Two questions and a short story on the Letters page this month: how to make a set of the 1660 watered silk stays from the V&A, alternative lacing and where to find colored eyelets, a short story from 1913.

Many makers find inserting gores and gussets tricky. Two easy step-by-step techniques that will insert bust gores and gussets neatly, producing a nice crisp V shape at the bottom.

Sandra's stunning work translating teacup designs into corsetry is magnificently inspiring. She was kind enough to answer our questions and share her plans for the future.

Sunny concludes her exhaustive study of six Belle Époque petticoats by comparing the remaining construction details and techniques.

Photos, details and a pattern for an 1869 American skeleton corset. It has no fabric between the boning channels, just a few horizontal tapes to hold the bone casings together.