The two corsets

I realised I never posted pictures of my corsets, so I thought it would be time.

The purple corset was made in June, the cream in December.

The difference between them is that the purple has boning cases that are hidden (using bias binding), and the cream has boning cases showing. The cream, I was going for a tea-stained look, has two layers of cotton coutil, whereas the purple only has one and is not even a real cotton coutil, we just chose the strongest cotton blend they had at the store.

More of the cream (I left the purple at home when coming back to Edinburgh).

Both had this problem of sticking out at the abdomen which is due to fact that the pattern is an original from Corsets and Crinolines, so they would have worn skirts with it, and this would probably just help shape their fall.

The same pattern was used for both, unfortunately I am not very skilled with lacing myself into them yet, and it must be noted that they were both made last year when I was considerably lighter than I am now (after eating more and not being able to do exercises due to my operation, I did try running, but for now I can only allow myself a bit of dancing). I should probably wear a corset all day and get myself into a tightlacing program... to tell the truth I just want to be able to heal up and get back to my minor sport endeavours (yoga and dance, both which qualify as means of meditation in my world).
This is a first lacing photo with Photo Boot (hence the bad quality) I will probably give more tugs at it in a few minutes after my body settles into it a bit more.

Anyway, end of rant, back to my calendar making.

And they rolled themselves around...

That was my first thought upon seeing this 18th century iron framed hoop-skirt. It must be fun, imagine "Darling, I am too tired to walk, push me." The roller-skate sneakers of 1750!

However; to my dismay, they are not rollerblade crinolines (which I'm sure I wouldn't be the first to come up with); they are iron-framed and wooden dress forms. Indeed, tools, for the dressmaker... they are from Coup d'Etat, and are a Pair of 18th Century Iron Frame Wood Dress Forms/ Mannequin


More information: France, Circa 1750. The paper clad bust top of later date, circa 1940; beautiful feminine wood dress forms; on iron frame terminating to wood wheels at base

The hours in corset

Just a quick update before I forget. Indeed dear reader, you are quite right, this is more for the author's forgetful mind than for anything else.
Amber is helping me make a corset!!!! For the bodice of the Simplicity pattern I talked about earlier.
And here are the hours that were put into it so far:
2 hours on Sunday after buying the stuff needed for it, then 6 hours on Monday after I got back from work.

(Drafting the pattern -using the corset pattern given by our technician at school from Corsets and Crinolines by Norah Waugh page 81, then copying out the pattern to make a new one that will be used for the fabric -wear and tear-, and lastly cutting out the fabric)

Finding the fabric for the top layer

Drafting the pattern, noting changes made for my size

Cutting out pieces from the fabric

This how far I am now

...And more to come later, but I have to go now, I am either going to bed because I have to wake early for work or my timid-self shall attend to some seriously important engagements... *cough, cough* watch a movie or a TV show, or something entirely useless and possibly eat more chocolate.

Note-to-sELF: woman, don't you forget your original intention to work on the Costumer's Manifesto online course!!! The very reason you actually started this blog, remember?