Starting a new project, a pair of stays, a commission for Olympe.
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| Olympe’s materials – cream jacquard, yellow linen, and the stays shall be interlined in canvas |
They will lace at the front over a stomacher, and with a pretty light blue ribbon. The body of the stays is a cream jacquard and the stomacher and bias binding will be this lovely yellow linen.
Reference images:
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| Reference for boning. I’m thinking a combo of hemp (for curves) and zip ties (my favorite) for straights |
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| An example of front closing stays. No laces shown here, oddly enough. |
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| Front closing stays with wide-set shoulder straps. Olympe’s won’t be so wide, and her straps will be detachable. I love the long tail on the back of these, though. |
A few ideas in terms of pattern:
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| One of those standard reference images for stays you see everywhere. Where did I even get this? |
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| A free pattern I found on the web. Half boned stays, but could be fully boned easily enough. |
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| Butterick’s stays pattern. I may use this for basic pattern pieces to then alter. |
She has asked for wide-ish tabs (and I agree), and straps that can be removed. They straps will have a wide set so as to be worn fairly far out on the shoulder, if attached.
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| My preliminary sketches for the stays, just exploring pattern, where the seams will be how the bones will work. Brainstorming. |
Olympe is teeny tiny! She has asked for a 2.5″ reduction, and this takes the measurements well under the size of my dress forms, so I will have to employ my skills of maths to figure out the pattern, eek!
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9 Comments
Finegan Antiques
September 6, 2010 at 10:57 PMThe stays sound wonderful and with those colors, stunning.
Donna
Olympe de la Tour D'Auvergne
September 7, 2010 at 12:05 AMSo exciting!! I have the same problem with dressforms whenever I sew something for myself, I had to buy one of the "uniquely you" forms and cut it down to size.
Thanks for sharing the progress, I know it's going to be fabulous!
Stephanie Ann
September 7, 2010 at 4:01 AMThese are so pretty. I should get around to sewing some.
The Dreamstress
September 7, 2010 at 8:40 AMCool! But that yellow is BRIGHT!
Abby
September 7, 2010 at 8:50 AMHave fun! I'm doing the same thing right now too! 🙂
Élisabeth
September 7, 2010 at 11:19 AMNice, but just a little advice, if you still did not think about it: do not create a too long tail, because Olympe would have difficulties to seat down!
American Duchess
September 7, 2010 at 6:00 PMDreamstress – I'm working with materials Olympe sent me, and although it is very poppy yellow I think it'll look well-put-together when the cream is bound in the yellow and with the light blue ribbons across the front, they'll temper it.
Elisabeth – noted! I hadn't thought of that, but very good point. I'll keep it reasonable 🙂
Lithia Black
September 8, 2010 at 9:59 AMGreat colors, it will look stunning!
Some heads ups, if you are planning to use a pattern that looks similar to this one:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uj8VTdK7TAk/Sqoi4-hkpUI/AAAAAAAAAEw/aUcxib0XqME/s1600-h/stayspattern.jpg
Be very careful with the placement of the waist. My stays from this pattern ended up with the waist a bit too low and that was not so comfortable. I also strongly recommend carefulness with strap placement. If the straps end up to far out on the shoulder the stays will not give as much cleavage and bust support.
/L
Tatieva
September 15, 2010 at 11:09 AMFabuleux corsets ! Ma prĂ©fĂ©rence va au rouge avec les petits coussinets, je trouve adorable et ça nous plonge dans l'Histoire… Merci.
Tatieva
Artiste peintre… avec une Marie-Antoinette on my blog !