How to Fan Lace a Corset

Decorative corset

Corsets, which are heavily-reinforced undergarments that compress the torso, can be laced in a variety of different ways. One method of corset lacing, which was originally used in medical corsets but is now used mainly for decoration, is fan lacing. Unlike other methods of corset lacing, which traditionally follow a shoelace, ladder or zigzag pattern, fan lacing cannot cinch the waist. This style of lacing is characterized by a fan pattern, which is created by looping corset laces through the rings of a central waist belt.

Things You'll Need

• Corset with waist belt
• Corset laces

Instructions

1. Lay the left and right pieces of the corset on a flat surface, with the center back edges lined up. Spread the edges apart a few inches.

2. Insert the corset laces through the top grommet on each piece, from the underside. Adjust the laces so that they are an even length on each side.

3. Take the lacing on the left side of the corset and thread it through the waist ring on the right side of the corset, from the underside.

4. Take the same piece of lacing and thread it through the second grommet on the left side of the corset, from the outside.

5. Thread the lacing through the second grommet on the right side of the corset, from the underside.

6. Take the lacing on the right side of the corset from Step 2. Thread this lacing through the waist ring on the left side of the corset, from the underside.

7. Take the same piece of lacing and thread it through the third grommet on the right side of the corset, from the outside.

8. Thread the lacing through the third grommet on the left side of the corset, from the underside.

9. Take the lacing that is now on the right side of the corset, coming out of the second grommet. Thread this lacing through the waist ring on the left side of the corset, from the underside.

10. Thread the same piece of lacing through the fourth grommet on the right side of the corset, from the outside.

11. Thread the lacing through the fourth grommet on the left side of the corset, from the underside.

12. Take the lacing that is coming out of the third grommet on the left side of the corset. Thread this lacing through the waist ring on the right side of the corset, from the underside.

13. Thread the same piece of lacing through the fifth grommet on the left side of the corset, from the outside.

14. Thread the lacing through the fifth grommet on the right side of the corset, from the underside.

15. Continue on in this pattern all the way down the corset back. Tie the loose ends together.

Tips & Warnings

• Corset laces can be made from long shoelace material, cording or strong ribbon.

• The metal rings on the belt can be basic D-rings for a simple look, or they can be traditional medical wire form buckles.

References

• "Corsets and Crinolines;" Norah Waugh; 1954.
• Corsetiere: Fan Lacing Corsets

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish