a question about boning- stop snickering! i'm serious!

[atomic mary]

i'm so juvenile
okay i am a busty girl (32G) and recently found a strapless bra in my size! i have been making a few strapless dresses and tops (oh the freedom! it's amazing!) without using any boning because i don't know if when making a boned garment the boning would go up over the bust?
would the seams sit smooth? because they don't get clipped then, right?
or would i do it to just under the bust? i have a hard enough time getting the bust seams to lie flat as it is. would it even help? most of my things are not lined either, some are but not everything because of having a hard time getting each side even and similar.
i have also toyed with the idea of a corset but i think i am more looking for a bustier. does anyone know of any patterns for such a thing?
any help would be greatly appreciated
thanks,
atomic mary

[paroper]

If a garment has boning it is usually requested in the notions.  That is not to say that boning cannot be added to the garment.  It is added on the seams and, yes it can go over the bustline in a garment that is princess with no shoulders.  MOre often it is in the side seams and back.  The boning is usually applied in an inner liner.  There is a lining next to the body and a linng that houses the boinintg and then the outer fabric.  The ends of the boning are cut in a circular fashion at the top to avoid sewing them in the seams and to prefent ware.  Sometimes they also have a piece sewn down over the top to avoid wear at the edges of the fabric.  If the boning ends at the waist and there is no waistline, the inner lining is then attached to the garment to keep the boning from riding up.  It can extend into the hip area but often does not extend to the seat. 

[The Panophobic]

this has nothing to do with your questions, but if you wanted an alternative to strapless bras under dresses, some of my boobier friends have told me that having boning or a corset in place of a bra is more comfortable.

I'd say to get used to sewing boning, try finding a pattern that calls for it rather than making up your own and start with that, just so you can see how it's done.

[aphie]

I'm a DD.
I have a few corsets, and a tudor dress with boning in the bodice. I think it depends on what sort of a look you're going for, but I'd suggest keeping the boning over the breasts. Check out Ren faire and SCA websites online - there's a wonderful Elizabethan corset pattern somewhere, for free! You just type in the measurements,  get yourself some broadsheet newspaper, a text and tape measure, and you can have your own customised pattern (The Elizabethan ones do tend to give you that whole "boobs on a platter" look though, not sure if that's what you're after...)

[Alyzen]

I think this http://www.elizabethancostume.net/custompat/index.html is the website aphie was talking about.