Hello all,

I was really curious to hear what the preferences each has for boning and experiences. Has anyone used synthetic whalebone? Or is flat steel, spiral steel the prefered choices and why?

Thanks,

Margot

Hello Margot,

In my foundation sewing/corsetry - "it depends"..

I have found for firm corsets, a combination of spiral and flat steels give the best form/fit. I'd weigh up a 'fashion corset' vs a corset intended to shape/support the wearer.

Something to consider: Synthetic whalebone doesn't flex like spirals(flex up/down and sideways) and doesn't have the strength like them either….however, synthetic whalebone is popular in foundation garments/corsellettes in evening wear.

Simone

The first article I ever did for FR was about this very question!

www.foundationsrevealed.com/articles/fre...g-by-jenni-hampshire

My preferences remain pretty much the same now, but you will find that each corsetmaker does things differently depending on the effect they want to create and amount of time/effort they want to put in.

If you're making a contemporary hourglass corset, then I would certainly suggest trying a combination of spiral and flat steel to begin with. It is sturdy and reliable. If you're doing corsets with flat fronts, perfectly straight boning channels, or historically-inspired stays, then synthetic whalebone used en mass is a brilliant option.

Have fun