How to Make a Corset: 15 Simple Steps With Pictures

Since Netflix’s Bridgerton aired on Christmas Day, the demand and search for the corsets have increased by more than 100%. The eBay data shows that 39% of customers search for a vintage piece inspired by the Regency-era romp.

Corsets are an incredible vintage piece of clothing. All manners of ruffles, empire lines, elbow-length gloves, and pearl-encrusted headbands are known as Corsetry.

Corsets were born by women and men in the western world from the 16th to the early 20th century. It began as a close-fitted sleeveless bodice and evolved into an eye-catching undergarment. The shape of the corset has evolved over the countries.

Corsets are an excellent addition to your wardrobe as it helps shape the body into distinctive silhouettes. They are not just worn outside but can be worn inside the house as it is supportive and allows women to perform household duties without back pain. 

Corsets are comfortable and keep your body in shape. With so much in light about the corset, don’t you ever think of learning how to make a corset at home? 

This wonderful, vintage piece of clothing can be your next DIY sewing project. Want to know how to make a corset at home?

In this tutorial, you will get some simple steps and instructions that can help you beautiful corsets at home with utmost ease. 

How to Make a DIY corset: Different Types of Corsets

Corsets are crucial to many women, and they have become an essential part of their wardrobe. It can be viewed as designer items worn with skinny jeans and jackets.

Image Source: Alison Pang On Unsplash

If you wear a corset as part of your daily wear, it can reduce the pain around your waist area and maintain a more upright posture.

If you ever think of learning how to make a DIY corset, it is essential to understand the types of corsets available from the 16th century. Here are different types of corsets you can choose from. 

Underbust

Image Source: The Violet Vixen Blog

As the name suggests, the underbust corset sits just below the bust. It doesn’t support your breasts and can be worn as a supportive undergarment. They can be worn on top of a clothing piece as a style statement.

If you learn to sew underbust corset, make sure you know that this style helps you achieve an hourglass shape. 

Someone who wants to have an hourglass shape should choose an underbust corset. This corset style can improve your posture and provide good support to your back. 

Overbust

This is the most classic corset style you will ever come across. It covers the bust and ends just above the hips. An overbust corset can help you reduce the waistline and offer support to your back. 

It can be worn alone, over clothing, or under clothing pieces which makes it the most versatile corset style. If you are a beginner or intermediate sewer, then learning how to make a DIY corset journey will be easy with an overbust corset. 

Waspie

Image Source: The Breast Life

A waspie sits around your torso and is known as a waist trainer. This is another type of underbust corset, but it is much shorter. Many women prefer to wear waspie under clothing, and some like to wear it as a fashion piece over dresses, tops, or blouses. 

These are some of the basic corsets. Do you want to learn more? Check out our complete guide on different types of corsets made for you.

How to Make Your Own Corset: How to Choose Fabric

Now that you have got a complete understanding of different corset styles and as you are about to start your journey of how to make your own corset at home, let’s help you understand more about corset fabrics.

Choosing the right fabric for a custom-made corset is essential. With so many options available for making clothes at home, it will be tough to find the right option. 

Things to Consider

Here are a few things you can consider while choosing the fabric to begin your journey of how to make your own corset:

• • Where are you going to wear your corset?
  • What is the ideal temperature where you reside?
  • Are you going to make a corset in solid colors or a print?
  • Do you know which fabrics can be used for making corsets? 

These fundamental questions will help you get a basic idea of the fabric you want. 

Fabrics Used for Making Corsets

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When you learn how to make a corset at home, don’t forget to check the below-listed fabrics that are appropriate for making corsets. 

Coutil

Coutil is one of the oldest and most popular types of fabric used in making corsets. It is a strong and durable fabric and has a tight weave that prevents poke-throughs of boning. 

If you are learning how to make an overbust corset for a bride, then choose brocade coutil or satin coutil. 

Satin

Image Source: Pinterest

Satin is a beautiful, shiny, and slippery smooth fabric that gives a lustrous appearance. This elegant and classic material is ideal for showing luxury. 

If you know how to sew with high-end satin fabric, you should choose this material to make corsets.

Cotton

Cotton is the most used material on the planet. It is used for making different types of clothes as it is soft, breathable, and natural fabric. If you choose to make a corset with cotton fabric, then you can never go wrong.

Silk Brocade

Image Source: The Museum at FIT

Silk brocade is another woven fabric with elaborate embroidery and lustrous surface. 

The best thing about this corset fabric is that the pattern is visible just on the face of the fabric. You can go with silk brocade fabric for your DIY corset-making project if you are an expert.

Velvet

Velvet is everyone’s favorite material because of its incredible softness and feel. Its rich and luminescent look is enough to attract you to this fabric. Backed by canvas material, velvet becomes an ideal choice for corsets.

Leather

Image Source: Leatherfad

There is no doubt why leather corsets are so popular among women. Leather was the first choice when corsets were introduced. 

It is a supportive and long-lasting fabric. They look amazing when paired with tees, button-down blouses, and dresses.   

How to Make a Corset: 15 Simple Instructions

Until now, you have understood a lot about the corset. Right from corset history to its types, and choosing the corset fabric. There is nothing like a corset to get that perfect hourglass figure.

Image Source: Pinterest

It’s a myth that making a corset at home is time-consuming and can be an expensive or challenging DIY sewing project.

Do you want to learn how to make a costume corset? Then, this instructable shows you how to make a corset at home with minimum supplies and utmost ease. 

Don’t be afraid to experiment with your journey. It will help you build confidence and polish your sewing skills. 

What You Need

For learning how to make a corset, you will need some supplies and materials such as:

Image Source: Kwon Junho On Unsplash 

• • Lining fabric
  • Fabric for the outer part
  • Interfacing
  • Eyelets
  • Lacing
  • Steel boning
  • Hammer
  • Rotary cutter
  • Leather punch
  • Sewing machine 

Preparing the Fabric

Since many types of fabric are available, choosing the right fabric will be a challenging task. In the above section, we discussed some popular fabrics used to make a corset. 

You can select the fabric you are comfortable sewing and start making corsets at home. Don’t forget to check the care labels of the fabric as it will help you at the time of wash and iron. 

Choosing the Pattern

Now comes the most challenging task. If you don’t know how to make clothes, then choosing the right pattern for beginners can be difficult, but there are ways to do that. Here are those:

Think about the shape you want

What shape do you want around the bust?

Do you want to create a historical corset or a more modern one?

How much do you want to cinch your waist?

There are also ready-made corset sewing patterns available in the market with proper instructions and a size guide. You can buy those sewing patterns and proceed with the following steps. 

How to Measure for a Corset

Before you begin corseting, it is essential to get the right measurements. Every inch and every side that you sew should be taken care of. It gives you the confidence that the corset you are making will be of the right fit.

Use measuring tape while measuring for your corset. Measure the following things and keep the measurement as it is. For adding multiple layers, you can keep the extra inches later on. 

Ensure you keep the tape measure flat against your body without any disturbance. Here are a couple of measurements you will need to take.

Image Source: Jamie Coupaud On Unsplash

Bust

The bust measurement should be taken at the fullest and across the nipples. If you are learning how to make an overbust corset, then this measurement is a must. 

Natural Waist

To find your natural waist, you have to find the narrowest part of your waist. It is an inch above the belly button where your torso bends. 

Measure it and keep some space for breathing. Put a finger between a measuring tape and your body for the right fit.

Smallest Waist Circumference

At this place, your torso is the smallest. Based on your body shape and weight, it can be anywhere from the below underbust to the lowest rib measure. If you can’t find it, then just use natural waist measurement.

Underbust

You can measure underbust from the bust. If you are wearing an underwire bra, just remove it and measure it. 

Upper Hip

Find your hip measurement right below the hip bone’s top. It is a part where your body bends when you sit. Keep some space for breathing purposes and don’t take the exact measurement. 

Torso Length

Not all types of corsets making require this measurement. In case you need it, then here it is. Sit straight in a chair and place the measuring tape at your underbust till the top of your thigh. 

This way, you will have an exact measurement for your torso.  If you have a small torso, then make sure you take the right measurement.

Here is a size chart of the corset for your reference.

Corset size (Inches)	Bust (Inches)	Waist (Inches)	Hip (Inches)
20	30-31	24-25	30-31
22	32-33	26-27	32-33
24	34-35	28-29	34-35
26	36-37	30-31	36-37
28	38-39	32-33	38-39
30	40-41	34-35	40-41
32	42-43	36-37	42-43
34	44-45	38-39	44-45
36	46-47	40-41	46-47
38	48-49	42-43	48-49
40	50-51	44-45	50-51

About Boning

There are many types of boning available.

Steel Bones

It can be used in the side or back seams with no curve.

Spiral Bones

It is used for curved seams since it will contour to fit the seams of a corset where a straight bone will buckle.

Note: Don’t use cheap plastic boning, buckles, and twists. They are best when it’s bulky. 

Cut your bones around ¾ inch shorter than your seam and cap them yourself. 

Cut Your Fabric

Since the pattern pieces are mirrored, you need to double up your fabric and then cut both sides at once. Keep ½ inch for seam allowance as it will help you while sewing the channels and additional corset layers.

Image Source: Michael Burrows On Pexels

Start cutting the one set from the outer fabric and one from the lining fabric. At last, you also need to cut out two pieces for interfacing for the back panel. 

Now, iron all these pieces as they will provide stability for the eyelets. 

Sew the Pieces Together

Start sewing the panels for the outer and lining fabric. Once it is completed, clip or pin the seams at the waist and bust. Make sure you press these seams to avoid weird creases and lumps while sewing the channels. 

Sew Outer Fabric to the Lining Fabric

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Put the lining and facing panels on the right side and sew both ends together to the back panel. Turn that panels inside out and press it. 

Sew the Channels

Sewing the channels for the corset is the most exciting part. Prepared yourself for lots of sewing and patience.

In this step, you need to ensure that the front and back fabric aligns well. You can keep a bone on either side of the seam and backside. 

Start from the middle part of the corset and work in both directions to resolve any issues that occur while lining up the seams.

For making each seam line, start sewing the seam from the seam line on either side. Slow down your sewing speed and ensure that the seam line of the lining and outer fabric matches. 

Once you are done, put two seams on the right next to each other and sew the sides of each channel. After completing, trim the edges to remove stray threads. 

Binding Fabric or Cut Facing

This is the primary step of how to make a corset pattern and finish edges. For a corset facing finish edges, you should use bias binding to clean edges. 

Keep your lining fabric on the flat surface for cutting the top facing. Start cutting the corset edges. 

Remove the corset and prepare a strip that is about 1.5 inches down from the line you just cut it. Follow the same steps for facing the bottom of the corset. 

Sew Straps

Image Source: Andrea Schewe Design

If you want to have straps, you need to cut the strips in ¼ inch long and wide. Fold both sides to meet the ends and start sewing the strap. 

Sew the Top Facing

Pin your straps and start sewing down the top facing. Once you are done, fold the fabric and stitch your facing.

Press it and trim extra seam allowance from the strap area while keeping ½ inch of the strap. 

Insert the Bones and Sew the Bottom Facing

Image Source: Aranea Black

In this step of how to make a corset easy, you will learn how to insert bone into corset channels. 

There are four basic layers of fabric in each channel, and you need to insert the bones in the middle of it. Using a strong lining fabric can be a great blessing here.

Now follow the same steps and attach the bottom facing. Push the bones towards the top and don’t break the needle. 

Add the Eyelets and Finish Touches

Here comes the hardware part. Start marking where you want to put your eyelets and cut or punch the holes.

Image Source: Andrea Schewe Design

Use the eyelet tool to insert the eyelets into those holes and turn the fabric. You are halfway making a corset at home. You need to attach the straps in the back and trim the excess part.

TADA! It’s Ready

It’s finished. Your journey of how to make a corset at home is finished here. Wasn’t it a fantastic learning experience?

Image Source: Farthingales Corset Blog

Now that you have your handmade corset with you, do not forget to give it a personalized touch using high-quality, super custom, and super easy woven labels and hang tags.

Let others see what you have made using your crafting and sewing skills. 

Conclusion

When it comes to historical and vintage clothing, nothing beats corsets. Corsets are versatile clothing pieces and have seen many generations. With each era, the corset style is improved.

Creating your own vintage yet modern corset at home isn’t less than a huge reward. Learning how to make a corset at home helps you gain new sewing skills and techniques, and it helps you understand more about the history.

So what are you waiting for? This International women’s day, make something historical for yourself. 

Use high-quality, custom woven labels and hang tags to personalize your handmade clothing item.

Happy sewing!