Victorian Corset Pictures

I finally found the time to get some photos of my Victorian corset uploaded!





To make this corset, I used the Laughing Moon Ladies' Victorian Underwear pattern, "china twill" (100% cotton) for the outmost layer, and pillow ticking (100% cotton) for the lining. I purchased all of the special corset making supplies (boning, cotton twill tape, lacing, ect.) from Farthingales and Corsetmaking.com. I purchased the grommets and grommet setting kit from the Laughing Moon Mercantile (click on first link).

The pattern was pretty simple to follow, but the fitting steps can be rather involved. It is worth it, however, to go through the process of fitting the corset with a cheap material before constructing the final corset (because of the close fit). I would definately recommend this pattern to someone who would like to make her first corset. It explains the construction methods very well, and aside from the fitting stage, it only requires basic sewing techniques and a few special materials :)

-Rebekah

Note: The chemise pictured in the photos was made using a pattern that I drafted while following the free instructions at Elizabeth Stewart Clark's website. The instructions were easy to follow, and the pattern probably didn't take more than half hour to draft. I am pleased with the way it turned out, other than the neckline being a little narrower than I would have preferred ( which was caused by a mistake that I made while taking measurements).

M4930 - Dress Pictures

Here are a few pictures of the brown dress that I made using McCall's 4930:





I made a few alterations, most of which pertained to fitting issues. If you look at the pattern photo you can see that I omitted the armhole extentions. I did this because they simply didn't flatter my figure, and I thought that the jacket would probably fit over the dress better if they were not there.

The fitting alterations made are as follows:

- Lowering the neckline, for comfort.
- Raising the bustline shaping (in the pattern) by two inches.
- Reducing the waistline.
- Adding more room at hipline.
- Adding an inch or two to the hemline

Overall I'd say that most of the fitting problems probably came from my figure -- not the pattern. These fitting issues were time consuming to correct, but after they were resolved (using a muslin fabric to test the pattern) the dress went together very quickly, and the pattern instructions were easy to follow.

-Rebekah

Just a little note:
Sorry that the photos aren't too great :( They're rather blurry, and they don't do the fabric justice (it's very nice fabric, and it's darker than the photos suggest). Oh, well. They do reveal a rough idea of the results that can be achieved with this pattern, at least.

Yay! Vintage pattern!

Just had to show you what came in the mail today. . .



It's a vintage pattern that I purchased at Grandma's House! to make a 1940s style dress (someday when I'm not so busy, that is!). After watching the Hallmark movie "The Magic of Ordinary Days," I really wanted to make a dress like the one that Livy wore in the scene in which she cooks an omelet for Ray (the omelet with too many hot peppers in it :P). Here's a picture (Livy is standing on the left):



It's not really the best shot of the front of the dress, but that's all I could find at the moment. The dress features a hem that falls just below the knee, buttoned flaps that rest just below the shoulders, a skirt that has an inverted box pleat at the center front and center back, and bishop sleeves.

When I started looking for a pattern to make this dress, I figured that I would probably have to draft the buttoned flaps on my own, if I could only find pattern who's style is similar to the outfit Livy wears. But when I looked at Sense and Sensibility's vintage images, I was surprised to see a pattern that matched the dress perfectly, except for the buckle on the belt of the pattern (Livy's dress doesn't have a buckle). The pattern is so similar to the dress that it makes me wonder if the filmmakers might have used it to help create a wardrobe for one of their main characters!!!

Updates...

Just thought I'd update this since it's been a while since I've last posted.
My corset has gone together quite well, though to be honest it's been a while since I last worked on it. I've sewn in all the boning channels and now all I have to do is slip in the boning and bind it shut, but I have not purchased my spiral steel bones yet so the project is stalled until I do. It seems to fit quite well and all the attention that goes into the fitting issues really does pay off in the end! It may seem like a lot of extra work but I'm be glad I did it!
Even though I haven't worked on the corset much I have worked on a few "between" projects, and I finished a jacket that was started a long time ago but sat around half finished for nearly a year.
Have recently been able to get my hands on a copy Corsets and Crinolines by Nora Waugh, and I am very interested in making up the Late 1820s stays pattern. I wish I could start on it right away but I haven't even finished my Victorian corset yet and I'll probably be too busy for the rest of the year and it may not be until early next year until I can start :( *sigh* I really do hope that I can start on it sooner.
I have much to do so I'd best be off.
~Rebekah~

First Post!!!

I have finally taken the time to start a diary for my historical sewing projects! As you can see it really is not much yet as this is my first posting here, but in the future you can be updated on my projects by visiting this blog.
My current project is a corset from the Victorian era and I hope to have it completed soon. However, it may take a little time until it is done, so please don't hold your breath. But when it is done you can expect to see pictures of it along with the details about it! I also hope to be able to post pictures and details of my 1910s Tea Gown, which I finished last spring.
Anyhow, I hope you enjoy that which you shall see here in the future!
Until next time,
~Rebekah~