How to Make an Easy Corset

Corsets have been around for more than a century.

Corsets have been popular in fashion for over a century. Initially, corsets were used by women to create the illusion of smaller waists. As a result, it was not uncommon for women to faint or even break ribs due to their waists being so tightly cinched. Today, corsets are more commonly used as a fashion statement, particularly in lingerie. Creating your own custom corset is a great way to save money.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Butcher paper
• Scissors
• Pen
• Pencil
• Fabric
• Eyelets
• Sewing machine
• Pins
• Ruler
• Rope or ribbon
• Eyelet hand press

Instructions

1. Take your measurements by wrapping the tape around your rib cage and measuring from where your arm pit starts down to your hips. Make your own pattern by wrapping a piece of butcher paper across your abdomen and then gently marking where your torso ends using a pencil. Lay your pattern on a flat surface and gently make a crescent shape from where your markings end. Do this at the bottom of your pattern markings. Cut down the middle of the longest part of your pattern, making two panels.

2. Pin the corset patterns to your fabric and cut where you have outlined. Remove the pattern material when finished cutting. Gently fold over the edges of your fabric and pin them as you go to reinforce your corset.

3. Use your sewing machine to create seams on the raw edges of your corset panels. Make sure to remove the pins as you go so you do not ruin your sewing machine. Lay a ruler vertically down the opening area for one panel of your corset, giving you approximately ½ inch to place your eyelets.

4. Mark with a permanent marker where you will be placing the eyelets. Space these holes approximately ¼ inch apart from each other by using a ruler. Poke holes in the marked areas using an eyelet hand press. Place eyelets into each of the holes. You can add as many holes and eyelets as needed. After you have added these to one panel, repeat the same process on the opposite panel.

5. Connect your two panels together in the back using your sewing machine. Lace your corset loosely, as you would a sneaker, by making a criss-cross pattern with your rope or ribbon. Slide the corset onto your torso. Tighten the rope or ribbon by tugging at the two strings that hang at the bottom of the criss-cross pattern, pulling as tightly as you want your corset to fit. Tie your rope or ribbon into a bow.

References

• ThreadBanger: How to Make A Corset
• Victoria's Past: Mini History of the Corset