Dipping My Toe Into Uncharted Corsetry

Hello Lovelies!

Abby here —

Ok – so my title is not entirely true. I’ve made an 1800s corset before…hell I’ve even taught a workshop on how to pattern and make your own a few years ago…..but this…this ladies & gents is my first official jump into the deep end of the pool of historical dress. I’m going deep…swimming my little heart away from the 18th century (for now) & into one of my favorite moments of clothing.

The 1830s.

No. For real. Don’t mock it till you try it! (…sewing pun?)

I used to think, like most people, that the 1830s was just flippin’ weird…and because we as humans have a tendency to associate weird = ugly… I always thought the 1830s was ugly.

…like Ugly.

…Oogly.

Bleh.

Apparently this is for sale on Amazon. Aren’t they just perfection?!

But then….then my friends I started to look at the prints and giggle…1830s makes you smile…and the more something makes you smile the harder it is to hate it.

(Plus, when you have Chrissy from the Laced Angel making 1830s hair magic on her head it’s hard not to love it!)

I still think they must have been just ever so slightly out of their minds during this decade, but I find it fun & endearing. So, with that in mind, I’ve set my mind to making a late 1830s outfit….

Obviously the first thing I need to do before I get into the fun stuff is a correct corset. Like I said earlier – I’ve made 1800-10s corsets before, but they’re a bit of a different fit than the 1830s one, and so this will be a fun exercise for me to see how well I am doing with my corset/stays pattern drafting work/skill.

I’ve patterned this little stink and have basted all the gussets & gores into place. Now I just need to whip everything together very quickly so that way I can do a fitting and see how well she fits me. This also means I need someone to help me fit this garment (this is the part where I side-eye Lauren across desks…)

Anyways – here she is, in her current state. I’ve made her out of white jean and oznabrig linen from Burnley & Trowbridge. The white jean is recommended by Workwoman’s Guide from 1838 for corsets & the linen helps improve the structure, etc. I’m going to use a light blue embroidery cotton for creating the busk, boning & cording channels when the time comes. So long as she fits, it shouldn’t take too terribly long to put her together…so fingers crossed everything works!

Very few pieces with all the gores & gussets basted in.

Pretty sure I wasn’t paying attention when I started whipping this edge together. I’ve also added an additional layer of linen to help prevent the eyelets from blowing out the first time I wear this thing.

White jean with channel marks & a hellova lot of seam allowance

Lining

Here’s the lining side of the front of my corset, I’m trying to decide if I want to put the busk channel in now or later (probably should do it now to help with fittings, tbh..but…I’m feeling a bit lazy)

Alright, that’s it for now…until next time!

<3 <3
-Ab