How to Make Corseted Evening Wear

Create a corset with a sexy lace-up back.

A traditional woman’s corset was historically used to create an aesthetically pleasing silhouette, with a thin waist and exaggerated hips and bust. The modern corset mimics the appearance of its predecessors, without the severe restrictive boning that forces the body to conform to its shape. Corsets are often worn today as fashionable tops for day or evening wear. Pair a corset top with a pair of skinny jeans for a casual, sexy ensemble for a night out on the town with your girlfriends. The corset can also be worn as the bodice of a dress by attaching it to a skirt to make an elegant evening dress.

Things You'll Need

• Old tube top
• Seam ripper
• Ironing board
• Iron
• Satin fabric (or rayon)
• Tailor’s chalk
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Grommets
• Grommet hammer
• 1/2-inch wide elastic
• Boning
• 1/2-inch wide ribbon

Instructions

Prepare the Fabric

1. Turn an old tube top inside out and lay it on your work surface. Use the seam ripper to open the stitches down each side seam. The shirt is now in two pieces. Open the stitches along the top and hem of each piece of the shirt.

2. Lay the two pieces on an ironing board and iron flat all sides of each piece. You now have the basic template pieces for your corset top.

3. Lay the two template pieces onto the satin fabric. You can use a rayon fabric instead, if you prefer. Trace around the template pieces with tailor’s chalk and cut out the two pieces for the corset. Repeat this step one more time for the lining. Use the same fabric or a less expensive lining fabric.

Assemble the Pieces

1. Lay the two front pieces together with right sides outward and sew a straight stitch along the top and bottom of each. Do the same with the two back pieces.

2. Fold the back in half vertically, and cut along the fold line to make a left and a right piece for the back of the corset. Fold over 1/2 inch along each cut edge and sew a straight stitch. Make slits down the middle of each hem, each about 1/4 inch wide. Space these slits apart about 1/2 inch.

3. Insert one half of a grommet on the back side of each slit, place the corresponding piece on top and hammer to join each set together. You will lace up the back of the corset through these grommets later.

4. Lay the front of the corset face up on your work surface. Place the two back pieces on top and align the outer edges. Sew a straight stitch along the left and right edges to join the front and back pieces of the corset.

5. Fold over 1/2-inch along the top of the corset. Sew a straight stitch close to the rough edge. Measure the circumference of your chest, beneath your underarms. Subtract 1 1/2 inches and cut a piece of elastic to this length. Slide the elastic through the top fold in the corset and sew the ends to the left and right edges.

Corset Boning

1. Measure across the front of the corset, from side seam to side seam. Make a mark every 1 1/8 inches for the boning channels. Sew a straight stitch at each mark from the top to the bottom of the corset.

2. Insert one piece of boning into each of the channels. The boning should be about 1/2 inch shorter than the corset top to allow for the hemline.

3. Fold over 1/4 inch along the bottom of the corset. Iron the fabric and then fold over another 1/4 inch. Sew a straight stitch to complete the hem of the corset.

4. Lay the corset face down and bring the left and right rows of grommets side-by-side at the back of the corset. Unwind a spool of 1/2-inch-wide ribbon. Lace up the back of the corset in the same manner as shoelaces. Try on the corset top.

Tips & Warnings

• For an under-bust corset, measure the distance from above the bust line to just below. Measure this distance on the corset and sew around the corset to stop the boning here. Cut the boning to fit and insert it into the channels in the same manner.

References

• The Art of Couture Sewing; Zoya Nudelman