How to Make a Corset for Free
Corsets have been around since the mid-16th century, and women are still wearing them today. The appeal of a corset comes from its ability to create a cinched waist and a flattering silhouette. While designers create stunning and expensive models, you can make a corset at home for free using recycled materials. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Corset pattern
- Shoe laces
- Needle
- Thread
- Pins
- Scissors
- Fabric
- Eyelets from an old shoe
- Pencil
Instructions
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Use the corset pattern generator in the Resources to create your personalized pattern. Draw the pattern onto a large sheet of paper and cut it out. You can use any large piece of paper for the pattern, such as wrapping paper or newspaper.
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2
Pin the pattern to the fabric you're using and cut around it. For fabric, you should use something that's attractive but sturdy. Since corsets are meant to hold in a woman's tummy, you will need something stronger than T-shirt fabric. Use fabric from an old dress or pair of jeans. Cut 1 inch away from the pattern all the way around, so you have enough fabric to use for the seams. Do this again to create another matching piece that will serve as your lining. The fabric you use for the lining can be softer, so an old T-shirt will do.
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Sew the two sections together 1 inch away from their edges. Once you have sewn them together, fold the excess edges in to create a cleaner look. Sew these together around the entire perimeter of your fabric.
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Draw a line 1 inch in from the back seam of your corset, along the edge. Draw this line using your pencil. Then draw marks for the eyelets down the back edge, making sure to keep them 1 inch from the edge and 1 inch apart. Repeat this step with the other side of the corset. Think of it almost like you're making holes in a shoe for a shoelace. The corset will lace up and down the back of the corset.
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Cut small holes in each place you marked for the eyelets, making sure to keep them smaller than the eyelets. If they're too big, the eyelets will simply fall through the holes.
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Cut the eyelets out of your old shoes. Tennis shoes and some sneakers have great eyelets for this project, but you can use any eyelets that are sturdy enough to hold the corset together. Insert the eyelets and secure them by sewing each one into place. Ensure all of the eyelets are secure.
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Tie two or three shoelaces together and thread them through the eyelets as you would a shoelace. Then slip the corset over your head to try it on. Pull the laces as tight as you want it and tie them behind your back. It might help to have a friend help you with this step, since tying a corset is difficult to do by yourself.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit George Marks/Retrofile/Getty Images
