Making a Victorian Corset | Recreating an 1860s Historical Corset for an Alice in Wonderland Cosplay

Part two of my Victorian corset making journey in which I attempt to recreate that famous blue corset from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection. You thought you had seen all my mockups in my actual mockup video, well joke's on you, there are more mockups in this video than there were in the last... oops. Watch me slowly lose my mind over the fitting process than somehow get it back! I think I finally got the silhouette and style lines where I want them and... well the corset is made so there's no going back now I suppose. I used RedThreaded's gored corset pattern as my base but at this point it's been altered so much I'm not sure it's really that great of starting point. This corset will determine the shape for my cosplay of Hannah Alexander's Alice in Wonderland design, at least from the waist up.This is the fourth video in this series and I'm taking my research and inspiration from the mid-Victorian 1860's since that's when Alice in Wonderland was published and the time period that most matches Hannah's design.

In this video I go through corset fitting again and ramble a lot about changes that may or may not have actually done any good. I also go through a whole lot of corset making techniques, including roll pinning and flat lining the layers, measuring and drilling through synthetic whalebone corset boning, inserting gores,, stitching boning channels, and ... a lot more I've forgotten some of it now.

Reference Garments:

Materials:
Corset Strength Layer: Rag & Bone Navy Sturdy Cotton Twill (No longer available - any sturdy twill will work as long as it's not stretch!)

Patterns:

Skip ahead:
0:00 Intro
1:33 Fitting 1 (Mockup 3)
4:47 Fitting 2 (Mockup 4)
8:19 Fitting 3 (Mockup 5)
9:51 Cutting Fabric
10:40 Cat Break
12:04 Roll Pinning and Flat Lining
13:47 Inserting Gores
16:19 Boning Channels
17:29 Clean finishing thread ends
17:59 Clean Side Seam finish (idk what this is called someone please help)
19:30 Inserting a Waist Tape
19:51 Center Back Facing
20:12 Inserting the Busk
20:51 Binding Bottom Hem
21:23 Cutting Corset Bones
22:12 Drilling Corset Bones
22:25 Binding Top Edge
23:19 Inserting Grommets
23:57 Flossing and Embroidery
24:20 Birthday!
25:27 Lace edge
25:36 Reveal
26:09 Thoughts on Process and Finished Garment
29:15 Outro

Other Videos in this Series:

#costube #hannahalexanderartwork #historicallyaccuratedisney

All music is from Epidemic Sound:
"Seems Like Yesterday" - Cody Butler
"Alicia's Slumber" - Infinity Ripple
"The Crossing" - Gavin Luke
"A Walk in the Clouds" - Howard Harper-Barnes
"Berceuse (Scaled Down Version)" - Lo Mimieux

[marymiller]

I love how you don't want to cut directly into your expensive silk, but then play peekaboo with your cat with the fabric 💙 I would do the same thing.

[cynthiadugan]

Beautiful! It’s honestly so reassuring to see that even highly skilled makers struggle some. Thank you for taking us along on all the mock up headaches

[MrYoungwhip]

It’s so good to watch a video of a skilled maker. There are so many “let’s just wing it” people here. There are so many times you’d make a decision how to do something and I’m like yasss gurl that’s right LoL

[EdwardianTailor]

One of the best corset reconstructions I’ve seen yet!

[therealpoppinfresh]

I'm really glad I have this video to reference when I'm making my 1860s corset! Just about to make my first mock-up with a Redthreaded pattern and was super concerned about not having visuals the whole way through. Thank you for sharing!

[galaxysprinkles]

This corset is absolutely gorgeous! And it's so helpful to see your different alterations and how they affect the overall shape. Such skill! <3

[belfry.bats.xx.]

this reminded me a lot of my grandma. not really sure why, honestly, but either way. i want to make some projects with her this summer, she's the one who taught me to sew when i was a kid and i want to sew with her :) i cherish her a lot, and i guess this video just made me a little introspective haha. spend time with the people you love, you don't know when you're going to lose them.

[SewlockHolmes]

I don't know why I never thought to just add whole sections of boning backing to stitch channels into. I have had issues fitting my corsets in the past too so this video was SO helpful! I'm definitely saving it to reference later (also for your finishing techniques which are SO beautiful). I absolutely do not have the patience to drill holes in my boning though so my hat is off to you!

I'm also glad to see someone else who meows back to their cat (especially since my cat also likes to lay on my fabric when I'm trying to cut pieces XD).

[lesacapatate]

Many sewing youtuber don't really share that much of reflexions, mock-ups, tries and struggle. But it's so damn helpful!! I feel like I've learned actually quite a bit just from this video! Thank you :)

[rockencheesepuffs]

This is such an absolutely gorgeous corset and the work you’ve put into it is incredible! I’ve said it before but I love seeing the problem solving process. Happy birthday!!

[charlarp]

Love this silhouette so much, what a beautiful corset, all your hard work paid off! You are such a beautiful young woman and this whole “costume” so far looks so gorgeous on you and we haven’t even seen the dress yet! Can’t wait to see the complete ensemble.

[KittieRoses]

Happy Birthday!
Thank you so much for including us in your modification process. It really is so helpful to see how you determine what needs to be edited. I am a beginner at sewing so watching these videos is always so informative. The corset is stunning!
P.S. your cat is so cute, I love how chatty she is.

[ellamarieeway]

That is the prettiest silk I think I've ever seen

[kmscheid]

Happy birthday! I'm always stunned at the amount of hand work. So beautiful!

[DFarbklecks]

I have been binge watching your videos over the last few days. They are so relaxing. I'm really excited to see this alice look come to life. it's going to be stunning!

[SassafrasTee]

The results are beautiful. Victorian corsets are one of my favorites corsets types. Also, love the color choice for the fabric.

[ichinisa]

I will never do such a complex corset, but i enjoyed watching the process and hearing the word "gusset" so much.

[beanqueen]

I’m so glad you made this video! I just bought Redthreaded’s pattern to use and you have the same body type as me, so hopefully if I run into any alteration issues, your videos can help! This is a very daunting project to me, but your explanations of alternations, construction, etc are so thorough and it makes it a lot easier to understand than other videos I’ve seen :)

[CallmeRynn]

You have the focus, motivation and talent/skill I wish I had. Gorgeous!

[sarahdean]

This is one of my favorite corset-making series of videos that I’ve ever seen!! Loved seeing your process, and the finished piece is just gorgeous.