I’m kicking myself for not having a proper website up at teacupcorset.com yet. I’ve renewed the domain for the next 3 years, though, so I’m committed. It’ll happen one day. I swear.

My Favorite Brown – January 2nd 2012
Time for Teal and Chocolate! – January 3rd 2012
#001 of 2012 – January 3rd 2012
Sweet Friday Finds – January 6th 2012
Steampunk – January 6th 2012

Having decided that I’m too broke to go and buy silk for the 1910, I had myself a wee dig through the scrap stacks to see if I had anything else that might be suitable as its outer layer. I resurfaced with a piece of heavy white polyester satin (which I originally bought for the thistle corset, and also used as the collar material for that Vampirella outfit back in October).

There was just enough left to fit all ten pattern pieces without cheating on the grain lines! Win!

The silk will be easier to work with, natch, and also easier to BEDAZZLE WITH A PROFUSION OF COBALT BLUE SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL RHINESTONES.. but I’d also like to try a second stretch velvet corset (thinking of documenting the process and writing a short article on wrangling this fabric – in a corsetry context – for Foundations Revealed).

Which fabric do you think I should use?
(Heck, I’ll probably just make two corsets..)

1. Squint at an old corset advertisement.
2. Choose the $0.69 style on the left, because it looks sort of like what I’m aiming at. Maybe. A bit. It’s hard to tell.
3. Draw out my own version of the corset as it appears in the advertisement.
4. Imagine what the back may have looked like.
5. Make some wild guesses as to how the individual pattern pieces were shaped.

From there, I double-check my torso measurements, then draw some horizontal top/bust/waist/hip lines at appropriate intervals on some ironed-out tissue paper. I scribble on the tissue paper until it looks right, measure the pieces, adjust, scribble, re-measure.. until I’ve got what I’d consider a decent pattern.

I took some preliminary measurements for a new client on Tuesday. She asked me where I’d studied sewing, and I could only say “I didn’t.” My polite term for it is “intuitive” sewing.. but to be honest, I’m flying by the seat of my pants and am constantly pulling patterns clear out of my arse. (Still, if the method ain’t broke, don’t fix it.)

The above corset sketches mark the beginnings of my first teacup corset undertaking this year; I’ve been thinking for a long time about adapting this teacup into a 1910′s-era ivory silk longline midbust with antique black lace trim and garters. I have the perfect larger-scale rose-patterned lining fabric, and want to try my hand at internal dark pink/red petersham ribbon bone casings and matching waist tape. (This will be my first time in history attempting to make bone channels that are not constructed out of the seam allowances between pieces. Terrifying!)

I chose this cut with a large diagonal piece and triangular gussets because I’m convinced that straight up-and-down vertical seams would make my figure too straight, if you know what I mean. The bones will run vertical, but I like the idea of a more conical top tapering to a tiny waist before the hips straighten out, and that’s something I think bias-cut insertions and diagonal seaming could help me out with a great deal. (I may also be imagining things.) Plus, the way corsets transitioned from curvy s-bends into straighter shapes is quite fascinating, and I wanted to explore the awkward midpoint in that particular stage of the garment’s evolution; conical and curvy on top, smooth and straight on the bottom.

In somewhat-related news, check out this fantastic sew along event over at Bridges on the Body!

(Click for all 1911-related content.)

A fabulous idea, and even though I’m not an official participant, I’m following along and checking their flickr group for progress shots. So exciting!

Mad for Plaid – November 28th 2011
Steam Lolita – November 30th 2011
Brownie Points – December 1st 2011
Santa Baby – December 1st 2011
I Love Plaid!! – December 1st 2011
Everything is better in Plaid – December 3rd 2011
Fashion forest gift guide – December 4th 2011
Pretty, Preppy, Plaid – December 4th 2011
Christmas Stocking…surprise! – December 5th 2011
Mad For Plaid – December 5th 2011
RAD IN PLAID! – December 6th 2011
Plaid for the holidays – December 6th 2011
Mad about Plaid – December 10th 2011
Glad for Plaid – December 10th 2011
Dress for Christmas night – December 12th 2011
Plaid isn’t so bad – December 13th 2011
It’s my birthday, buy me this…. – December 13th 2011
Warm Winter Wishes – December 13th 2011
A Few of My Favourite Things – December 13th 2011
Winter Sepia – December 13th 2011
walking in a winter wonderland – December 16th 2011
Christmas cheer cocktail wear – December 16th 2011
Dreaming of Wonderland – December 19th 2011
Neovictorian wardrobe for the whole family – December 30th 2011
#0654 – January 1st 2012

This listing has been getting a lot of love in plaid-themed, Christmas, Scottish and/or Robbie Burns Day treasuries for the past year or so; I suppose it was about time it made its way into Etsy Finds. Does this kind of exposure translate into increased sales? It’s hard to tell, but if I had to guess, my answer would be “not really.” Orders have been coming fast and furious through Etsy this month, (after several months of unseasonably slow online sales,) but nearly all of those orders were placed on days where my shop only got 40-odd hits. It’s also interesting to note that, despite their inclusion in over thirty active Etsy treasury lists, I’ve only ever sold one pair of these plaid spats.. and this happened on October 4th 2010.

What does this mean? Do people enjoy the concept, but not quite enough to actually purchase or wear them? Treasuries are great, newsletter features are great; I’m sure I’ve made at least a few sales through treasury clicks and links, but again, it’s hard to say for sure. Exposure is good, though; even if someone is led to my shop via a pair of plaid spats they’d never wear, and buys a pair of short black spats instead, there’s no harm in that; everybody wins, and I’ll use that as justification to keep those plaid spats on the virtual shelf.

Autumn’s kiss – November 21st 2011
Plaid Gifts, For+Him, Kids, Gifts, Under 100, Black Friday Under 50, Under 75 – November 22nd 2011
Clash – November 22nd 2011
I’m dreaming of a plaid christmas – November 25th 2011
Dead hens don’t wear plaid – November 27th 2011
Victorian Vixen – November 27th 2011
On my list – November 27th 2011

Sweet – November 7th 2011
November trends – November 9th 2011
Dashing through the snow… – November 9th 2011
I shall call him squishy – November 10th 2011
Scotland! – November 11th 2011
Milk, Cookies and Carrots Oh My! – November 11th 2011
Lovely and Warm – November 11th 2011
Tartan – November 11th 2011
brassy!! – November 12th 2011
lets run away – November 12th 2011
Lucy Lovelace’s Eau De Chocolate & Men ♥ – November 13th 2011
Like it – November 14th 2011
Bearded and bears – November 14th 2011
All shades of cream – November 15th 2011
Old Timey Charm – November 15th 2011
Autumn Forgotten – November 16th 2011
Hues of Autumn – November 16th 2011
Forever Fall – November 17th 2011
Vision…Pure & Simple – November 17th 2011
Autumn – November 17th 2011
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups – November 19th 2011
up against a brick wall… – November 19th 2011
Spats Gallore! – November 20th 2011