I find the process of making the corset I am making fascinating. According to the pattern, there are about twenty-billion bits and pieces, and twenty five steps. I am on step seven. But it is shaping up into a recognizable corset. It already has about four channels for stays, and it is very shapely. I've used my tailor's ham to iron its contours. I think the outer fabric I chose from my stash is pretty cool.

I kind of can't wait to get to the busk and grommet step - I'll have to set thirty-six grommets for the lacing up the back. As the corset I wore in a play in college didn't actually have a busk, the busk is a new thing for me. The one they made me at college was a one piece, laced up the back eighteen eighties/nineties pattern. And yes, I had someone lace me into it every evening for about five weeks - it was the first bit the costume shop finished, so we wore them for rehearsal starting about two weeks in. By the time the show went up we were very very comfortable in the corset, long skirts, and shoes we wore in the show. Which made the show that much better, as we had lived in the clothes for so long there wasn't any "fussing" with costumes tech week.

So as this is the first time I am sewing something so complicated, I am hopeful the rest of the outfit is easier to make. And once this bit is done, I can do one piece every few days. I am hopeful the corset will be done this weekend. Because I can't start the underskirt, blouse, skirt or cloak until I can fit it onto my body in the corset. Of course, I am going to have to figure out a small bustle for everything to fit properly. But I think I can wing it. I hope.