April 27 2002
I have begun my corset. I've only had the pattern since October 2001! *rolls eyes* It feels great to finally start this project!

Today I made up my first toile. The lines look really great but apparently I have gained weight since October so I will have to add to the pattern. Too much fudge at Christmas I guess. *wink*

May 3
I figured out the additional amount to add and made up a second toile yesterday. Today I finished marking the new pattern. Now I just have to order my supplies!

May 5
I figured out today why I had to add so much to the toile. Somehow I misread the directions  and stitched a 5/8" seam allowance instead of the required ½" seam allowance. *duh* So it wasn't Christmas fudge afterall!

I will go ahead and sew up my corset with 5/8" allowances though, as I've already started to fit the toile. I don't want to have to re-do a toile unless I have to. I will just trim the allowances where they need it. Hopefully this will be my huge mistake of the project...

May 29
I have finally ordered my supplies. I received my order conformation from Grannd Garb so they are on the way. I can't wait until they get here!

June 13
My supplies finally arrived today. Everything looks good but I have to admit not being thrilled with Grannd Garb. Their web-site states that shipments arrive in 4-7 days, mine took 15 days. I got an e-mail on the 29th saying it would be shipped on the 29th, when in fact it wasn't shipped until the 11th (that would probably explain why the Delivery Conformation number they sent wasn't track-able). I hate to be unreasonable and I don't really mind delays if they are explained but that is rediculous. *sigh*

Forgive my rant, I do feel a bit better now. GG has the reputation of being a good company but I'll probably try another supplier first next time.

This delay has seriously messed up my sewing schedule. *mreh*

July 2
My corset is beginning to take shape! It is going well, just slow. It's been a frustrating project because every time I get into a rhythm with it I have to stop and clean the house for company, run some errand or do some handwork.

I'm a little nervous about everything still, this whole corset thing is so foreign to me. I also have to make sewing a saga. I'm not really using any one person's directions but instead mixing a few. The problem is I have worn several corsets and so have a preconceived notion in my mind of what I what. Why spend all the money on something that doesn't fulfill my dreams? I'm relying on Farthingales instructions quite a bit- all this while not really knowing what I am doing. I'm insane, I know!

I am making a 2 layer, non-alterable corset. I am using coutil for the outer layer and muslin for the lining. I'm using bone casing for the bone channels. Over the past few weeks I have cut out the fabric, sewn the two layers and sewn the layers together. I am now hand sewing the inner seams together.

July 15
I finally finished my corset yesterday. I finished it in time to wear to a little dress-up party we had. I wore it with my Queen Bee dress.

A Disappointment
I'm torn about whether I like the corset or not. I love the top, the way it shapes my bust and waist, making my Queen Bee dress look amazing. The bottom came out "lumpy", neither smooth nor slimming.

I think this is really my fault. Remember that whole seam allowance issue above? Well I when I enlarged the pattern I must have messed it up somehow. I think perhaps I was too exact where the hip line was, I should have created more of a curve or some thing... I don't know.

What I should have done was re-do the toile after I figured out the ½" allowance issue and gone from there. I could just kick myself! I have been losing weight since I made the toile so the original pattern that was made would have probably been okay without alterations. I was just being lazy and now I'm paying for it.

It's definietly worth trying to fix. I'm not sure what to do, I haven't decided if I want to try and alter the original corset or start from scratch. I have enough coutil to make a new one, but I was hoping to use that for the other projects. I don't know...

Reflections
This first corset was very problematic for me, it was one snag and difficulty after another. I don't mean to complain because I did enjoy the process (proof I am insane). It was just frustrating a lot of the time.

Most of my problems were due to my inexperience and perfectionist nature. Some were due to my pattern maker's "okay" directions. They are written out the way she made her corsets, with no pictures. I'm a visual person and my brain works differently so I had a hard time figuring out bits of them. In all fairness I was her first custom pattern costumer so she was still ironing out wrinkles. We are now working together to write better instructions for this corset.

I also think I relied too much on my general costuming experience, thinking I would be okay. I should have gone slower and asked more questions of experienced corset makers before making decisions.

Still it was a good learning experience and I learned a lot. I just wish now I hadn't used the precious coutil on my first attempt. I'm a little embarrassed to post these pages, I've made such a royal mess of the whole thing. I hope they will save someone else the "trauma" I have infected on myself!