the things that were fibbed about but I was nonetheless angry because I am still new to steampunk and looking for guidance.

I didn't appreciate being told that said person had already founded a Chicago Based Steampunk Org. Only to find that this was still in the thought process. I didn't not appreciate tall tales of knowing the lead singer of Abbney park and said person trying to make themselves look better than they were. I prefer the truth, be it dull, cruel or out of this world.

I apologize to those who read and have no clue what the blazing I'm on about. It's more for the sake of those in the Steampunk community who were prefer to hear the truth, not lies.

So after going through hell to try and figure out my pattern. I broke down and decided I'd try to learn from what the lovely people at your waredrobe unlocked have to say. I must say looking at it from here it looks like I have a lot to learn (which I already knew)

I was working on my own pattern, so I was somewhat on the right track. However mine is so inferior compared to them and didn't fit at all right....I couldn't even get it to hold still on me while I tried to take a picture, so I'll just show my mockup and hope no one laughs.

I was wanting to get a tally from people to see if anyone is still reading this journal. I know I'm past my first corset and that some of you may have dived off since then, but I guess I just would like to know if I'm talking to myself.


Next post, I talk about bias tape, making your own, and being able to paint on it and still keep it soft. You're gonna love this one guys, I figured out how to do it and get shiny looks I can't find in fabric!


Quick I-Forgot Update:

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In normal news.....I twisted my ankle yesterday......needless to say it still hurts like a bitch. I' always have begun swimming every other day. Hopefully my mother can purchase a gym membership for the park district. It's 30 dollars for 30 days and I can us those days whenever I want for 3 months.

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Currently building my corset library. I've bought two over ebay and am checking out the others via my local library.....yey for Chicago having a butt ton of them at the downtown one where I can reserve them and pick them up at the library 4 blocks from me

Two I've bought
-Guilded Age of Fashion Vol 1
-Guilded Age of Fashion Vol 2

From Library
-Waisted Efforts -Adult Reference.....so I can't take it out
-The Corset : a cultural history
-Corsets and crinolines
-Fashion and fetishism : corsets, tight-lacing & other forms of body-sculpture


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So, it's been a good two months since I made my first corset. I must say I made a lot of mistake from it, but most of them were due to the tools I had and some were due to having been my first.

So lets list them and discuss them

• Grommets falling out - This was due to how I opened up the holes in the back piece with a small cut with scissors. My mistake was not fray checking them to make sure they didn't fray to the point of grommets popping out. I have however noticed it is much easier to put grommet in with an awl without puckering if you use #00 grommets. I've switched to them and prefer them.
• Bias Binding - Instead of machine stitching on both sides, I machine stitched the outer edge and hand stitched the inside for my second one. Fr my first one I machine stitched both sides and I noticed it sucks compared to the second corset.
• Fabric- the fabric is holding up although it is stretching. This is probably the fact that I could only afford black lining fabric when I did it.
• Boning - I found that the bones were so close to the edges of the stitch line that I made that they started popping out. This is probably a combo of both the fabric being too weak and not flossing.
• Fit - It fit quite well, however the same thing I noticed for both corsets is that my breasts, while supported, pushed fat out everywhere else. I'm thinking of switching to the SIlverado version of the LM pattern.

Second Corset

• Fabric was a bit wrinkly, even though I did hand baste properly, but I think that just might be what happens with brocade. 
• Bones - fit fine, will need to floss them soon
• Bust - as I said up above, probably switch patterns.

My own corset pattern

Well my darlins it's time to start getting boned.....the corset I mean, not myself, that comes later. (he he)

 

 

( Continue down the rabbit hole! )

•  

And there you have it folks....my first corset, every painfull screw up and triumph.


I'm going on a two week hiatus because I'm going to be sewing some little kid spider costumes for a theater I sew for up north in Wisconsin, while also sewing my present to my sweetheart. June 17th is our anniversary of three years (plus two of friendship ontop of that) I'm making a corset out of that brocade fabric I showed before. Me in it is going to be his surprise. I will let you know how it goes and of course...take contruction pictures of it for anything I find nifty to work with

The busk and boning finally came so today we're going to put the busk into the fabric and sew up the panels altogether.

( It's coming together! )

Well folks, till next time!

Update: After trying on my corset again and tightening it more (I left an inch gap in the back), I have realized that I don't need to adjust the bust area. So I simply restitched the lining back on.

So for this entry it's time to start the corset! woohoo!

( My God this was a long one )

This is it ladies and gentleman. *takes deep breathe*

I have ordered everything and anything I need to complete my first corset, along with ample extra for whatever else I please.

I will base this on what I have spent altogether so this is a little over the normal price.

First order: Dragontown Corset Supplies

• 1 14 1/4" busk - $14.25
• 3 yrds continuous flat steel boning  - 5.85
• 3 yrds continous spiral steel boning -$3.45
• 200 bone tips -$4.99

Cost:  38:59 (includes shipping )

2nd Order : Hardware store

• Pliers for bone cutting (a great investment) - 18.50
• Grommets $6.56 (20 grommets )
• Grommet Kit - $8.13 (included 20 grommets)
• Rubber Mallet -$8.30

Cost: 44.98 (these costs are slightly estimated since I'm missing the receipt but they are only off off by a dollar or so.)

3rd Order : Fabric Store

• Bobbins $3.29 for 12 bobbins
• Needels (more than just for corsets) $5.49 per pack (I got two ) 10.98
• two packets of Twill Tape (3 yrds each)  $1.39 each $2.78 total
• Fabric 9.99 yr @ 50% off (See bottom for the fabric image this stuff is jaw dropping)  I got a little under 4 yards for $27.09
• Lining Fabric 5 yrds $14.95
• Thread - $1.29 each I out 6 but most of them are for a different project
• Awl  - $3.24

Now granted that last one includes other things I bought for a sewing commision I have coming up.  However some do have uses for the corset, the purple thread is being used in the first one.


Total : about 144 bucks

Not too horrible considering pre-cut boning would have cost me 80 dollars for less than 4 yrds. This will allow me to make at least 2 corsets without even needing to refill my boning stash.

Next up, the actual corset.

Oh and this is the fabric I picked up. This picture doesn't do it justice but here ya go




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So I've done the mockup using the size 28 on the pattern.

( I felt like a sausage! )

 

My next entry won’t be for a while, at most 3 weeks, I may put a new one up for the black fabric and lining. This is due to the fact that I need to get my order that I placed a few days ago. Also I’m nearing the end of semester and have a project for the theater I sew for. 6 little spiders!

Any question feel free to message me.

As of today, I've gotten almost all of the needed pieces to construct my corset. I'm missing. Here is what I got today what I thought of each purchase and what I need to take back.

( What worked and what didn't )
So I'd like to ask my viewers what they think fo this all so far? Is this helpful at the moment or do you think I'm missing anything? Please leave feedback on this entry so I can better help others and be more specific if need be.

Next entry, I work on the mockup!.

( Update to the bone cutters )

First entry, so lets make it a good one

This is not a way for me to show off. This is a way to track the process of corset making as well as help others in the process. Any mistakes I make I will document. Any triumphs I come across will be noted for those who need the help I needed.

Things I've learned so far for basic purchases: (These are also from past experience)

•    Spiral and flat are much cheaper in continuous reels instead of pre-cut. I'm ordering it and buying bone cutters and tips. It comes out much cheaper and I get 3 yards of both spiral and flat steel instead of 4 yards, for literaley a third the price.  I'm buying it from http://www.dragontowncorsetsupply.com/index.html. She also has busks as well as tips. 200 tips for 2 dollars. Much better than what I've been finding
•      Don't buy washers or eyelets from the fabric store. Aluminum is too soft and won't crimp the right way. Okay for costumes not meant to be worn the way corsets are. Looking online for them found a 144 sets (both sides) for 20 dollars, looking for a better price but none so far.
•      Pliers won't hold up to putting in grommets. I'm going to have to break down and get a grommet setter set. Eventually I will get the machine to put them in but 50 dollars is a bit steep at the moment

Things to question:

•      Do you think it's better to tip bones or cap them? Can you do both? I'm currently posing this question on the corsetmakers community lets see what I get.
•      Would it be best to just use spiral on panels and flat on the seams? I spoke with one woman who is a corset master and she said yes. I know every person has their own view on it. I guess I will find out myself. She said it's important to use flat bones in front next to the bust and in back next to the laceing holes for added support.
•     Still trying to find my fit for my corset. Have made a mock up with muslin and reworking it because it's to large. I want it to be comfy but do what a corset should do.

What I have so far

• laughing moon pattern Dore and Silverado
• Muslin Mock up
• Black Fabric. This will be my first corset and I will be using black simply because I have it. I figure working with a purple thread will look cool and still allow me to see my stiches for later critique.
• Tracing paper-I use this as my medium to transfer my patterns. I don't have a light box (oh how I wish I did like my friend) to see through thicker and less waxy paper. For now this will work, as I have used transparent paper before.