My Regency Stays
I figured, since I was entering Taigan's Regency Costumes at Your Wardrobe Unlock'd, I might as well put my regency stays in for Foundations Revealed. I saw that last year, the beginner's category had no entrant, which was really disappointing. So I am bitting the bullet a second time.
This is the first step for clothing myself in regency clothes for the upcoming War of 1812 re-enactments here in Ontario. I used the Mantua Maker Regency stays pattern, and kit, available from Farthingales. I also flat-lined it using a beautiful textured white fabric, which, unfortunately, doesn’t photograph well. I had wanted some contrast to all the white, so I made my own bias binding. I used some poly satin that my mother had given me as a remnant piece, and after much cursing and swearing and burnt fingers, I had bias tape. I was actually surprised at how easy the binding was to apply. Is it perfect? No. But I still think I did a pretty decent job for a beginner. Unfortunately, there was no one around tonight to help me photograph me wearing my stays, so Bertha is my model for today. L While she is a great dressform, she doesn’t quite have the hips I do, nor does she squish as much.
