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Step 2Prep your stuff
1. Pre-wash your fabric. Admittedly, I did not wash the adorning neckties. But generally, I don't care what kind of fabric I'm using, I pre-wash it in hot water with a normal high heat dry cycle. "But what about silk? Or (*gasp*) wool?!" Look, I'm low maintenance. If I have to dry clean it when it's done, I just won't. Which will make me either really stinky, or I'll end up ruining it anyway when I inevitably put it in the wash. So--don't want surprises? Wash it.
2. Iron your pattern & Fabric. This may be an oft-overlooked step in construction, but don't be a lazy wuss and skip out on the ironing stage. You'll thank yourself later. Iron your crumpled paper pattern pieces. Iron the wrinkly bias edge of your pre-washed fabric, too.
3. Determine your size and adjust your pattern. This will take some arithmetic skills. Measure your own bust, waist and hips and write the numbers down. Next, use your measuring tape to measure the bust, waist and hips on the freshly ironed pattern pieces. Add the numbers together and then subtract applicable seam allowances. If your numbers match, you'll want to cut your pattern down ever-so-slightly to accommodate for a moderate cinching effect. Typically, a Victorian corset is a good two inches smaller in the waist than your own proper measurement. Conversely, if your pattern number is too small, you may want to increase the size of the pieces. To do this, figure out how much extra total width you need then divide it by the number of pattern pieces. Add this much more to each pattern piece. When in doubt, err on the side of too big. You can always adjust it down in size during the fitting step.
2. Iron your pattern & Fabric. This may be an oft-overlooked step in construction, but don't be a lazy wuss and skip out on the ironing stage. You'll thank yourself later. Iron your crumpled paper pattern pieces. Iron the wrinkly bias edge of your pre-washed fabric, too.
3. Determine your size and adjust your pattern. This will take some arithmetic skills. Measure your own bust, waist and hips and write the numbers down. Next, use your measuring tape to measure the bust, waist and hips on the freshly ironed pattern pieces. Add the numbers together and then subtract applicable seam allowances. If your numbers match, you'll want to cut your pattern down ever-so-slightly to accommodate for a moderate cinching effect. Typically, a Victorian corset is a good two inches smaller in the waist than your own proper measurement. Conversely, if your pattern number is too small, you may want to increase the size of the pieces. To do this, figure out how much extra total width you need then divide it by the number of pattern pieces. Add this much more to each pattern piece. When in doubt, err on the side of too big. You can always adjust it down in size during the fitting step.
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