Ask On LJ: Regency Corset Construction
I'm getting ready to cut and sew together my first mockup for the S&S short stays. I've read through the construction order for both them and for the Mantua Maker long stays pattern. Both say to fully assemble each layer individually, including the gussets.
Is this typical for construction of the period? I cut my teeth (so to speak) on 1860s sewing, in which flat-lining is fundamental for strength. Even my 18th-century stays, which I did by machine and not by the nifty handseaming techniques, had me treat the interlining and cover fabrics as one piece for assembly.
So doing these stays, and particularly the gussets, in individual layers just sounds wrong to me; although I could be totally off base. And I don't have any books or museum pictures with enough detail to tell if it's right or not. I just want to know how it was really done! Help!
Is this typical for construction of the period? I cut my teeth (so to speak) on 1860s sewing, in which flat-lining is fundamental for strength. Even my 18th-century stays, which I did by machine and not by the nifty handseaming techniques, had me treat the interlining and cover fabrics as one piece for assembly.
So doing these stays, and particularly the gussets, in individual layers just sounds wrong to me; although I could be totally off base. And I don't have any books or museum pictures with enough detail to tell if it's right or not. I just want to know how it was really done! Help!