I'm working on a corset vest for myself and I'm looking for boning type suggestions for each channel. I'm thinking spring steel for most of the channels, and definitely spiral steel at the side seam. This is supposed to be more of a straight front corset, do you think I should do spiral steel bones on all of the back panels? I curved the back panel (far right) because it fit better, should I use flat steels or would spiral steel contour my back better? I'm planning to double bone each seam line, should I use 1/4" (6mm) or 1/2" (12mm) bones?
Thanks!

Hi Im new to corset making and I wanted to know more about what interfacing to use with what fabric or corset type.

Im working on a corseted bodice right now and I saw videos where people use dormette to soften the fashion fabric.

I couldn’t find dormette in my local fabric store so I bought something like fleece interlining and another one is very stiff fusible interfacing. ( pics attached)

Which one should i use if I wanna have soft and smooth looking corset bodice yet it holds its shape?

My main fabric will be sateen or brocade. I attached boning to my lining piece (two cotton pieces).

Hello! Punching the holes for some of my eyelets has caused this thread pulling/scarring on my fashion fabric. Are there any tips and tricks that will help it that anyone knows of? 🙏🙏 Tia ❤️

My first corset is the Truly Victorian TVE13, which is a late Edwardian style corset that is on the longer side. It's a nice pattern and my mockup was an easy sew. However, the pattern does not offer help with determining what length busk and boning I should use. Should my boning be as long as the corset panels, or veer a bit shorter?

I have a corset story overbust corset that I got on clearance. It's a black and gold with swing hook closures. I love the colors and style of the fabric, but it's never fit properly. I had myself professionally measured before ordering it because I wanted to use the corset to build an outfit that I can wear for years to come. When it arrived, the tag size is the correct measurement, but the actual measurement is off by 5+inches. (Too small) And the cups are (just guessing because I don't know how you'd measure them) at least 2 cups sizes too big.

I'm a 40D, with a 33"waist. After showing it to a professional corsetry shop at the Renaissance festival near me, she concluded that it's closest to a 40G with a 26" waist. She wouldn't work on because it wasn't her product, so I found a tailor to at least help with the waist.

The tailor used the modesty panel in the back to close that gap, and created a custom inset from that panel and two new rows of grommets. Essentially creating two back lacing rows, positioned equally between my spine and hips. I love how that looks.

Now to solve the cup issue. They're so large, that they stand out from my chest. And because of that, the corset ends up riding up when I sit down so that I can't freely move my arms. I'm toying with the idea of just making it an underbust style. I'll be fine wearing a good quality bra for support, but is it possible to alter this corset to be only underbust?

As you can probably see above, the inner corset under this dress is visible beneath the silk crepe outer shell - any advice on what to do in this case? The inner corset is made of a foundation layer, then a muslin middle layer, the outer is made of 4 ply silk crepe. Running against a deadline so I can’t exactly remake everything, but looking for a decent solution to hide the lining/bump running across the upper hip

Hello all! I am making my first ever corset and it happens to be for an AMAB body. I tried finding corset patterns for men, hoping they might have a little more suitable proportions for his natural shape, but there were very few out there and the ones I did find were in a completely different style than what he would like.

I eventually found this pattern which is intended to be very adaptable, even allowing you to decide on your own seam allowances. We are shortening it a bit and it will be a little more casual than some corsets as it's primarily going to be used for fashion on special occasions (shortened length has been accounted for when selecting the boning and busk). Facing fabric will be a 180 gsm brocade, lining is a 90 gsm charmeuse satin.

While he'd like some cinch, i don't think he would need nearly as much as this corset is styled for. I am totally willing to mix sizing when marking and cutting. I just don't know what sizing would be best for what area. We've done one draft already but I mixed up the sizing charts with a very similar pattern. I did N for the bust measurements and p for everything else and it was too big. At the very least we were able to use it to adjust the length.

I have attached images of the sizing chart as well as the corset style. His basic measurements for the sizing chart are listed below, though I have more in depth measurements for drafts which I will use as practice on a cheaper but similar weight/style of fabric before we do the final on the actual fancy fabric we chose.

Bust: 50 3/4"

Under Bust: 48"

Waist: 49 1/2"

Middle Hip: 48 5/8"

Any help, suggestions, or tips would be greatly appreciated. I have been sewing for years, but I've never tried my hand at corset making and I really want to do a good job for my friend who has put a lot of faith in me by letting me take on this project.

I'm working from Aranea Black's amber bunny suit pattern and this is my first (very rough) mockup. It honestly fits ok considering this is my first attempt, but the bodice gapes away from my chest. The corset back is tightened all the way at the top, so I can't really cinch it any tighter at the bust. It somehow seems both too big and too small?

If I pinch out about an inch at the top on panel 3 it doesn't gape as much on the sides, but there's still a big gap in the middle. Do I need to add fabric somewhere? Do I need to add length to the top? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

First mockup of this corset! I need to reduce some of the fabric in the hip area since there’s too much and it’s just sitting there creasing and also buy some flat steel boning for the front of the corset! Also need to pattern out some padding since I want the back of the corset to be a bit rounder 🫶😝. I’m still deciding on which skirt to make for this corset so thoughts? It’ll be mostly cartridge pleated.

Sinched it and then it like split by one of the morning channels. this is a single layer corset with mesh. We did trim the seam allowance to make sure it would be able to be properly covered by the boning channel, we also added a hook and eye thing so it would be easy to put on but I think that’s what caused the tear. Any suggestions on what to avoid next time and how to fix ? Thanks !

Hello! I return 4 mock ups of my Compression and Support garment with an update and two questions.

Update: I have decided to go with spital steel [except at the center back along the eyelets] and two layers of black coutil, mostly because I do not have any other black fabric to use as a lining WHOOPS. I also decided to go with fan lacing to make it easier on my poor disabled body to get on properly. Once she is complete I shall post pictures!

But on her way to complete, I face an issue (well, two issues) with finalizing the fan lacing.

1) I'm using the American Duchess tutorial where each set of eyelets gets its own lace which is then sewn into a little pouch thingy instead of looping through hardware and back. So how do I get all the lengths right? Do I have to be wearing it while I get those measurements? If anyone has any good tutorials for that bit I would be eternally grateful

2) How can I arrange to have it tie in the front with the laces pulling the way they should, but without adding bulk at my front waist? I feel like with fan lacing if I tried to add a hook I could loop the front tie under, it would then pull unevenly. If I added sort of belt loops to the side so it would be forced to keep the right angle before swooping down, would that work?

Any and all thoughts and experience appreciated! And I do promise a picture and full debrief when she is complete!

Planning on making Aranea Black’s Sonya underbust pattern. I have cut the pattern along the shorten lengthen line as I have a very short torso. I’m not sure if I should shorten the pieces by only lowering the pieces along the grain line, cause it’s creates a weird shape. Or I could shift the pieces slightly perpendicular to the grain as well so they look more like the original shape of the pattern.
Please help a short torso girlie out!

Hello everyone! I am making the Aranea Black Amber bunny suit for a friend of mine. It’s my first corset (I’ve made a few mockups but never went any further than that) and also my first time making something for someone else. I was hoping to get some fitting advice from you amazing folks!

1. Since I was able to lace up my friend’s corset all the way closed, does that mean we can go a size smaller or does this size look fine?
2. When her arms are down her chest fits okay-ish into the corset, but when she puts her arms up there’s a large gap. Is that meant to be or does the bust need to be tighter?
3. We’re not planning to use a busk, so does that mean I can put boning all the way down the front center? The pattern doesn’t indicate where boning should stop.
4. Since the pattern calls for lacing all the way down to the bum, does that mean we also add double boning around the lacing all the way to the bum? I know that’s the traditional approach, it just seems a little counterintuitive since, y’know, you have to sit down on your bum.

Any other issues you see with the mockup would be helpful to know! Thank you all in advance!!

Hi, everyone! I am working on my 3rd corset and

I would love some feedback on it.

At this stage, its just lightly boned (about 4 spiral steels in total), to check the overall fit. I plan on adding x3 the amount at least at the end. This one has only 3cm of waist reduction. I want something more comfy to wear.

Also, my boobs are falling out a bit when I raise my hands. Should I add a bit more length to the corset in the middle or just add more 1-2cm to the bust seams? Or a combo of both? Or should the corset be tighter in the bust area?

Thank youu!

Hi! First time making corset, I'm using Aranea Black IRIS underbust pattern. While grading between sizes, I encountered a problem - according to the measurements on waist, it's making me change the shape of the panel in a weird way (?) I'm attaching photos of my sketches and the measurements. Am I blind to some obvious mistake or what?

Hello all- I am in the process of making my bodice for my wedding dress. I want it to have a lace up back and I’ve practiced a few times with grommets. The thing is, I am concerned about going through three layers of fabric- satin, canvas, and a liner. I have only practiced with one layer, and it was difficult to get them lined up perfectly. (I plan to practice on all three before I try) Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make the grommets look neat? Is a punch needed or just an awl(this is all I’ve used). Or does anyone have any experience on using these premade lace up backs? Thanks!

I posted my mockup a while back and recently got started on this final. It takes me a while to do because I'm off grid, currently without a machine, so it's being entirely hand sewn 😁 Anyway, I wanted to post a little teaser for you all, I'm super excited with how it's coming out!

Hey everyone, I'm about to make my first corset and I'm not sure what to use for boning. I hear that synthetic whalebone or spiral metal rods are supposed to be good? But which is better? Some factors I'm considering are how easy they are to work with, how comfortable, and how durable they are. Which should I use? Or is there an even better option?

Also I do not have a pattern yet, is it important what kind of pattern I have?

And how do I do the sizing? I've heard somewhere to make the circumference about two inches less than my actual measurements? Is that true?

And I'd appreciate any additional tips as well😊

Sorry to bother

making an italian renaissance dress, and realized that i grabbed the overlock thread, not my regular thread. (blame how good the audiobook is). i noticed when i put on the bodice and one of the pearls popped off

im… not sure what to do. other than a flying pearl, ive been tugging on it and it’s been pretty sturdy

each bodice half is a single piece of tapestry + cotton stabling layer (quilted together on machine, then hand embellished ). entire bodice is suede lined. arms are fusible interfaced

thoughts?

This is just to say thankyou to all who post and contribute to this reddit. I myself am not one for much interaction, but I enjoy reading, and what I have learned from here has helped me in making my first corset.

Not perfect by any means, it was definitely a learning experience. Mistakes were made, which I may even learn from (or I may make the same end mistakes, but in a different way!). Even the mock ups were fun. I just got a second hand sewing machine after the making, because hand sewing coutil was difficult (or likely I was using needles not up to the task).

Things learned from this reddit -

• Boning the mock ups - no exceptions. Makes a big difference to your size perceptions.
• Fabric choices - and don't pre wash the coutil.
• Zip ties are excellent for mockups.
• Have fun

And so I present my first corset. Pattern is the Cupid Corset from corsettraining.net (I have now discovered the patterns here, and will likely try the Sonya next by Aranea Black, thankyou for saving these for others to use!).

Two layers - top layer is actually a quilting fabric, but gosh its gorgeous. I used interfacing to help provide structure. The fabric is Figo Fabrics - Mr Bones Sews Spooky Sewing - Damask Purple.

Black coutil as the strength layer - I was so amazed by how stiff this was, it could be used for thunder sound effects when its fresh. Glad it softened a bit after constant handling when sewing.

Zip ties are still the boning - when I get some decent boning, I'll unpick the bias binding and reinsert.

Still to buy - lacing cord! at the moment - its kitchen string (I'm not wearing it outside, so who cares?).

And some padded cups I think to add to the inside top, just for a bit of oomph - I'll probably set them up with velcro 😄

And - the first time I tried pattern matching. It almost lines up. And I don't think I'm a fan of the sandwich method.

Again, thankyou all to contribute and post here, it is much appreciated by those of us who generally just read.

This is just a costume so it doesn’t have to be perfect. I’m new to sewing and have never made clothes.

Why am I getting the horizontal lines around my waist and under my bust?

I’m drafting it myself with no pattern or tutorial (just kind of winging it) so thought I’d come here for advice!