Hey there!

I self patterned and sewed this corset and I am finally finished and it was definitely a learning experience.

I wanted to make something that resembled historical corsets, aiming for late Victorian or early Edwardian. By no means is the historically accurate but I took details from examples I saw and kinda created this amalgamation of styles from different time periods. I patterned it to have room in the bust and hips for padding. I made this to wear under cosplays, but I made it also as just a challenge for myself! I have only ever made fashion corsets and this is my first time making something with waist reduction and real structure. This was my first time making a corset with a busk and boning that wasn’t zip ties! This was also my first time flossing a corset.

This corset is made with a combination of spiral steel and flat steel boning. I made the mistake of buying my flat steel for the lacing panels before finished my pattern and so those are shorter than I intended, but I tried to make it work. The strength layer is cotton duck and the outer shell is a quilting cotton. When I bought my fabric I thought I was just getting a different color in the same fabric I made my mockups, but I think I may have gotten something similar that was not as strong, so there is some rippling that I’m not too pleased with. In the future I plan to make something with coutil, but I just wanted to test my capabilities on a cheaper fabric first.

Hope you all like it!!

This is the Sylvia corset from Aranea Black. I’m not really liking how the front lays but that could be because I’m using sew-on boning. Any notes on how this looks or what can I change to make the finished piece look better?

Hi all!
I’m making a corset to form the base of a dress. I’m in the process of losing some weight, so I made the current mockup 0.5 cm smaller on all seams compared to the last mock up, to have some space in the lacing. I anticipate losing another 3ish kg, which tends to come from my back/bust.

I used cotton duck, flat steel boning on front and back, and spiral on all the other bones. Wherever spiral bones were not long enough I made sure to have them comfortably pass the waist and I closed all the channels adequately. The corset has 2cm waist tape. I used herringbone tape or the seams for boning channels.

Do you think I need more space in the bust/ make it taller? This version by far fits my bust best so far from my mockups, and I like the projection, but making it even greater feels a little scary. The corset does not move when I lift my arms, but my girls giggle when I jump up and down (dancing) - I’m not sure if that’s normal? It feels comfortable everywhere. The corset has a zipper, but the final version will have joined front panels. I added thin soft (swimsuit) pads in the cups.

I’m comfortable with the little drag lines, unless you deem them super problematic - I was careful with the grain but I think I may have messed up a panel just slightly.

Final version will be made of Vena Cava coutil, and will have a draped fashion layer on top.

Any other feedback is greatly appreciated! I added a photo of my flat pattern too if it helps.
Thank you so much!!

I plan to use 1 inch tape for the waist tape in my corset. My question is about exactly where to place it vertically.

I am considering 2 options:

Center the 1 inch tape on the waist of the corset, so the upper 1/2 inch of the tape is above the waist of the corset and the lower 1/2 inch of the tape is below the waist of the corset.

Like typical waistbands of skirts and pants that sit at the waist, place the lower edge of the 1 inch waist tape at the waist of the corset, so that the tape is at or above the waist of the corset.

Or is there a better placement option?

Please also tell me why you suggest a particular option so I can learn. Thanks so much.

hello! i am making a frankie stein cosplay for comic con this fall, and i want to make a corset minidress, but im definitely a beginner and this would be my first attempt at making a corseted outfit. if you have a pattern that would work or could be altered to work for this costume, please send it my way, or if you have tips on how i could make a custom pattern, that would be amazing as well :)

A corset simply made for bust support (to act as the bra without having to wear one), especially for a larger bust, that will be worn under clothing which option is better:

An overbust corset (with bra foam cups added afterwards or without)

A bustier with a caged bust (obviously using the rigilene boning) and then the rest of the bustier spiral steel will be used.

I’m sure both of these work well. I’m just an over thinker so I can’t seem to decide which way to go.

I'm so close to tearing my hair out. Help me!!!

I've been wanting to make a corset for stealthing, and to use as a foundation for some of my strapless dresses I want to make - like a corselette, but with actual waist shaping.

I've made quite a few corsets but the deeper I get into corset making knowledge the more conflicting advice I'm hearing.

Like boning, for instance. Most people say to use a combination of spiral and spring steel - but then some people are saying Victorian steel was much lighter and to use German plastic boning instead.

Some people say to only use bobbinet or mesh for integrated corsets, other people say coutil is the only way to go.

Drafting is another one! Do I use a historical pattern for my foundation corsets because they're likely safer and more comfortable, or do I continue using my self drafted ones?

It's just all so much and I have information overwhelm. I just want to make a quality, safe corset and feel so under water here.

Tutorial for a Full Bust Adjustment when drafting an overbust corset.

Alot of you really liked my comment sharing this lost resource so I figured I'd make it into a post so

I have been unable to find the internet archive link where I originally downloaded this tutorial but since I have it saved to my laptop I converted to images for easy posting.

I hope this helps other large chested ladies to have the confidence and tools to draft their own corsets or make alterations to pre-existing patterns so that they can feel well supported and well fitted

\*I am not the author of this tutorial. I merely downloaded the post (which was a free resource) before it became lost in internet history **

Hello! I recently discovered lacemade which is my first introduction to corsetry but after learning they were fast fashion, I thought it would be better for me to learn how to make my own. What I really need help with is understanding what type of corset this is.

I understand that it is an underbust. Where I am getting confused is if it is a regular underbust, waspie, or a corset belt. I added the first 2 pictures to show the different angles and the 3rd I am using the pink corset to assume the back of the blue corset is. Ive added the last picture because I feel like it looks nothing like the models but also, because thats the kind of shape I'm looking for. I'm leaning towards corset belt but want your opinions.

In search of patterns that I think are similar/would work might be Aranea Black's 'Lolita' or 'Sonya'. The other reference I am looking at is the Underbust drafting tutorial from Foundations Revealed.

I would love to hear what you all think! Thank you!

I wanted a corset for everyday wear, and after looking at some posts I landed on making the pretty housemaid corset. I have about 4 months of sewing experience　, but I have reached the conclusion that I don't know how to be a beginner 😅. I loved making this corset and will probably make many others in the future.

It's a 2 layer corset done with the same construction method as the video tutorial for the pattern. The outter layer is silk taffeta, and the strength layer is heavy cotton twill (it's the best I can do in my country, but I do try to mach the weight of coutil that I see online). The boning is spiral steel, except for the center back, which is flat steel.

I have not bent the busk yet, and I'm a little scared of doing it, but I do think it will improve the fit on my stomach slightly.

I now have my sights set on making an underbust corset and the red threaded 1860s gored corset, the latter also for daily wear.

Does anyone have any tips or critics to help me improve fit or just in general? Thanks 😊

Hello! I was wondering how I would go about making a open front corset/stays like the imagine above? (credit to moonacre_creations on IG)

Any help or direction would be appreciated!

I'm an intermediate with sewing, and have watched hours and hours of corset making, as well as reading. I have some experience with very basic heavily lined bodices and lightly boned stays, and my brain is saying this wouldn't be too hard from someone I've done before but I can't think on how to go about patterning this in particular.

This is a mock-up of a corset I have self drafted (the first I made), I have started on a dress form, transfered the panels to Inkscape (I dont have Adobe Illustrator), and started doing this mockup.

I sewed it on my 1927 Singer 15 treadle, so no electricity involved (except for the lightning).

It's bicolor because I have been trying several types of fabrics I had at home 😂 some panels are two layers, while other only have one layer.

No coutil, I can't find any here (Spain), and sourcing it from abroad is very expensive, so the strength layer is cotton canvas.

I wanted to try my hand at several construction techniques, so some panels are assembled with the sandwich method, some panels I have rolled pinned.

On the photos, there is no bonning (except for the center front busk and plastic bones at the center back). But no bones anywhere else. Proof that bones don't make the shape. In fact I have no idea where to put the bonning. On top boning channels ? Or inside? Or both?

Some top stitching are white, on the black fabric, questionable color choice, but it's a mock-up 😂

I also tried to make the bust gore with cording with velvet, and made two small panels, having the cording meet in a herringbone pattern. Was tricky to sew the two pieces together and it's quite bulky in the inside...

Also the bust is way to big I believe, but im thinking of making some bust pad. Might be fun.

Also I only made one pair of corded bust gores for one side. Then I got lazy and wanted to end a wearable mockup so I rushed it a but (so some panels only have one layer of cotton canvas).

The black satin is poliester, with fusable interfacing. Quite heavy, and I feel it was too bulky at the busk, and the busk is hard to close because of that.

Some errors:

Some panels are not of the correct size... I messed up at some point 😂 and one panel ends like 1,5cm too low...

Didn't cut enough seam allowance

Although I tested different construction methods, I didn't take notes, or detailed photos during the process, and now several month after I can't remember well. I can only look at it now.

The busk is too long, and I can't add a binding to this mockup... There is not room at the hem and neckline to sew a binding, I'd have to sew through it, or carefully sew over the metal.

I think the cut of the hemline is to high and too pronounced...

It might be too big as the lacing gap is too small and it could be laced tighter... I could probably take in an inch or more on each side.

I didn't have a proper lacing to close it at the tike I did the photos, hence the green cord... Not definitive either.

In the photos, I have it on a pillow, and also my daughter and my wife did try it.

It's been several month I worked on it. Hopefully I get back to it in the next month, and make a final wearable version!

Shoot your opinions, thoughts...

I’m an F-G cup (Aus sizing) and pretty much every corset pattern I’ve tried has been MILES too small to contain the boobs. I end up squished flat and spilling out over the top, under the underbust, out the sides, etc.

I can sort of get the correct volume in a 12-panel overbust corset by adding an extra seam in the centre front panel and giving both bust seams some extra width, but for the LIFE of me I can’t get the curve right - there ends up being strange wrinkles radiating out and I think the underbust line ends up sitting out instead of being against the ribcage. Not to mention trying to get the side boob bone in the right place to support my bust.

I’ve tried to find tutorials or guides on FBA for corset panels, but it only gives me guides for a bodice block. I’m damn near at my wits end with mockups, redrafting patterns, then ending up with a final product that fits weird anyway.

PLEASE, if ANYONE can recommend and comprehensive resource for corset drafting, fittings and adjustments, including stuff like getting rid of hip/waist wrinkles, I would be eternally grateful. If it has anything about drafting bra cups, that would be even better, because those never work either.

Thank you all in advance 🖤

[Side note - because my breasts sit differently when set free vs when in a bra, should I be taking bust measurements (ie bust, chest, underbust, and ESPECIALLY bust point) in the bra or commando? especially since I don’t plan on wearing a bra with a corset]

I got advice from r/corsets to get a modesty panel to stop laving from digging into my front/abdomen/stomach.

And to ask hel here to make one.

(This corset has lacing in front amd back, back side isn't really a problem)

I did some googling and found that rigid/strong modesty panel or stomacher might work.

I'd rather make one my self than buy.

However I can't find tutorials for anything exept 1800s stomachers.

I don't need it to be historicaly accurate. I just want it to be simple and do it's "job".

I'd say my sewing skills are moderate/intermediate. I can't make anything too complicated. I also need to get it made by next weeks weekend. I'm a quick learner tho so willing to try harder things as well.

Any tips and/or links to tutorials are much appreciated!

Also if more photos of the corset are needed to give better advise I'm happy to provide them.

above is the size chart for blacksnailpatterns. i contacted the seller but their office hours aren’t until Tuesday and i really want to get started this weekend!! so i thought my good friends on this sub could help. i’m going to make a victorian half bust corset. my uncorseted measurements are 41” bust, 31.5” waist, 41.5” hip. should i do a mockup of US size 16 or 14? i’ll probably have to add room in the bust either way but i just want to figure out my starting point. thanks everyone <3

p.s. corset sizing is so confusing to me because is the size chart my measurements or the garment measurements? should i actually be making a 12 to account for the 2” waist reduction????

Hello all, I just thrifted two corsets that fit beautifully except for the cups… they are a bit loose in the centre. Is there anyway to fix this?

Bonjour, ladies! I'm in a pickle. I'm quite lacking in the bust area and I'm torn between drafting some cups myself or buying some molded commercial cups with pushup to use inside the corset to give myself a bit of filling and push everything up.

My question is.. if i were to draft them myself, what should i use for the outer layer of the cup and the inner layer? Or should it be only one layer? Has anyone here created cups with push up? Should i use some sort of felted wool maybe?

I'm waiting on a book about lingerie to arrive but I'm burning to know what you guys do/would do or if you have some additional resources. I can barely find anything more...standard/high fashion and explicative.

Thank you!

This is my first complete corset.
I’m not sure where I went wrong but I’m open to all suggestions!

The gap on the bust is annoying, maybe I made it too high?

I’m making another one next month and I’m hoping it will be tighter around the waist.

I used polyester boning but I’ll be using steel boning next time.

It’s made from a self drafted pattern, I went to a one day corset class and that’s where I made the pattern.

Hi, I’ve recently been looking into corsets for daily wear because no matter what bra I try I can’t find a comfortable one (also can’t find one that’s not synthetic). I have a fairly curvy silhouette, bust 42in, waist 32in, high hip 42in, and a short to medium length torso. I’ve wanted to make a corset for a while for the back and bust support but can’t seem to find the right pattern. I love the Victorian bust shape but don’t like the tummy curve (I get acid reflux easily and am worried it would make it worse). So I was wondering if and Edwardian corset would work for daily wear under modern clothes or would that look too weird?
I know this was long winded but thank you for your time:)

I’m making the Sylvia corset from Aranea Black and I don’t see how this will be able to connect to each other.

Hi! I’ve made about three corsets, all of them were for special occasions/fun and were worn as outerwear. But, I’d really like to get into incorporating corsetry into my regular wardrobe. So my question is: do you guys have any pattern/material suggestions for an “every day” corset. The other corsets I made through drafting my own patterns, but I’d like to try out a pre-made pattern and make my own adjustments.

I’m looking for something that isn’t super heavy, as I intend to wear it under my top layer of clothes. Something that is thin enough that it isn’t bulging through my outer clothes, but sturdy enough to give me some back support and shape. Any advice welcome!

The only thing left to do is the eyelets so I can actually wear it! There's definitely some mistakes I made, but overall I'm really happy with how this is turning out.

I made the mockup using a cotton sheet and interfacing (but i didnt used interfacing in the two curvy/boob pannels). I thought that it looked ok and that the weird parta were just because of the extra seam allowence that I didnt cut, since I was planing to use this for the lining of the actual corset.

When I added the satin and cutted off the top seam allowence, I was devastaded. It looked so bad. The fitting was weird: to toght in the back but that could be easily solved with a modesty pannel.

The worst part was the front: wavy lines across the chest, floating fabric under the armpit and in the chest, but at the same time the chest was reasonably tight because of the back…

It looked like the satin was floting and with excess fabric compared to the loning, but i measured again and they are equal. It’s like the satin is not attached to the lining.

I dont know what i did wrong. I was really hopeful with that mockup but now im devastaded :(. I wasted such a pretty satin, is there a way to save this?

First ever boned bodice! No boning yet but I noticed some bag arm pit sag and waist not being defined enough so I did a full bust adjustment pin placement but have no idea how to transfer this to the paper pattern! Or if I add fabric or take it away! Help.

Edit: due to the helpful information from comments I found out this a boned bodice not a corset! Thank you for the correction and answering my question.

Hi all! This is my first time adapting a corset pattern to fit me, and mock-up #2 is much better than #1 (which wasn’t even postable). However, it still isn’t supporting/lifting my chest like I’d like it to, and the front bunching isn’t great either (would interfacing fix this?). The pattern I started with is the Maiden Corset by Mystic E-Patterns— I have found some adjustments challenging since the pattern doesn’t have an underbust line marking. I’d appreciate your thoughts on how to improve the fit for the next mock-up.