Evenstar Designs

New stays! I always say I'll never make another pair again, but then I do. This time I used American Duchess's Simplicity Pattern  with the accuracy "hacks" on the American Duchess blog. For example, I made hand sewn eyelets instead of grommets (did I ever mention I HATE grommets?), and I sewed the lining in after binding which is a more accurate 18th century construction method. I used off-white cotton for the outside and interlining, and linen for the lining. The entire garment is sewn by hand, but I did cheat and use plastic zip ties for boning. I love that these stays lace in the front and back which makes them much more adjustable and more comfy to wear. I also added some embroidery details just because I can. I successfully taught myself how to embroider the detached buttonhole stitch, which is great for making larger shapes on which you don't want to use the satin stitch.  This is the inside of the stays with pink satin ribbon lacing up the back:...

Its amazing how much I can sew in a week when I have nothing else that needs to be done! And here are my first pair of regency stays!  I am quite pleased with them - they fit me perfectly - and I made up my own pattern. I made the pattern, by drawing three lines on a piece of paper marking my bust, waist and hips. I drew the pattern on top of that, and voilà - it fits! Oh, don't pay attention to the shift, that's just a nightgown I made that happened to work :)

Stays in a Day! (Or two afternoons, actually.) I've really needed a pair of stays that fit. I've been wearing my second attempt, but they were two big! Attempt three I didn't finish, because I could tell before I was halfway done that it would be to big. On take four, I finally got a pair that fit me (Sigh of relief). I used white cotton twill, and cable ties to bone it. I also used less boning then the last time because I didn't really need that much, and I was running out. :)  Here are the pictures: On day one, I cut out the fabric pieces and sewed them together. On day two, I boned it, added the grommets, and bound it. I love my new stays!