December 19, 2011

500 followers!


Time to celebrate! To thank all of you for following my corseting adventure I have giveaway.


Coutil! Brocade coutil at that. The lucky winner will receive 1/2 yard of 54 inch wide brocade coutil. It's a cotton/viscose blend, subdued cornflower blue with darker shiny blue bells. Perfect if you're participating in the 1911 sew along. But wait, there's more!


A tailor's shuriken! Have I mentioned how handy this tool is? Now one can be yours.

You must be a follower of this blog to enter the giveaway. It's your comments, questions, advice, and encouragement that help keep this project going and I want to thank you. If you regularly check in but are not yet an official follower now is the time to join! Then, simply leave a comment on this post by Wednesday, December 21, 11:59 PM EST. Tell me about your next planned foundation garment or costume project, or just say hello. Either way I look forward to reading your comments. I'll announce the winner Friday, December 23.

If you are lucky winner you must send me your mailing address within three days, otherwise another winner will be chosen. I want to send the coutil and shuriken off quickly in case it is destined to be a 1911 corset! And I'll ship anywhere in the world.

Thank you for reading!

77 comments:

  1. Congrats on 500+ followers!

    After all of the holiday sewing rush is over I am hoping to get to finally finish the new corset I started for myself several months ago. It's nothing spectacular but I've been without a fitting corset for over a year so it is sorely needed!

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  2. Hello,
    Thankful follower speaking here. I have never missed any posts, because they are very informative and interesting. If I have some problems with my projects I always know, if here is any information I can refer to. At the moment I am sewing a toile for a corset from Atelier Sylpyhe antique corset patterns, ref Z to be precise. It looks quite nice but still not perfect to my model`s body, who is going to wear this for a photoshoot. Will definetly keep an eye on Titanic project, but unfortunately cannot be part of it, because I have orders to fill a.s.o. Good luck to everyone!

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  3. Congratulations on reaching the 500 mark. I really like reading your posts and am eagerly waiting for the sew along to proceed :)
    I haven't been an official follower before but have been subscribed to your posts for a while

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  4. Five hundred...woohoo!

    I'm doing the 1911 sew along while I'm completing a Victorian female version of the 11th Doctor Who. Busy, busy!

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  5. Congrats! And Artemisia, that is a MUST-SEE costume!!

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  6. Congrats! This fabric is lovely. I've only made one corset so far (an Elizabethan style one) so I'm excited for the 1911 sew along. I'm really excited to learn proper techniques and use better materials this go around. All I could afford for the last one was plastic boning. :(

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  7. Congratulations! My next project will hopefully be my birthday corset- an S-curve of my own design in flesh-pink satin with black lace overlay. Either that or the short stays from Corsets & Crinolines in black suede as an outerwear corset.

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  8. So excited to start on the sew-along!

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  9. Congratulations! You keep me inspired. I really wish I could join in on the 1911 sew along, but unfortunately I’m very busy preparing a set of 1811 (ish) long stays (and undergarments, and gown, and a quilt) for a show in mid-March. My past corsets were all very modern and kind of thrown together. This somewhat historically accurate one is proving much more difficult!

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  10. Well, Iam not a follower for long, but I have taken my time to look through your post and it is truly amazing! I really like how sew those corsets all by yourself. I wish I was as talented as you.

    I just started quilting a little while ago, but sadly I don't have much time because of my job.
    And due to its job I have to keep posting on my blog here, so its not a private one.

    Anyways, I wish you good luck for your further projects and I hope you keep posting, its super interesting to read!

    Yours faithfuly, Victoria

    P.S.: Oh and please excuse my English, Iam from Germany ^^'

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  11. 500 followers is amazing! Congrats!

    My current project is a vest and skirt for a gypsy steampunk costume and once that's done, it's on to working with the patterns my boyfriend got me for my birthday -- Truly Victorian vest basque and square overskirt. Although maybe I shouldn't plan too much...he says I have more TV patterns coming for Christmas...

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  12. So many corsets I need to finish in the next four months! I need an 1840's, an 1860's, and a 1910's. And two months later I need a 17th ct. Busy corseting, but fun! That blue cornflower fabric would be great for my 1860's too :D

    follow GFC as Aurora Celeste :D

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  13. Congrats on 500! A major achievement for you.

    I am working (sort-of) on the new Butterick 5662 as an everyday corset - at the fitting muslin stage (still) so nothing spectacular to report on it yet.

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  14. My next project is hopefully the 1911 corset! I'm also planning on making a Ruby Slip and some undies :)

    Congrats!

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  15. Congratulations! I'm going and try and play along with the 1911 sew along!

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  16. Congratulations!
    havnt decide if i should join the 1911 sew along (dont have so much money right now) but i'm have an idé to try "pretty housemaid" corset rfom 1890 in Jill Salen's book =)

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  17. oh yay! please do enter me! I haven't decided on my next project - either a 40's suit or a 1912 outfit...

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  18. Congrats! I'll be participating in the 1911 sew along too, and my other next project is a complete 1840's outfit, with a hand embroidered corset, which I've already started :)

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  19. Love your blog. The 1911 will be my third corset and is perfectly timed. I have a 1911 dress waiting to be made that needs a proper foundation.

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  20. I would love a tailor's shuriken! I have been looking for one for ages.

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  21. I was planning on having an 1840 corset done by january, but I didn't start it on time. Now I'm planning on skipping ahead to 1911 - I just need to place my order for boning. I've been noticing how similar in line the 1911 corset is to one of my long 1950s girdles. I need to replace the elastic gussets on that girdle and haven't figured out how best to do that yet.

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  22. FABULOUS! Congrats on the 500 followers--your blog is fantastic and I'm glad to see that everyone else thinks so too :) My next foundation garment is the 1911 corset (YAY!) I've also joined the 1912 Project organised by Vintage Pattern Lending Library and the Dressing Downton by Girl with a Star Spangled Heart....so it will come in very useful!!

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  23. Congratulations on your 500 followers! I admire your work so much, and I'm very excited to try my first ever corset during your sew-along!

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  24. Hi, I'm participating your 1911 corset sew-along from Finland. I'm going to have my own Titanic dress project all by myself since no one is organizing any related events here. Love your blog, this is the first place I check for help when I'm sewing corsets.

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  25. Yes please! As well as making the 1911 corset, I'm also costuming a show set in the London blitz, so tea dresses abound...

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  26. Yay for 500 followers!

    I'm planning on joining in on the 1911 Sew along. I've made several Victorian underbust corsets, and have recently started looking at making other eras, so I'm excited to have a group to work with. I'll also be researching costuming for the era, and getting started on a dress to go with the corset (I'll also start looking for an event to wear it to!).

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  27. I follow you in google reader since the beginning but have not yet commented although i love comments from the extras. If I win I would participate in the sewalong picking fabric is my least favorite part of sewing :D

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  28. Oh!Oh! Oh! I am going to be doing the sewalong with your pattern. I am planning on doing a full period exact costume for the Titanic celebration. I cant wait to get started!

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  29. How does one become an official follower? I've been reading the blog in my Google reader for a pretty long time.

    My sewing has been stalled because of a recent move, but I'm hoping to get started on a 1940s jacket in a delicious silk houndstooth or an Edwardian petticoat soon.

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  30. Well hello Jo!
    I'm so glad to know about you fantastic idea. That's a lovely way to get connected, to share tips and tricks and to discuss the results! I'm in!

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  31. 500 followers, congrats!

    I'm super excited about this sew a long, I hope its one of many more to come!!!

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  32. Congrats! I just heard about your blog and project because of the sew-a-long. I'm not sure yet if I will have time to participate but will be watching along for sure.

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  33. Congratiolations on this milestone! Would love to use the fabric in your sew along :)

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  34. The 1911 corset is my next planned foundation garment - I want to make a 1915(ish) outfit for Dress U. So excited to start!

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  35. Congratulations on 500 followers! I love your blog for the beautiful pictures of your gorgeous work. I would like to start an 1860's corset this year, as my first costume foundation garment. Up until now, I've only sewn modern clothing, but I've always wanted to venture into historical costume. :)

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  36. I've had a corset pattern and materials for nearly a year, and have been totally intimidated by it, but following your blog has been very helpful!

    Also, I had never heard of a tailor's shuriken. That is awesome.

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  37. I just finished reading every post to date, and I'm hooked! Keep up the excellent work. :)

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  38. Congrats! My next project is a bustle cage for an 1870's gown, and, of course, the 191- see-along! I love this blog! Can't wait for more!

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  39. Congrats on the first 500. :D

    I'm going to spend the first week of the new year sewing 4 or 5 regency chemises, and making c1810 stays in a single layer of coutil (with shock horror a busk front). Don't have a ladies maid to help me dress so I need to be practical not perfectly authentic.

    Then I'm playing catch up wih the corset sew-a-long.

    mhhh blue coutil

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  40. Thank you for being an inspiration to us all - and certainly for inspiring me to keep going! I lost a lot of weight this year and experienced the sorrow of parting with all my handsewn corsets from all eras and am slowly working on replacing them all - plus making new outfits. Its amazing how many outfits you can sew over 20 years - and then how hard it is to replace them in the space of twelve months.
    I have a regency wardrobe to create over the next few months - chemise, stays, petticoat, day dress, ball gown, bonnet, chemisette, open robe and spencer.

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  41. I will be making a corset to go under the wedding gown I am making for my daughter. Made her one about a year ago but because of a change in some meds has lost about 30 lbs and now needs a new one.

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  42. Congratulations on the 500 followers!!!
    I wish I could follow along with the sew along. Unfortunately I am a college student and will be working on my own independent study in corsets and in millinery. I've already set the syllabus with my instructor and can't squeeze this project in at the same time. Maybe I'll be able to do my own in the future!

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  43. 500 followers! Awesome!

    I am still working out whether I want to participate in the sew-along. Patterns scare me! But I do love corsets!

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  44. Congrats on the 500+ followers ! I've been a long-time reader.
    Right now I'm finishing a pair of embroidered winter pants and a modernized 1740s justaucorps, after that I want to dive in my 1890s wardrobe project, and I'll do my best to follow the sew-along as well, cause apparently I'm crazy :)

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  45. I've been reading for years now, but I'm now officially a follower! My next foundation project is the 1911 corset, which I'm thrilled to participate with the blog in making. I also have a corset underway- the Silverado corset from Laughing Moon.

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  46. ooh! I've been lusting over one of those Shirkin things since you last had one on here, but you can't get them in the UK :( Intrigued by the coutil too .. I have never seen that pattern. Oh .. please don't enter me in the draw tho, I have a ton of coutil so best it go to a more deserving person.

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  47. Congratulations on reaching 500! I am a new follower, but a long-time reader. I got interested in corsetry a while back and I read your entire blog almost in one go... Absolutely stunning, and so inspirational! Thank you for sharing!
    As for recent project: an 1880 corset to be started over the Christmas break.

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  48. I don't think I'll have time for the sew-along, sadly, but that fabric is soooo lovely. I have no idea what I would make from it yet, but I am sure I would be able to think of something, maybe part of the female-to-male-crossdressing roccoco ensemble I've been fantasizing about. I think it would make a lovely stay-waistboad hybrid. And the colour would go very well with my eyes, too. :)

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  49. I don't know what happened, I commented yesterday and now pooooof, it is gone! I am following your sew along closely, but I will be working on a different pattern for my girlfriend, probably an S-bend.

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  50. Congratulations for the 500 followers! :D
    I love reading your blog. Merry Christmas***

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  51. Oh... I will sew along... and try to fit the line on my curvy body. Wish I'd be slender.
    I have already tried to make a corset, but I made sth wrong, it falls!
    I have the book, but couldn't find the correct pattern. Should be looking better.
    Thank you for the wonderful idea!!!
    Giulia

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  52. So excited, I will definatly be sewing along.
    Been making victorian, regency, georgian etc corsets and all the accompanying underwear and gowns, after taking the historical plunge into medieval 6 years ago, and my victorian dance group is planning my first titanic era ball for the anniversary (as a lot of others are I'm sure) and I had been looking for help with this corset so thank you :-)
    Oh, and for those of us who dont win, where can we buy a shuriken, it looks like it would make sewing so much less messy in places?
    Ico-Anubis.

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  53. When I found your blog last year I excitedly went to the beginning and read all the way forward in about a week. Watching the journey as you learn and gain confidence was (and continues to be) very inspiring.

    Right now I'm about half way done my first real corset for myself, an underbust from king and company's celine pattern. Once I got all the pieces stitched together progress sort of stalled, but I'm hoping to get it done before a victorian-inspired concert at the end of January.

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  54. Congratulations!

    I'm definitely making a corset next year. I like the 1911 corset but I'm not sure I'd wear it, so I'll probably make something shorter.

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  55. I'm thinking of trying your follow-along as my next corset. Not sure if I can swing the time, but if I win the coutil I sure will!

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  56. Your blog was my inspiration to start blogging my corsetry adventures too! I was planning on making a corset for the foundations revealed competition but I don't think I'm gonna get it done in time, but this is a great idea, I love a project to get my teeth into! Can't wait xx

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  57. Well, I was thinking of joining the sew along, but apart from that I'm currebtly working on an 18th century robe de cour with a boned bodice. A new pair of ordinary 18th century stays are probably needed during teh next year too.

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  59. I am currently working on clothing for my boyfriend to wear to the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh in March of next year (pants, shirts, vests, coat). I also have a few items in the works for myself, including a capelet, a Godey's vest, and a peasant or "Medici" body. I can not believe that it took me so long to find sewing (I didn't start until about two years ago, when I was 26), but now that I have, I feel very empowered. I've been displeased with modern fashions for as long as I can remember, and now I have the ability to create garments for myself in the fashions of the past. My sewing ventures started with my obsession with history, which led me to Civil War reenacting. My sewing mentor shared her 30 years of historical sewing experience with me( she, however, will not touch corsets :P), and I have never looked back. Once I realized what was possible, I became very ambitious and started decoding vintage patterns on my own. I am very excited to join in on the 1911 sew along, as it will be my first corset, and I am greatly looking forward to virtually working with so many talented people on this project. I am thankful to this blog and it's writer for putting together the sew along so that I do not have to tackle such a daunting project on my own. :)

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  60. I have NO clue what I am doing, but I am going to sew along anyway! I need to make a 1870's era corset for my job, but since I am still new to sewing and corsets I figured this is a great way to get my feel wet! Then I can master anything (right?

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  61. Hello, I am following that his blog there are some months, I am bewitched by his corsets.
    At present I am trying to do the last corset what you were doing more it seems that it stopped hehehehe. Much would like being the winner of the cloth, since here in Brazil I never found a place in which I was selling countil.
    I am supporting to be the winner.
    Hugs,
    Roberta

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  62. I'm following along on Google Reader and I always look forward to your posts! (As do roughly 500 others!) I'm not sure just yet if I'll be participating in the sew-along, but there IS that 1910's longline corset I've been wanting to make, inspired by this teacup: http://chinasearch.co.uk/images/gallery/66/3845/1.jpg ..so maybe now's the time? I already have some antique black lace to go around the top!

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  63. Hey! I'm following on Bloglovin' (don't know if that counts") but anyway, I look forward so much to all of your posts, and am SOOOOO excited for this corset sew-along! It'll be my first corset I've ever made :) I have one question - if this is the right place to pose it. If we plan on using the Corsets & Crinolines pattern, will you be showing us how to scale them also?
    Thanks :)

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  64. Hi, I've been following your blog for a long time now, I don't know how to become an official follower, but I check in on your progress from time to time. I love making historic costumes though I haven't made a lot as my job takes a lot of my time (working as an apprentice tailor) and when I get home late in the evening the last thing I want to do is sew. =(

    I will try to get it together and participate in the sew along as I've wanted to make and Edwardian dress for ages. I have a Q: Will this pattern work for me or will you show me how to make it work for me, as I have LARGE natural breast that are - how to put it - not firm, but soft??? They will not take kindly to be put in something without a proper cup to hold them... Like Kate's corset in Titanic.

    Merry Christmas
    and a lot of love from Denmark,
    Lone

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  65. I'll be joining you in this adventure using the C&C Pattern. My parents just gave me an early Christmas Present, the 1911 Leather Purse given by my Great Grandfather to my Great Grandmother on their 3rd Wedding Anniversary. So of course I have to make an ensemble to go with it! Undergarments first!!! A woman can never have TOO many corsets. You never know when another intriguing period event requiring new clothes might happen!!!! Plus, my husband is never bored...so many eras, so many wives! (wink! giggle!).

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  66. I'm so looking forward to this! I hope there will be more of these little events organised. I've never made anything like this little number before, can't wait to create it. I've just purchased my kit from Sew Curvy and looking forward to the adventures. Hurrah!

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  67. I second the point made by lady lalique..my husband loves having wives in many different eras too!

    This sew along is so exciting because you've picked a pattern that has caught our imaginations in a way that a victorian overbust never could... Thank you Jo!

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  68. Fabulous project! Sign me up - I have a feeling next year will be a busy year for undergarments for me!

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  69. I'm not currently working on a corset, I keep telling myself I should wait until I've settle down some place more permanent, but the sew along's awfully tempting. Barring that I'm planning on putting together an 1860's costume some time later this year.

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  70. I am looking forward to following the sew-along, this is my first proper foundation garnent; a long fostered dream. Thanks for hosting this. Sara

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  71. Congratultions on 500 followers!
    I'm currently working on one of the beautiful corsets from Jill Salen's book, but I'm thinking of sewing in the follow-along, too!

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  72. Hello! What a fun giveaway! I love this blog. My next foundation I am sewing will be for the sew along. I plan on making an entire 1911 evening gown from the bottom up.

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  73. I was hesitant to commit to the sew a long as we will be away for 2 weeks in January but there seems to be enough time for me to catch up. So my next corset will be the sewalong one.

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  74. I have all the supplies for a Victorian era corset but all this talk of 1910's and Downton Abbey starting soon, I might have to change. :)

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  75. Your blog is so informative! I am so looking foreword to this sew along which will hopefully result in my first corset! I have made both short stays and 18th century stays, but I have yet to take the initiative to order a busk and coutil to construct a corset. The Edwardian era seems like the perfect place to start, especially considering that it is the era that got me interested in historical costuming.

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  76. I have a corset pattern I drafted as well as some leather-like fabric to make my own short cincher soon, hopefully. I also drafted an entire bodice pattern, that hopefully I can use as a dressmaking dummy/pattern to drape or make other corset patterns out of.

    Although, with how distracted I get, your sew-along may just be my next project instead!

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  77. I was too late for the draw anyway congratulations!!

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