How to Put a Lace Up Back in a Dress

Lace ups, or corsets, draw attention to the back.

Lace up back dresses, also known as corset back dresses, add emphasis and dimension to the back of the dress. Lace up backs are popular in wedding dresses and other formal gowns. They are ideal if your weight fluctuates, or if you are between sizes, because the lacing can be adjusted tighter or looser. Instead of worrying about altering the dress, you can convert a zip up dress into a laced up back.

Things You'll Need

• Seam ripper
• Thread (same colors as fabric)
• Needle
• Scissors
• Grommets or eyelets
• Hammer
• Anvil
• Chalk
• Silk upholstery cord (quarter-inch thick)
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

1. Remove the zipper. Zip the dress closed and turn it inside out. Use a seam ripper on each side of the zipper and carefully remove threads attaching the zipper to the fabric.

2. Fold the torn fabric inside (to the left and to the right on each side) to create a half-inch hem on each side to conceal the frays from the seam ripper. Pin the hem so that it is even, then sew the hem on each side of the opening to create a "v" opening.

3. Sew together the part of the dress beneath the small of the back, if the zipper extended that low. The lace should not begin below the small of the back.

4. Mark with chalk small dots at 1-inch intervals along the edge of each panel of the dress. Use a ruler to align dots on each side so that the dress laces up evenly. Cut a tiny "x" over each dot with a pair of very sharp, small scissors.

5. Push a grommet or eyelet up through each "x." The head (ridged side) of the eyelet should face up, with the flat surface on the bottom. Place the fabric on an anvil. Strike the eyelet with a small hammer to curl the metal ridge over the fabric, creating a tight fit. Each side of the eyelet should look identical.

6. Turn the dress right-side out. Try the dress on. Have someone help you lace the cord, as you will not be able to reach behind yourself to do this. Lace the cord through the eyelets in a crisscross pattern. Begin at the bottom of the corset, tightening laces as you thread to the top. Tie a bow to secure the corset at the top. Mark the cord where you want to cut the strings of the bow. Cut the cord with shears. Hot glue the tips of each cord to prevent fray.

References

• Ebay: Lacing a Corset Back Wedding Dress
• Sew for Dough: Adding a Corset Back to Your Wedding Dress
• Cyber Seams: How to Attach an Eyelet