Stays Progress?

Well, I got stalled by making a 19th century slat bonnet but I'm back to my stays now.

I found an extremely helpful suggestion on Slightly Obsessed - her stays tutorial, called Stay the Course. Here, she makes the mockup of the stays in CARDBOARD! What a brilliant idea! :) I have been hemming and hawing over how to ensure my mockup will accurately represent the tight fit that stays create. Also, another great concept here is the fact that here you can use a hole punch to make the eyelets. Although I'm still going with the modified pattern from the Elizabethean corset site, I'm definitely going to make the mockup in cardboard.

On MaraRiley's site of stays instructions, I'm on approximately step #2 (which is actually the last numbered step, lol). She skips a lot of intermediate instructions, though. I just noticed that somewhere between the third and the fourth picture she modified the front piece to dip over the bust (the original mockup goes up in the front) and added a slight bump where the shoulder strap will connect. I'll have to do most of this by sight.

My shopping list: 3/8" wide cable ties, lining fabric, blue thread?

Wish me luck!

Hello Dear Reader!

Just an update on the progress of the stays. Using the Custom Corset Pattern Generator I created the pattern for an Elizabethan corset. I managed to get it all drawn out on freezer paper -- which curls annoyingly. Now onto the next part. Either I need to get an eyelet thing from JoAnn's, or -- no, there's no way I want to stitch buttonholes for a test fitting! Is there? Ugh. (Also, does eyelet = grommet? I need to look at my CW corset to see how big they are.) Once I have that, I can do a sufficient test fitting, although I'm still not 100% sure how to do the tabs, slicing it up into the 1700s pattern, and boning channels for the cable ties -- but it will come together... I hope.

I also realized that I HAVE NO IRON! My iron had a short in the cord and since it had lived a long, good life -- born in the mid 70s or 80s, I'd say -- it went to Iron Heaven. Now I'm dazzled with iron shopping. Who knew it would be so thrilling? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. :)

Just a tip: Check out the Stays post at Rockin' the Rococo. She is making hers by hand and has very wonderful photos!