More Regency Stays

[renna_darling]

Apparently I am fixated on making myself a functional pair of short regency stays.

I'm in the middle of a third (handsewn!) attempt right now (see attempt one, attempt two). For most costumers this process would be fairly simple but it just hasn't been for me. My first pair gave me a nice enough shape but the centre front bones were pretty

Comments

[the_aristocat]

Looks very good so far. I really admire that you are willing to do several attempts to get it just right rather than go with the first one even if you are not completely happy with it.

[renna_darling]

Well this post was almost littered with expletives but I couldn't quite bring myself to swear as badly as I wanted to on the internet :)

[ktlovely]

These are AWESOME. Did you use shaped pieces for the gathered portions, or did you shape them?

[renna_darling]

Here's a picture of my pattern. It's mostly without seam allowances except there is actually no space between the bottom of the "cup" and where the band is applied so I added the width of my plastic ruler (an inch and a bit?) so that I would have a single pattern piece for the cradle and can keep the angles of the two halves accurately in place. I honestly have a hard time remembering how I shaped the cup pattern pieces. I think I took a shape that would fit flat in cradle and added the height I needed and then slashed and spread radially from the middle of the bottom. And then I did a bunch of mockups.

[anonymous]

Dear renna_darling,

Oh, fine work! Like The Aristocat, I am so impressed in how you are sticking to finding the right kind of stays. The campaign prints are excellent supporting documentation.

Think you have probably covered the issue well, but wonder whether angling some bones off on an angle from bottom, just barely to right of cups, and towards armscye might help offer lift and support.

If you find the back buckling upon hard movement, some bones in back may help. I found this with Polly's bodiced petticoat.

Very best,
Natalie in KY