1860s corset, 2009

This corset is an unaltered version of the Corsets and Crinolines (Norah Waugh) 1860's corset. It's very short, but I wanted to try it in an unaltered size and it actually works but it couldn't be any shorter. Because it's short it's easy to lace tightly. I can get a 22" waist in it when I usually don't go under 23". It's made of duchess silk satin flatlined with cotton coutil, treating the two layers as one. Sewing technique is the same I always use in Victorian corsets, illustrated in the bottom picture. I really like it, because it forms a very thin seam if you don't overlap the seam allowances. The flossing is also white so it's hard to see it, but it's there.