…and up, and out. These are quite an intriguing pair of bust-enhancing apparati! I’m so tickled.
These stays have gone together surprisingly well, with just a little fiddling with the drawstrings in the bust cups. They are shown here over my not-well-endowed dress form, Millie, but I patterned them over a C cup bra.
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| Patterning in muslin, over the stuffed C cup bra. |
The stays will lace at the center front, and all edges will be bound in oyster-colored 1/4″ bias. There is boning at the center back, and off to the sides of each, er, boob, to help support them in that, uh, region. The whole idea with the Regency shape is to move the bust together, upwards, but also out, like a shelf rather than squished flat.
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| The straps are thin and wide-set. They tie on at the front so as to be adjustable, and can be worn further out on the shoulder if need be. |
More photos of the finished Jane Austen Maxi Bra to come!
5 Comments
Isis
December 4, 2010 at 9:11 AMOoooh- nice!
Katy Rose
December 4, 2010 at 1:42 PMI have been doing sorta the same thing….trying to make transitional stays. But I've been fighting for days now to get the cups to fit. I've resorted to modern pattern shaping in order to get the breast shape I like, I also want to see how comfy they are for everyday wear. Great job on the stays!
Lauren Stowell
December 4, 2010 at 9:28 PMKaty, I'm worried about the cups not fitting too, and I may end up making another pair if they don't work. It's engineering as much as sewing, right!? Good luck on yours – I think going with a modern tactic is probably a good idea in this case. At some point historical accuracy and wearability have to balance out.
Katy Rose
December 5, 2010 at 12:59 PMIt's definitely engineering! I resorted to cutting and piecing while the garment was on my body and was amazed at the stupidly simple solution to my problem. Your shaping at the bottom of the cup has given me an idea to try so that I can get the gathered cup look of the era. I'm gonna try it today and see how it goes.
Lauren
December 5, 2010 at 4:22 PMJane Austen Maxi Bra… Love it! It's looking great so far 🙂