Thread: Corset-making Workshop?

Just wondering....
Would anyone be interested in a one-day introduction to the basics of corset-making?
I've been following recent posts, and it seems that there are a few of you who would love to have a go at making your own.

I'm a professional costume-maker based in SW London; I'm not a full-time corsetiere ( partly because there are plenty of people specialising in that already), but as such I regularly make corsets of all periods ( 16th to 20th century, plus corsets for men). I have also taught period-cutting projects in Sacramento, Maryland and Rome.

Now before all you professional corsetieres out there start posting away like mad to say that corsets require plenty of skill and experience to make properly - I absolutely agree. But as you all know, the real art is in the cutting and the fitting, and that is the stuff that only comes with time and practise. I'm talking about a basic ' how to start', so that rather than just following printed instructions people could actually see the various techniques they might need, and go away feeling more confident about having a go at making something for themselves.

I haven't worked out anything specific - just wanted to see if there was any interest - but I think that in one day it would be possible to cover the following :
How to measure the body correctly.
Cutting a made-to-measure waspie/ basic underbust corset for each participant.
An introduction to the standard books on corset-making, and how to draft or scale up and adapt their patterns for the individual figure.
A demonstration of how to make up the waspie, including inserting a busk, two different ways of boning ( using a casing or putting the bone in the seam), how to put in eyelets, etc.
Advice on where to obtain materials.
A chance to fit a mock-up of each individual waspie before the end of the session.

Depending on the level of skill , we could also look at other things - for example, if anyone had a corset they had cut on their own we could fit it properly and discuss how to complete it, or how to draft an 18th century corset ( my speciality).....whatever anyone wants, really.

I've never taught more than one-on-one at home before, but I think my studio could accommodate 4 people comfortably, or 6 at a push.

Say, a 5 hour session on a Saturday with the materials (coutil, busk and bones) plus lunch for about £75? You would not need any direct experience of making corsets, but you would need to be confident with a sewing machine and with some basic dress-making experience.

If anyone is interested or has any comments or thoughts, please get in touch. I'll try to get some pictures of my work posted in the next few days.

Happy New Year!

Viva

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I'd love an opportunity to attend a workshop like this to learn the basics of how to make corsets, but I'd need plenty of notice to get to London.

I don't want to make corsets to sell in my boutique, as there are enough talented corsetiers around (I buy corsets from them thank you ). However I would love to have a go at making them for myself. It would be fabulous to have something truely unique that nobody else has got, and it's just fun having a go at something new.

My sewing skills are advanced so I could definitely take advantage of 1 day a workshop like this. Yes please!!
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Corsets at Love Burlesque

I would say its a great idea but £75 is enough to buy a low end corset, do you think people will pay this much?

I think £75 covers tuition, materials and the lunch... that's £15 per hour for tuition inclusive of materials? I would pay that amount. It's about the gaining knowledge rather than just taking away the beginnings of a corset I can wear.

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Corsets at Love Burlesque

Candy is right - I based the price on a minimum of 3 people, and on providing all the materials for an under-bust corset ( coutil, busk, eyelets, spirals, lacing etc - about £15), plus printed worksheets to take home with instructions both for making up the corset and how to draft to individual measurements.
Hopefully people will go away not only with all the materials and the basis of a corset/waspie, and their own individual pattern, but also the possibility of making more using what they have learned, and the opportunity to ask lots of questions and advice about other projects they may have. And have a fun and creative day!

I didn't want to post any specific dates until I knew whether there would be any interest, but I could do something any Saturday or Sunday in February. Say, 11 to 4pm-ish? I'm two minutes from the tube, and my studio is fully equipped, with 3 domestic and one industrial sewing machines and half-a-dozen dress stands, from size 8 to size 26.

Please get in touch if you fancy coming to play!

Viva

I live in Carlisle, but I'd deffo be interested in coming down for a workshop :0)

Ah when you break it down it makes sense, if you're including the materials, make sure you include a breakdown of whats included when you advertise and i think peple would def be interested

if it were a saturday I'd definitely be interested

Originally Posted by Viva La Belvoir

Just wondering....
Would anyone be interested in a one-day introduction to the basics of corset-making?
I've been following recent posts, and it seems that there are a few of you who would love to have a go at making your own.

I'm a professional costume-maker based in SW London; I'm not a full-time corsetiere ( partly because there are plenty of people specialising in that already), but as such I regularly make corsets of all periods ( 16th to 20th century, plus corsets for men). I have also taught period-cutting projects in Sacramento, Maryland and Rome.

Now before all you professional corsetieres out there start posting away like mad to say that corsets require plenty of skill and experience to make properly - I absolutely agree. But as you all know, the real art is in the cutting and the fitting, and that is the stuff that only comes with time and practise. I'm talking about a basic ' how to start', so that rather than just following printed instructions people could actually see the various techniques they might need, and go away feeling more confident about having a go at making something for themselves.

I haven't worked out anything specific - just wanted to see if there was any interest - but I think that in one day it would be possible to cover the following :
How to measure the body correctly.
Cutting a made-to-measure waspie/ basic underbust corset for each participant.
An introduction to the standard books on corset-making, and how to draft or scale up and adapt their patterns for the individual figure.
A demonstration of how to make up the waspie, including inserting a busk, two different ways of boning ( using a casing or putting the bone in the seam), how to put in eyelets, etc.
Advice on where to obtain materials.
A chance to fit a mock-up of each individual waspie before the end of the session.

Depending on the level of skill , we could also look at other things - for example, if anyone had a corset they had cut on their own we could fit it properly and discuss how to complete it, or how to draft an 18th century corset ( my speciality).....whatever anyone wants, really.

I've never taught more than one-on-one at home before, but I think my studio could accommodate 4 people comfortably, or 6 at a push.

Say, a 5 hour session on a Saturday with the materials (coutil, busk and bones) plus lunch for about £75? You would not need any direct experience of making corsets, but you would need to be confident with a sewing machine and with some basic dress-making experience.

If anyone is interested or has any comments or thoughts, please get in touch. I'll try to get some pictures of my work posted in the next few days.

Happy New Year!

Viva

Hi, yes I would be very interested in this course, I have made many dance costumes but this would add a useful string to my bow. I am in Manchester, so the cost of travel would be more than the course..................any chance in you coming up here??????????

I'd be flying over from Holland for this If I could combine it with London Edge that would be perfect... so how about 6th or 7th February? The sooner I can book the flights the better... I'll pm you

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