Can you lace a corset with ribbon?
Corsets can be laced with ribbon or cord lacing, and each has benefits and drawbacks.
How much corset lacing do you need? An average is 4 meters for a waist cincher corset, 7 meters for an under-bust corset and 9 meters for an over-bust corset. This is an average only!
Flat Shoelace
These are ubiquitous – they're easy to source, they're often cheaper than ribbon, and they're a “workhorse” lacing that will last you a long time. You will find flat shoelace most often in corsets (both OTR and custom waist training corsets).
the lace is known as beading, it has holes woven into it so that you can thread the ribbon through the lace.
As a general guideline, you'll want about 5-8 yards of lacing for underbust corsets, and 7-10 yards for overbusts. How much will depend on how long the back of the corset is, how closely set the grommets are, how much reduction you achieve, and the overall size of the corset.
| Ribbon Size | 1 1/2″ wide | 2 1/2″ wide |
|---|---|---|
| Yardage | 6 yards | 6 yards |
| Diameter of Bow | 12″ with 8 loops | 12″ with 14 loops |
| Extra Set of Tails | 2 yards for every set | 2 yards for every set |
The lining material, if you're using a fancy fabric for your corset. 16 grommets (unless you're poking holes and binding them with thread) 2 yards of lacing--satin ribbon, shoelacing, whatever. 2 yards may seem long, but it makes it easier to get into the corset by yourself.
To do this, undo the knot at the bottom of the corset and unlace it to just above the bunny ears. This way, you will now have the corset tying up at the bottom and the excess can either be tucked in under the bottom hem of the corset, or easily hidden under a pretty A-line skirt.
Instead of tracking down expensive corset boning, use industrial zip ties — yes, those plastic cable ties! — they're cheap ($6 for 100), more comfortable to wear, easy to manipulate, and machine washable. Thanks to Pinky's advice, I went snooping online and found this handy site.
Your corset will consist of at least one layer of fabric, maybe two, three or possibly more. The main layer is called the 'strength layer' and, as the word suggests, needs to be composed of a fabric that is really strong, hard-wearing and non-stretch. The only fabric that can totally meet these criteria is coutil.
What is ribbon lace used for?
Useful for everything from table decorations to clothing trimming to collage, lace ribbon is a must-have in any crafter's supplies drawer. Originally made of linen, silk, gold, or silver thread, lace is now usually made of cotton or synthetic fibers.
Eyelet fabric works as the best alternative for lace, while offering the appearance and texture of lace. Eyelet fabrics were initially made of cotton or cotton blend, but are now used and available in almost all heavy and light wool or silk.
Fold the tip of the ribbon under twice, then secure it to the lace, either by stitching an X several times through all layers, or by first sewing just the ribbon end with an X and then whip-stitching the folded edge to the lace. If your ribbon is prone to fraying, dab a little Fray Check on the raw edges.
Machine Stitching Ribbons:
Use polyester sewing thread. Machine embroidery thread may also be used for more densely sewn decorative stitches. Coordinate the thread color with the ribbon.
There are several types of round cords to consider, including round satin rat-tail cord, as noted above, as well as polyester cord and 550 paracord. Round polyester cord is a great choice for several reasons. First, it's cost-effective, which is why you'll frequently see it used in off-the-rack corsetry.
All corsets should be worn with a small gap of 1-2" at the back, for comfort over your spine. *Your natural waist measurement is the circumference around the smallest part of your middle, usually about 1-2" above the navel.
You can lace from either the top or bottom of the corset. Try both and use the direction that is most comfortable for you. Some people will find they settle into the most comfortable fit lacing from the top, and other people will be most comfortable lacing from the bottom. For some people it won't make a difference.
Take a ball of string and tie a bow the size you would like the real one to be. Now untie the bow and measure how much string you've used. You'll need to include this. This will give you a total measurement of ribbon needed per box including the bow.
To measure ribbon, we measure width by length. For this example, we have a 1-1/2 inch x 10 yards ribbon roll. The first is the width, and the second size is the length. For the Width: Positioned with the ribbon pulled out from the roll, measure from left to right.
Each roll has 25 yards (22.9 meters/ 75 feet) of ribbon, and is 1 inch wide.
Can you make a corset without boning?
Without boning, your corset would fall down (like most strapless dresses) and crumple around the waist (like your typical tube top). Vertical tension holds the corset upright. The overall construction of a corset, including the number and type of bones, supports the design and shape but doesn't create it.
There are usually two bones at the busks (one on each side), four bones at the laces (two on each side), and one bone for each seam between panels. So, if you have eight panels, for example, there would be six bones, for a total of twelve in the corset, including busks and laces.
Wearing a waist trainer may encourage good posture while you're wearing it. If you wear it too much, though, it may weaken your core muscles, leading to back pain and poor posture.
For those who are unable to reach behind them and 'pluck' the individual X's of the laces, a fan-laced corset may be just the trick for quickly and easily adjusting one's own corset; for those with disabilities who use corsets for medical purposes, the use of fan lacing can contribute to one's independence when ...
The most comfortable fabrics to be worn without anything underneath are mesh and cotton. If you don't like the direct compression on your skin, you can always wear a light tank underneath your corset, and wear another top over that.
Women were often laced so tightly their breathing was restricted leading to faintness. Compressing the abdominal organs could cause poor digestion and over time the back muscles could atrophy. In fact, long term tight lacing led to the rib cage becoming deformed.
Waist tape is twill tape, tailor's tape, or other sturdy ribbon used to re-enforce the waistline of a corset. It's not essential, but it does increase the durability of a corset by easing stress on the seams along the the highest stress point – the waist line.
All Timeless Trends corsets have three fabric layers, two of which are strong cotton twill.
Four pieces of ribbon can be used to create straps that will tie at the top of the shoulders. Two longer pieces of ribbon can be used to create a halter dress that will tie behind the neck. Invisible thread can be used on print fabric to hide the stitching.
Apply glue to the backside of the ribbon according to package instructions and place carefully on the fabric. Remove any excess glue immediately, before it has a chance to dry or cool. Press firmly to ensure a strong seal, placing a weighted object on top of the ribbon if necessary.
