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This corset was meant to go under the 1760s contouche, so it is in fact my very first attempt ever at historical clothing. And that's exactly what it looks like...
In the picture you can get a good eyeful of the fabric that's been involved in all my corset projects until now - something cheap, ugly and courtainy from IKEA. In case a corset corset doesn't fit after all, it's hardly a problem sice the fabric didn't cost much and there's loads left... This corset was meant only to give the proper shape, never to be looked at, so I didn't bother with top fabric or nice neatening.
The pattern is based on one from Waugh again, the 1770s corset from Corsets and Crinolines. When I started I had really no idea how a corset is constructed. I had figured out by myself that the boning should be sandwiched between two layers of fabric and that the fabric should be firm. How the neatening was to be done or the shoulder straps attached was a mystery.
As I wanted to be able to put the corset on by myself and as yet didn't know the tricks costumers use, I shifted the lacing to the front. I spent some time wondering how the boning could be persuaded to bend sideways as the pattern required for the neckline (especially as it was broken by the lacing), then settled for a very, very slight bend.
Armholes and upper edge were easy to neaten with bias tape, but what about the tabs? The tape wouldn't go round the top of the slits. So I used buttonhole stitches to neaten up the tabs. The shoulder straps were sewn to the front rather than laced... I'd only just heard rumours about lacing on the straps and thight it was messy.
Now you know at what stage of expertise I set out, a couple years ago: the lowest. I haven't decided yet what to do with this corset: put top fabric on, neaten the tabs properly, change the straps - or simply sell it as carnival costume to someone who doesn't care for historical accuracy?
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