All posts tagged: Jill Salen

A faux-ribbon corset

To go with yesterday’s sparkly pink tipped corset bones, I’m making a little underbust corset. The goal of this corset was to make Jill Salen’s ribbon corset using ribbon the same size as that used in the original. Problem: I couldn’t find fabric ribbon in 2 1/4″ widths Solution: take fabric, cut it into 2 1/4″ strips, and bind the edges. While I was scouring the fabric stores for ribbon, I picked up a cute black and white floral remnant. It went perfectly with some spotted fabric in my stash too! I’d actually had my eye on the black and white floral for a while. It’s a gorgeous 100% cotton grosgrain, so soft and lovely to work with! The cartoon-y aspect of the flowers dissuaded me from using it for a larger project, but I just couldn’t resist the last half metre (and on half off too). To make my ribbons, I cut 2 1/4 strips of the floral, and the polka dots. Then I cut the strips into the correct lengths, as I was …

Friday Review: Jill Salen’s 1900 Ribbon Corset

Published by The Dreamstress

This is a review of the fit, comfort, and wearability of the 1900 ribbon corset pattern from Jill Salen’s Corsets: Historical Patterns and Techniques, and of the pattern itself. First, the pattern: The pattern, when you first confront it, looks ridiculously hard and completely incomprehensible. This is true of all ribbon corset patterns in my experience. As soon as you put a prototype together and figure out how it works, the logic of it all comes together in your mind (or at least it did in my mind!) and the whole thing makes perfect sense. There are some very interesting things about this pattern. Because the side, back, and front pieces are perfectly straight, the seams that meet them are very curved, to give the corset its curving and shape. The front and back seams are particularly curved. I’m not used to sewing two very curved seams at the centre front and back, modern seamstresses are generally taught to keep both of these seams perfectly straight, so it did take a little mind-readjustment. Flaws/problems in …

A ribbon corset

Published by The Dreamstress

I took a break from serious sewing and whipped up a ribbon corset. And I do mean whipped up – despite the very lackluster pattern and directions, and ribbon that wasn’t the same width as the original, it was super easy to do. The corset was based on a pattern from Jill Salen’s ‘Corsets: Historical Patterns and Techniques’. It dates to 1900. The original is in the Fashion Museum, Bath. The ribbon is a 3″ wide vintage ribbon from Nana’s stash. Without any planning or forethought, I managed to match the pattern perfectly across the centre front. Whoohoo for coincidental wins! The pattern is a little busy and overwhelming, but I rather like the OTTness of it. The inside of the corset is not quite as beautiful as my corsets usually are, but it’s still pretty. I have a confession to make though. I finished the backsides of the ribbon with iron-on interfacing, and just trimmed off the edges. I know. Naughty, naughty me! Next time I’ll be good and use real fabric and sew …