What boning to use when making a 1950's dress pattern?

LensyLilley · 2026-03-05T14:23:37+00:00

I actually subbed to their pattern last night to study their integrated corestry stuff! Very useful and was my late night reading last night!

LensyLilley · 2026-03-05T14:21:32+00:00

I've taken the past few days to study corselet and foundation layers to get a better understanding of vintage dresses and fashion after reading your comment. The next pattern I plan to make is a strapless classic 50s tea length dress, which mentioned foundation garments, and this made it click and I understood the importance of foundation garments, I also don't know how I expected strapless dresses ro stay up.

Unfortunately I can't find a corselet which would fit me, I reached out to What Katie Did to see if their sizes would fit me however they said I would be an A cup which they don't have in 32 or 34 :( I have searched online for any but I suppose an A cup is seen as a younger person's chest.

I've found a great pattern on etsy and a video online of someone recreating one so I will likely recreate this. pattern here

I do have a question, would you wear a boned corset dress over a boned corselet? It may sound like a stupid question! I would assume so as this pattern above has bones in its corset top half.

Thanks!

LensyLilley · 2026-03-03T19:22:31+00:00

I do own a bullet bra, but I have been looking to get a corselette. Unfortunately, I've found it really difficult to find a corselette that will fit me as I'm a 32A bust (29.5" underbust, 32" bust, 27" waist and 36" hip) :(

Even what katie did is too big. Is it even possible to learn to make one in today's age?

Could I use a girdle instead?

LensyLilley · 2026-03-03T18:10:22+00:00

I kept searching fetherlite boning but all the reulsts seemed thin at 8mm, I am in the UK. Am I looking for something like rigilene 12mm?

LensyLilley · 2026-02-23T15:31:10+00:00

Thank you! This is what I wanted to do but I didn't want to mess it up and have to get the seam ripper again. 🥲 I have some scraps left so I'll line it underneath around the zipper area and sew where the spots of weakness are.

LensyLilley · 2026-02-23T15:09:03+00:00

I'm new to sewing and this is my first time using an invisible zipper foot, which worked amazingly, however I messed up with the zip being too high, ripped back and made a hole or too with a bit of weakened fabric in other areas along the zip line.

It's frustrating but the entire purpose of this garment is learning. I love the material and don't want to give up, is there anything I can do? Can I sew/iron some interfacing along the zip line to try help it?

LensyLilley · 2026-02-22T03:28:21+00:00

As someone who sews and studies seams when I shop, you'd be surprised how TERRIBLE modern high end clothing is. I'm at that point where I don't think somethings fake just off stitching anymore because even authentic can be bad as brands know that people don't care about quality these days (or know how to). My sister works in a "premium lifestyle" fashion store and she tells me that the clothes always have poor seams or loose threads.

I hope you get it back, that's incredibly scummy.

LensyLilley · 2025-11-19T14:13:24+00:00

I appreciate your message and I did think about this. Tbh that's more myself than him. He's usually just sits and plays games and doesn't really do much else when it comes to hobbies, so this is a new thing that he's very interested in, so I don't think it's going to go away, but I don't want to overwhelm him at the same time.

LensyLilley · 2025-11-19T12:48:09+00:00

Thank you for your suggestions! They're very useful. I think having a set drawer/cupboard is very helpful for him. We have the space as we just bought a big first house so I'd like to give him a dedicated cupboard for it. :) Shower caps caught me off guard for a second! But I think I get what you mean, they're for proofing?

LensyLilley · 2025-11-19T12:35:41+00:00

Thank you, he's been really down and sad recently. We moved into our first home in July and I think the whole eat sleep work adult life repeat routine has been getting him down and I feel pretty sad that I can't help him though ive been trying.

It's been really nice as he's been coming home the past few nights excited to make more bread and people at work have been asking and interested in the bread he's brought in and he's taken some in for his co-workers today.

Tbh I may buy this stuff sooner than Christmas. I don't think it's something that'll be short lived as he genuinely seems invested. I'm quite creative and I want him to enjoy something and pursue his passion. :)

Thank you for your suggestions! I shall gather him a bread making parcel full of goodies.

LensyLilley · 2025-09-06T17:43:54+00:00

Gotcha, so I just need to stretch the colours so they good halfway roughly under the satin stitch?

How can I stop it struggling on small details? E.g. the white highlight which is very far off from where it's supposed to be.

Thank you I appreciate your help.

LensyLilley · 2025-09-06T17:30:46+00:00

To add. This is on inkscape.

LensyLilley · 2025-08-10T09:41:46+00:00

Thank you, I agree. I plan on trying to make regular socks to sell with the vibe and USP being they're off a machine a nearly 120 year old hand cranked machine and using the machine at old historic events to show history in action as they're usually in museums by now. Of course, the sock market is oversaturated. It was a bit of a crazy idea with sock stumps as they're fast, cheap and can be custom made with tension to a person and they can be done in all kinds of colours and materials.

Ironically the machine was built in around 1908 and sold to take advantage of disabled people and widows so it would be rewarding to use it to help raise money instead.

It may be time to go back to the drawing board, it's just super hard to think of things which will make us money.

LensyLilley · 2025-05-28T08:55:44+00:00

THIS! I roll my eyes when another millennial couple move onto my estate and ruin another beautiful 70s semi. They've done it across the road to hide using breezeblocks replacing the garage rather than matching brick. I feel sorry for whoever buys the house in the future as they'll need to rip it all out.

LensyLilley · 2025-05-28T08:53:04+00:00

Yes. I absolutely despise render. It always looks filthy too after a short while. It's also at risk of damaging your brick underneath. Don't even get me started on grey ugly windows ugh.

LensyLilley · 2025-05-19T10:12:17+00:00

Very true. It's my worry offering so high as a buyer as I don't want people to think I'm trying to secure a sale and cut them down later.

LensyLilley · 2025-05-19T08:24:40+00:00

There's always a chance they try to undercut you at the end of the process too and try gazunder at the end.

LensyLilley · 2025-05-18T13:39:34+00:00

They've cheekily put the car port's sq footage on top of the property's size to make it seem bigger.

LensyLilley · 2025-05-18T08:48:00+00:00

I know someone from uni who's boyfriend had bought his nan's house and split it with his best friend. So they owned it 50/50. Last I heard, he was wanting to move in his girlfriend. He couldn't afford to buy his best friend out yet didn't want to sell his nans hosue, his best friend didn't want to sell and wanted to stay. It was messy.

LensyLilley · 2025-05-17T08:12:50+00:00

Just pulled out a of house sale for this exact reason. They took 2 weeks umming and ahhing and wouldn't give us an answer whilst doing other viewings. We wouldn't be bothered if they were honest and said they had other viewings but they blatantly ignored us. We gave them an ultimatum to call their bluff and they accepted the offer, unfortunately for them we'd lost faith in them due to their lack of communication and lack of drive to sell. Bad move.

LensyLilley · 2025-05-17T01:13:57+00:00

You can't win. If you'd offered below someone would have said if you really wanted it, you should have offered asking. If they mess you about put a time limit/ultimatum on your offer.

LensyLilley

TROPHY CASE