Corset I made- I got real pictures taken!

[kellyhelene]

So most of the pictures I've ever posted here have been of the "corset on a pillow" or "me in the living room looking like a wreck" variety.

But, I spent an afternoon with a friend who is a professional photographer, who took some for me.  I think I posted this green one before as an add-on to another post, but these are so much better I figured I'd share it again in a way you could actually, you know, see it.







I'm a bit annoyed with how the top of it looks in the last pic... he had me put my arms up over my head to hold my hair out of the way, and with my ribs stretched out like that it looks too big.  But, it also is a bit big since I made it some months ago before I started working out.

Fairly standard construction- heavy lining, fashion fabric individually backed with heavy fabric, self-made bone channels (I sewed in the seams, and on either side, instead of using a premade casing or making strips for it.)  The thread isn't quite as close a match as I would have liked, but I bought it on a dreary day, and the shop didn't have one of those "natural light" things handy.  You can't really tell unless you've got, well, a ginormous lightbulb with a big satellite-dish looking reflector behind it pointed at you.

And a couple bonus pics... when I posted this before xmas I mentioned I would be getting a shot with me and "zombie santa," so here it is.


Here's the corset in my icon in action, too... not a plus-sized one by far, but I'm happy with it.

[TheMistressT]

WOW!  Those look so much better on people than on pillows or even on the dress form!  I'm in awe of the skills and patience it would take to make well-crafted corsets like yours.

[PhunkyThreads]

those are great!

[mzgorightry]

I love them all, but especially the blue one. So gorgeous! As a plus-size gal myself, who has yet to make a corset but wants to, do you have any tips, anything different from making a non-plus-size corset?

[RoxiKills13]

LOVE THESE!!!!!! Do you sell them? Give me some info girl. I'm a plus size gal myself and need a good custom fit corset.

[Nesse]

Girl, you are gorgeous!!
Your corsets fit amazingly.

[Kumikana4]

That zebra corset is the bomb! I need to have one *drools*

[Sorcha Griannon]

Oh....I'm loving the green one.  It looks great on you.  It's good to see an underbust on someone WITH breasts the size of mine, lol.  I've been thinking about doing one, but wasn't really sure how it'd look since I had heard that it works best with smaller sizes.  Ok, I'm inspired!  Add to the fact that I can actually get into a corset now...I better get working on mine:)

Sorcha

PS-Nice to put a face to the name

[kellyhelene]

Thanks, everyone!

I love them all, but especially the blue one. So gorgeous! As a plus-size gal myself, who has yet to make a corset but wants to, do you have any tips, anything different from making a non-plus-size corset?

Honestly... It's easier to make them for a bigger size than smaller.  More squish room!  My own collection ranges from a 32" to a 35" waist and all fit comfortably and can be cinched to a 2" gap without being too big.  The one thing I had to remember was that just because I CAN cinch around my ribs by a few inches doesn't mean I SHOULD, since that's the first stop on the road to back rolls, and no one wants to go there.

Personally, and everyone has their own way of doing things, I find that using a 1/2" flat steel right next to the busk is better for larger sizes, too.  Keeps the busk from bending too much from a belly, and helps the front stay smooth.  On smaller sizes I use quarter inch, or nothing right next to the busk at all.  I also use 1/2" on either side of the grommets on larger sizes.  If you look at the back of the zebra one, you can see there's a 1/4" on the outside of the grommets, and nothing on the inside, since there simply wasn't room for the 0 grommets and two steels.  But she's a tiny girl (the waist on that is actually 18"), so she doesn't need hardcore cinch power.  I also double bone all my seams with a quarter inch spiral on either side when I'm making anything, say, above a 30" finished waist or so.  Much larger and I put bones in at the middle of the pieces, too, not just at the seams.

Oh....I'm loving the green one.  It looks great on you.  It's good to see an underbust on someone WITH breasts the size of mine, lol.  I've been thinking about doing one, but wasn't really sure how it'd look since I had heard that it works best with smaller sizes.

Thanks!
Honestly, I'd rather wear underbust than overbust.  I just don't feel comfortable cramming my chest into an overbust without straps.  I know I can, I know I won't fall out or anything, but personally I don't find it as supportive as a normal bra, and end up with a sore back the next day.  Plus, I feel like I have to push them down with my hands just to see over them at that point.  As it is, with an F cup, they rise to about shoulder height when I sit in an underbust!  In an overbust they give me a place to rest my chin!  I'd rather people check out my corset than boobs the size of cantaloupes pouring over the top!

And your sig made me crack up!  I just got a new pair of gingher shears yesterday (yay for half off coupons at Joann!  Less than $20!), and those things put my old fiskars to shame.  I already managed to snip the edge of my thumb!  My roommate looked at me like I was insane since I screamed "noooo!" as I threw my hand in the air and jumped two feet back from the corset I was working on (for someone else!  that would be nice... here you go, don't mind the blood splatters!!)

[Juniper_Ann]

Wow!  Did you use a pattern or did you drape or draft it?