(no subject)

[chocolatepot]

Yesterday I sewed on the top binding for the corset! Put it on today and took some pictures so I can do the blog post before the month is actually out. Unfortunately, while taking a back picture I realized that the lacing is really strongly \/. Which isn't a tragedy, it's just () and )( you've got to watch out for, but it's frustrating. I'm not sure how to fix that - the body is supposed to be straight up and down with bust gussets and a hip piece. Maybe alter the pattern by sloping the side seam out in front and back? It's hard to know how Mme Sebille would have sized up for women with broader backs. On the whole, I'm pretty happy with it but glad that I did a plain cotton one before cutting into the satin, even if the cost of the satin for such a small piece is negligible. I think the back hip gore (which I added - it's not in the original patent but is in this extremely similar corset - I copied this boning pattern as well) needs more flare and the front hip panel needs less. Unfortunately, I only get about an inch of reduction. At this point I think the issue is less about my construction methods (there is still room in the hips) and more my skeleton - my ribcage is basically right on top of my pelvis. So of course I'm torturing myself by comparing pictures of me in my corset to Merja in hers. /o\

Not having worn the plastic whalebone for a whole day, I can't give a full report yet, but just from trying it on I think it's excellent. It's quite similar to the heavy-duty cable ties in terms of flexibility and strength, but thinner. I expect it will mold like cable ties and actual whalebone. Haven't done any flossing, but unlike my old steel-boned corset all the bones are just the right length for their channels and don't need it so much.