Friday 22 April 2011

18th Century stays - in progress.

I have started a new project - a set of half boned stays.  I was so engrossed in the sewing of them that I forgot to take photos until I had finished most of the boning. I used the 1780 pattern from 'Corsets and Crinolines' by Norah Waugh which is a bit of a headache to scale up as it's not on a grid on the page.  Once I had my paper pattern I cut out a calico toile just to check the fit. 
















This is one half of the stays in my yummy pastel pink fabric.  I confess - its curtain fabric and the lining is a dusky pink chintz. Furnishing fabric shops are my new obsession.  I guess it's because the patterns and colours are better suited to historical fashion, plus they are nice and strong - ideal for stays. I am using cable ties for the bones - a fabulous tip I picked up from American Duchess.  Rather irritatingly, I bought a bunch of 36 thinking it would be plenty and I was 3 short....grrrrrrrr!!!
















All the panels are sewn together.

















The inside of the stays.  From here I need to find or make some delicious bias binding to finish all the edges and whack in some eyelets.

2 comments:

  1. Gorgeous. I can't wait to see it on a three dimensional figure. Is it for a particular ensemble?

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  2. Thankyou very much! I havn't got anything in particular in mind for it at the moment but I would love to do a sack back gown at some point.

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