Copyright AriaAustin, 1999 - 2009, all rights reserved.
Making of a Peacock Corset
This pretty little number was once intended to be worn with my multi-layered silk skirt, but the wearer lost a lot of weight in a short time, so this part of the order was abandoned. I've hung onto this close-to-completed corset for quite a while, unsure what to do with a corset that the wearer cancelled, but that neither I nor anyone I know would fit. Silk dupioni is possibly my absolute most favorite fabric ever, and I'll admit to being partial to peacock colors. They bring back memories of being a child at my grandparents' home in the country, peacocks and peahens running everywhere. I decided that this corset deserves to be finished, even if I sell it for $50 on etsy, or simply hang onto it in my physical "portolio". So out with it. It's within about three hours of completion.
As I had taken plenty of pictures, I decided why not go ahead and make this one a Making Of feature?
It's fairly easy to see why I compare this corset to a peacock. The silk is shot, woven with one color on the warp and another on the weft, resulting in a fabric that appears to change color depending on the direction viewed, and this one is a lovely teal-green and royal/navy. Gold rocaille beads will be added later.
There were relatively few pieces to this corset. The front pieces were darted to shape, and boning channels will be added. Each panel consists of the outer fabric, inner fabric (a purple silk habotai), and two layers of cotton canvas interlining to which the silks were flat-lined.
After flat-lining, each the outer panels and inner panels were sewn together, for not being left open at the side seams. You can see the darting here.
After pressing and sewing together at the shoulders, it got tricky. The lining was sewn to the outer fabric at the neckline and around the armholes. The tricky part is trying to pull those back pieces through the shoulders. This is a lot of fabric to squeeze through a fairly narrow channel.
Once they were finally turned out, the side seams were sewn together, matching up the seams under the arms. Here you can see the seams lined up, then one side sewn.
Here next are the outside and inside completely sewn.
And now we're in the present time. In the following weeks, in spare time away from home, or which there will be plenty, I'll begin beading on the outer fabric. The boning channels will be sewn to the inside layers, which is why the lining is also flat-lined with a sturdy fabric. Stay tuned!
As I had taken plenty of pictures, I decided why not go ahead and make this one a Making Of feature?
It's fairly easy to see why I compare this corset to a peacock. The silk is shot, woven with one color on the warp and another on the weft, resulting in a fabric that appears to change color depending on the direction viewed, and this one is a lovely teal-green and royal/navy. Gold rocaille beads will be added later.
There were relatively few pieces to this corset. The front pieces were darted to shape, and boning channels will be added. Each panel consists of the outer fabric, inner fabric (a purple silk habotai), and two layers of cotton canvas interlining to which the silks were flat-lined.
After flat-lining, each the outer panels and inner panels were sewn together, for not being left open at the side seams. You can see the darting here.
After pressing and sewing together at the shoulders, it got tricky. The lining was sewn to the outer fabric at the neckline and around the armholes. The tricky part is trying to pull those back pieces through the shoulders. This is a lot of fabric to squeeze through a fairly narrow channel.
Once they were finally turned out, the side seams were sewn together, matching up the seams under the arms. Here you can see the seams lined up, then one side sewn.
Here next are the outside and inside completely sewn.
And now we're in the present time. In the following weeks, in spare time away from home, or which there will be plenty, I'll begin beading on the outer fabric. The boning channels will be sewn to the inside layers, which is why the lining is also flat-lined with a sturdy fabric. Stay tuned!
Copyright AriaAustin, 1999 - 2009, all rights reserved.
