If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to draft, fit and make corsets for yourself or your friends, this is your class.
This is a four-evening workshop at Cospace
Fridays: 6pm – 9pm
Nov 4
Nov 11
Nov 18
Dec 2nd
Cospace Members: $430.00 Non-Members: $460.00
Register Through Cospace
The corset is the timeless silhouette and basis for soooo many cosplay looks and historical costumes, and can be worn on the inside or outside of your outfit!
Instructor:
Jen of McGrew Studios: Salt Lake’s famous production design business serving film, television and the entertainment industries plus home to their specialty Salt Lake Tightlacer corset brand (now going into its 15th year of famous-ness). Assistant: Diane Thompson who’s also made many corsets as part of cosplay and costuming.
Class #1
• Meet, greet, etc.
• Show-and-tell with corset samples, ours and yours.
• Basics and demonstration of pattern fitting and mockup fittings.
• Review of fabric grain, seam allowances, pressing, plus basting vs. stitching.
• Cut out your pattern and do your paper/pin-fitting/pattern analysis with a partner.
• Get some instructional feedback/tips on your paper fitting.
• Cut out your corset mockup/understructure.
• Baste your corset mockup together during class if there’s time.
• We will review further steps and show you samples so you can continue working on your corset project at home before our next class in this series.
Class #2
• Make sure to bring your sewing machine to this class.
• Baste your corset mockup together.
• Demos: Fitting check on your mockups. Alterations to your mockups so they fit you better.
• Review of flatlining- the application of your pretty outer fabric(s) to your mockup pieces.
• Review of creating your stay casings in planning your final look. There are quite a few ways to plan/make your stay casings.
Class #3
• Make sure to bring your sewing machine to this class.
• Continue any remaining mockup fittings/adaptations.
• Continue flatlining your pretty outer fabric to your corset understructure pieces.
• Stitch your corset together and create your stay casings.
• Review of good topstitching tips and techniques for your casings.
• Review of great techniques for machine and hand finishing your bindings.
• Review of grommets and grommeting strategies.
• Review of how to measure for your boning/stays.
• Cutting / grinding stays/ tipping your stays.
Class #4
• Make sure to bring your sewing machine to this class.
• Stitch your corset together and create your stay casings.
• Finishing up- hand finishing techniques plus embellishments!
• Woooooo!
Things to bring to this class with you:
Your interest in corsets!
Your basic sewing ability.
This class is recommended for you if you already know your way around your basic sewing machine and machine stitching, plus it’s helpful if you have done some hand stitching on past projects. On class evening #2 (Nov 11th), bring your sewing machine, thread and machine needles. We can help you troubleshoot any issues with your machine and get the most out its features. You’ll mainly be using a straight stitch with your sewing machine. Your hand-sewing is for couture applications including applying binding, ribbon, trimmings in cases / places where you really can’t or don’t want to use your machine.
Any patterns for corsets you’ve been collecting and want to try! We will do some preliminary pattern fitting and walk you through how to size, scale and modify existing patterns to fit you. Basic patterns for overbust or underbust corsets (without built-in bra cups) are recommended if this is the first corset you are making. If you’re feeling really bold and confident, you might try out some patterns that include built-in cups such as the Ya Ya Han McCalls Pattern M7339. We will be bringing along some basic patterns for under and overbust corsets if you’d like to select from those we have.
Bring a friend who likes corsets and wants to make one as well. We will be working in pairs to analyze our patterns and mockup fittings on each other (it’s fun if you already have someone you’d like to work with, but you will also make some great new friends in this class if you come solo!).
Any existing corsets you already own or wear. We will help you analyze their construction and fit, plus walk you through changes you might want to make in your new, better fitting, more satisfying corset that you are making yourself!
Pictures of cosplay or historical looks using corsets you’d like to emulate. We can analyze these during class and help you achieve them.
Fabric(s) you already know you’d like to see and use on the outside of your corset. Sturdy, non-fraying and non-stretch fabrics recommended. Plus any trimmings, ribbon, lace, etc that you’d like to include. For this course, we recommend upholstery vinyls and leathers only if you already know that you and your machine can sew them nicely without seizing up. During the first class, we will take a look at lots of corset samples with varieties of trims, casings, decorations, fasteners and more on them. You will need to gather up and bring all of your outer materials for class #3 and #4, so you’ll have some time to think about these things.
All your basic sewing supplies including your pins, fabric scissors, measuring devices, marking pens, tracing paper, tracing wheels, chalk, pencils, seam ripper, etc. Cospace does have a limited amount of the basic sewing supplies but it is recommended you bring your own.
Things provided for you in this class:
Your corset fabric understructure fabric and your mock-up fabrics. In this class we will be using a sturdy twill fabric for your corset understructure. In the future, you may want to upgrade significantly and spend more money on coutil fabric. It’s good to get some practice in with affordable fabrics before getting super spendy on your materials.
All your steel corset stays (bones). We will be cutting them to size, grinding their ends down, and tipping them. A gross (144) size 0 grommets w/ washers so you can lace up in the back. (You’ll have plenty of grommets left over for more corsets and fun projects).
A busk (if you want one in the front of your corset). However, you might opt for no front opening at all if you want to create a tougher, shaplier- looking corset that controls your figure better. If you use a busk, a zipper, buckles or front lacing through grommets, your corset front must be cut straighter and your result is a more tubular body shape rather than a curvier, wasp-y shape.
Lots of corset samples, both finished and in process. These are helpful and fun to look at when thinking about the different ways you might want to create the casings for your boning/stays. We will bring many samples and talk about the different construction approaches used in each.
Lots of reference materials plus annotated bibliographies of sources you might find interesting to look at for designing/making/buying supplies for your future corsets.
Iron/ironing board Cutting tables
Great instructional help, encouragement and support! Just like a corset!