How to Make a Leather Corset
Corsets are a sexy fashion item that have been around for centuries. Of course, in earlier days they were used more as a support system for women rather than fashion. Creating your own leather corset can be challenging because the material is not very versatile, but once you complete the corset it will last years. You can wear it as lingerie or out as creative club wear.
Things You'll Need
- Cloth tape measure
- Cloth scissors
- Sewing machine
- Leather material, on average, 3.5 feet long by 2 feet wide.
- At least 10 feet of lacing material (string, cord or lace)
- Small sharp scissors
- Grommets
- Grommet setter
- Hammer
Instructions
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1
Use a cloth tape measure to carefully measure and record your measurements to cut the corset fabric. You need to measure around your ribcage, the size of your bust, under your arms, and also the circumference around your hips. Measure two to three times just to make sure you have accurate records. Map out the measurements on the leather fabric, leaving an extra 1/2 inch on top of your measurements. Hold up the fabric to get an idea of how it should fit you: the corset should go from the top of your bust line to your hips. Trim out the fabric around your measurement markings.
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2
Use the sewing machine to sew a 1/2 inch hem along all four sides of the corset. Using a sewing machine will provide a more professional appearance rather than doing it by hand.
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3
Make sure you are working on a sturdy flat surface. Turn the length of leather fabric over so the front part of the corset is face down, and the two open ends are in front of you. These are the two sides where the lacing holes will be created. First, use a marker to draw large circular marks, about 1/4 inch in diameter, along each side of the corset. Start on the top left side, drawing the first mark one inch down from the top edge, and 1/2 inch from the outer edge. Slide down the fabric, making another mark directly down from the first every inch until you hit the bottom of the fabric (make sure you leave one inch of fabric up from the bottom). Repeat this on the right side.
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4
Create the holes where the lacing will go through. Use a small sharp scissor blade to carefully press into the leather until the blade pokes through. Further insert the blade to make the hole a little larger, but not larger than the mark. Do this on every mark you've drawn.
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5
Prepare to sew the grommets into the holes. Grommets come in two pieces each, and are necessary because they will help provide a sturdy place for the lacing to run through, and will make the job look more professional. Take the first grommet side that doesn't have teeth, and insert it through the cut hole. Push it through the hole until the grommet's front is visible on the other side.
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6
Pick up the other grommet's side which will be smaller, and put it under the already inserted grommet. Next, place the grommet setter underneath it, and place the shorter grommet's teeth into the end of the first grommet already inserted.
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7
Use a hammer to pound the larger part of the grommet setter on top of the grommet in the leather corset. Carefully pound the hammer until the grommet is secured. Repeat this process with each hole in the corset, securing grommets all the way down the sides.
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8
Lace up the corset. Insert one end of the string or cord you want to use (you can use leather string, cord, sating string, lace, etc.) into the top right corset hole. Pull it through so half of the string is through the hole. Next, insert the other side of the string into the opposite hole on top, on the left. After that, take the first side of the string you pulled through the right side and cross it over to the second hole on the left side. Then take the string you strung through the first hole on the left and cross it over to the second hole on the right. Repeat this procedure with both sides of string, all the way down the corset.
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9
Keep the lacing loose as you try on the corset to make sure it fits. Slip it over your head and onto your torso, then have someone lace it up for you tightly. The corset should be snug, but comfortable, on your body.
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