Making a Victorian Corset 26 - 27.08.2017

  This 2 day course will guide you through necessary steps for making a basic Victorian corset and is targetted at our Victorian Ball guests - but everybody is welcome whether they are coming to the ball or not!

 The participants will receive a  10% discount code to purchase a Corset Kit from Sew Curvy (including all you need to make a corset - fabric, pattern, boning, busk, lacing, tapes - complete list here ). Please do not bring other patterns or unsuitable fabrics -  they may require different, maybe more advanced techniques and working with 5 different patterns in a basic class would mean a very slow progress...

  Sew Curvy has a great range of suitable corsetry fabric you can choose form for your 1 layer corset -  rosebud coutils are nice, though  if you prefer more historically acurate fabric, basic or herringbone coutils are perfect. For slighty sturdier and easer to stitch, look for broche, satins or sateens.

 The course will cover the following areas over the two days:

*brief introduction to corsets in Victorian times, types and varieties - literature  as well as replicas available to handle

* understanding how corsets workand why they differ from making standard garments

* using the commercial pattern  -  drafting a  mock up based on the commercial pattern,  pattern paper supplied

* making a mock up in calico ( provided), with boning.

* fitting techniques - how to adress different fitting issues and adapt the main pattern

* cutting out fabric proper and making up the corset using Victorian dressmaking techniques - modern equivalents as well as alternative methods will be covered as well.

 * you will be guided through the cutting out, busk insertion, assembly, making bone channels, using waist stay, bone insertion, binding and lacing the corset

*for those who prefer it, eyeletting machine will be available for use.

* discussing a range of finishing and embelishing techniques, time permitting, including flossing, lace attachment, as well as corset wear and care insturctions

  Depending on your own sewing experience, at the end you will have at  working pattern for a future use,  a well fitted mock up and a finished ( or almost finished) corset,  with only the finishing touches  left as a homework...

 requirements:

 * basic sewing experience required  - you will need to bring your own sewing machine ( a hire is possible, please ask if needed - £10 on the day), and be able to use basic stitch. Zip foot required for busk insertion (  though possible to borrow one here if needs be).

 Please make sure your machine is in a good working order.

*ONLY straight stich will be used - no fancy work ( unless you want to...), but practice beforehand so that you can stitch  fluently and accurately.

 Bring your own scissors, measuring tape and pencils, please

  The workshop is on the premises of a  sewing centre -   they do stock haberdasher etc if you forget something. They also have a nice cafeteria providing reasonably priced and tasty lunches :-) Tea and coffee provided free of charge.

  PLEASE NOTE:  you will be fitting the corset on yourself ( or a willing course participant, if coming with a friend), and not on a dummy - the first day will be mostly about fit requirements for a living body - and a female too. I  don't specialise in male corsetry, so cannot help much here!

 With that proviso, both men and women are welcome.

 Details:

 location - Tudor Rose Patchwork, Unit 1, Oakley Park, Station Rd, Oakley MK43 7RB

  The venue is about 7m cab ride from Bedford station.

 Nearest accommodation: there are  3 Travelodges and 2 Premier inns in Bedford plus numerous B&B in the vicinity. Bedford has a nice town centre with a variety of restaurants featuring multinational cuisine,  as well as the usual chains.  

 timing 9.30 - 4.30, with a lunch break

    Your tutor:

 Izabela has been working with corsetry for the last 6 years, training under the undeniable queen of corsets - Julia Bremble from Sew Curvy Couture and Oxford school of Corsetry. I  

She has made  numerous bespoke and generic sizes corsets, both modern and traditional, but it is the Victorian corsetry that she specialises in ( as well as both Victorian and modern equestrian corsets for side saddle riders), and delights in investigating period techniques and adapting original patterns for modern use.

 She is a qualified teacher too with a few decades of teaching experience - so you are in safe hands! 

PLEASE NOTE: the course will only run if we have minumum 3 people- if  we don't have  the minumum  numbers  a week before the event, the course will be cancelled and refunded in full.