Why?

Corset, 1883
The Victorian and Albert Museum

Why make a corset?

A few people have asked me that so far, and I don't really have a full answer for them. I do like to sew and create clothes, especially from scratch and without a pattern. I find it very satisfying, using both the creative and engineering sides of my abilities, and I haven't done any really challenging sewing in quite a few years (as the piles of unfinished projects can testify*).

Off the rack corsets are available, but ultimately if you've got a funny body shape (and who doesn't) they're not really going to fit like the second skin they're meant to.

Custom corsets are stupidly expensive (at least to my budget), starting at the $500 mark and going up.   I certainly can't justify that kind of price, especially when I can make my own (she says, oozing confidence). I also really want to make myself an over-bust corset, and with a large cup size, off the rack isn't really an option.

Yes, but why do you want a corset at all?

Oh, is that what you were asking?  Well, yes, I'm sure there are other technically challenging sewing projects I could take on but honestly I've done a lot of them already**.

But reasons: I'm happy with my size, I'd just like a little more shape with it, I've always loved the goth look (yes, I'll be making a black corset), my posture is kind of crap and if I'm wearing shapeware, I find I stand better (this is just the next level, though not for every day).

But ultimately, corsets are just COOL and I want one, or two, or more.

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* Why not finish some of those projects you ask? Don't be silly!
** Suit jackets with the stitched in interfacing, quilts, handbags that convert to backpacks, draping, and a bunch of other things; I've been sewing for about 20 years now***.
*** Oh dear, now I feel old....

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