Hello Everyone,

I am Karin from The Netherlands. I like to tell you how of FR has changed my life!

This spring I turned somewhere in my early forties, so my midlife crisis is probably about to start! At the end of May I went with my sister in law to a workshop “how to make latex clothing”. The workshop was arranged as a birthday present. And of course we decided to go to a real fetish party! Latex, leather, pvc and such only: you know So I needed suitable clothes for this party. I still do not know why exactly, but my mind was set on making a corset. So I needed information on how to make corset in latex.

Surfing and searching the web.... Half June I bumped into Foundations Revealed. After reading some of the free articles I was absolutely sold.... Since then I could and can only think “CORSETS”!

I started reading and reading the articles over and over, after work and dinner, from the evening until the early morning and was overwhelmed by the craftsmanship and knowledge of the writers, the beauty of both historical and modern corsets, the flossing, the embroidery, the designs….

But almost immediately I did understand that making a well-fitting corset might not be so easy. At the workshop latex I discovered that working with latex is not really my thing, all that gluing and the smell chemicals. Furthermore latex is expensive and absolutely unforgiving on errors. Despite of the clear articles on this subject from Mark and Sannie on FR, I did not feel ready to make a corset in latex.

I am more of a “sewing” kind of person, I guess. I started sewing three years ago, taught it myself. Just following the pattern instructions and read now and then a handbook or search the internet for problem solving.

So what now? I needed something for the fetish party! After reading the articles of Martha and Kelly I knew it: leather! Although I had never made anything in leather, working with a sewing machine was more reassuring for me than glue etc.. And leather is perfect for a fetish party as well!

With the super instructions of Cathy in “Draft your own corset pattern” I started measuring, drawing and making! With Laura’s “Basic flexible busk insertion” and Jenni’s instructions in “A simple broche corset” a mock-up of a corset with 6 panels on each side was relative quickly made. Not too bad, but the bust line was not so flattering. Hmm, remembering Cathy’s remark on the bust line when having a little larger bust and after reading the very nice articles “Supporting a large bust” of Isabelle, I knew I had to add an extra panel on the front. Said and done, a new mock-up was made. This one was much better.

I have attached a picture of my “final” mock-up a shiny white fabric I had left over from a sewing project.



I am reasonable happy with the result. The inner layer is of cotton and it has a floating lining. I made some mistakes. The back is a little low and tight at the top, so when I have it on, I get some back-tires. When I wear it with a dark colored blouse under it, the back tires are hidden. Another thing is that the busk is not against my sternum, also no problem when I wear a blouse underneath.

I changed the pattern a little by making the back higher and panel 5 and 6 (side back) wider at the top. I decided to make the leather corset over all slightly wider. I did not want to have a modesty panel at the back. More important I did not want to wear a tight corset at a party for I was not used on wearing corsets. I had never ever wore one before in my entire life!

I made the corset of blue leather, between 0,5 - 1mm thick. It has an inner layer of fabric and floating lining. For the binding I used fake black leather. I am absolutely happy with the result. I like the silhouette. It fits perfect enough! Beautiful – little sexy - at the front top, no back tires, only a little wide at the front hip. I have attached a picture.



Sorry, you will have to do with pictures of a pillow in the corset, next time I will try to make pictures of me in the corset!

At the party I wore the corset with a skirt of fake black leather. For my husband I made a simple jacket of the same blue leather and a pair of trousers in fake black leather with a lot of hardware After all: it was all for a fetish party! No, no pictures! The party was … nice. Our outfits were great. Making it was even better!

And now? I am working on my next corset. Same pattern in another fabric and I was working on how to prevent / solve ripples and wrinkles at the waist and hip (thanks to Jenni for her articles on this issue). This worked out well. Only the problem “to get the busk closer to the sternum” is still open. If you have any advice on this issue, yes please!

Hopefully I will receive this week real “coutil” from Vena Cava Design (UK). When I asked for “coutil” at my local fabrics shop here in Holland, they did not know what I was talking about. My explanation somehow did not help much either... (Voor de Nederlandse lezers: Weet iemand waar je in Nederland goede betaalbare korsetstoffen kan kopen?)

When I am not sewing: I am thinking of the design for the next one. Will it be with more diagonal lines in the front? Or with cording? How about choosing a patent? Thanks to the clear instructions of Rachel, I am learning how to use Corel Draw and Photo Paint to convert a patent into a pattern!

However, my biggest challenge in the near future ismaking a perfect fitting corset - probably in leather - for my sister in law! Next week I am going to take her measurements and let her try on my corsets, just to get a feeling on her posture. We have the same length with approximately the same waist and bust sizes, but instead of her I have a short torso. We will see how it goes and how it is to make a corset for another person!

Anyway.... I am happy to have found FR and to have discovered my passion for making corsets.
Only my husband and dog are since FR a little less happy .....

Karin

Hi Karin!
I am so happy you have found FR! Your corsets look wonderful, can't wait to see more of them.

Very lovely!

Welcome, Karin