Make Your Own Corset

A corset is similar to a bustier and has tightly fitted sides and a lace-up bodice. Corsets are used to cinch in the waist and lift the bust. Corsets were originally made using whale bones. Today, you can make an attractive corset with nothing more than fabric, a sewing machine, eyelets and ribbon. Your homemade corset won't have all the waist-cinching abilities as its whalebone ancestors, but at least you'll be able to breathe.

Things You'll Need

• Corset pattern
• Fabric for outer corset
• Straight Pins
• Fabric pencil or crayon
• Scissors
• Fabric for corset liner
• Threaded sewing machine
• Eyelets
• Eyelet setter
• Hammer
• Ribbon for lacing

Instructions

1. If you don't have your own corset pattern already, click on the link in the Resources section below. Input your measurements to generate a corset pattern specifically for you.

2. Lay your fabric out on a flat surface. Use the straight pins to pin the pattern to the fabric along the edges.

3. Trace the edges of the pattern all the way around, effectively marking the line you will sew. Cut out the fabric around the pattern at least one inch from the edge. This will create the seam allowance for your corset.

4. Take the piece that you have just cut out and place it on top of another length of fabric. Use this as a template for your second panel. Cut out the second panel to the same dimensions as the first, making sure to leave the seam allowances.

5. Place one of the panels you have just created on top of the liner fabric. Repeat the step above to create two liner panels for your corset.

6. Pin together one of the outer corset panels and one of the liner panels. Make sure to keep the right sides together. Sew along the pattern line, leaving a small gap at one end. Turn it inside out through the gap so the liner is in the right place.

7. Fold the gap seam in and sew it closed. Then, sew a top seam around the whole panel. Repeat Steps 6 and 7 for the second panel and liner.

8. Using a fabric pencil or crayon, make a mark 1 inch in from the front seam of the corset. This will mark the placement of your eyelets. Continue making marks 1 inch apart and 1 inch in, straight down the panel where your eyelets will go. Repeat this step for the second panel.

9. Cut a hole for each mark where you will insert your eyelets on your corset. Make sure to keep the holes a little smaller than the size of the eyelets. If the holes are too big, you won't be able to insert the eyelets into the corset properly.

10. Insert an eyelet into each of the holes from the inner side. The rounded edge of the eyelet should be visible on the front side of the corset panel. Turn the panel over and insert the eyelet setter. Hammer the eyelet into place by tapping a few times with the hammer. Repeat for all holes on both panels.

11. Place the panels' right sides together and sew them up the back. Put the corset on and use the ribbon to lace it up through the eyelets.

Resources

• Custom Corset Pattern Generator