1860 Silk Corset

You may remember my adoration for THIS Gold Silk Corset worn in the movie 'Owl Creek Bridge'. I had long wanted to make a silk 1860s corset - even though my research shows that most 1860s corsets were white. I probably won't wear this one very often. I just think they're so pretty! My original intent was to use royal blue silk, but when that was not available, I decided to use this gold silk that I already had in my stash.

I patterned the corset off of a Beth Miller reproduction corset that I had worn for years. That corset was purchased second hand and since I'm long waisted I had to add quite a bit of length to achieve the correct fit in my reproduction.

Past Patterns #213 Victorian Corset would be an excellent pattern to use to achieve a similar look.

This corset has two layers of cotton coutil (purchased from Needles & Thread in Gettysburg). I also made a white cotton coutil corset, so that has just two layers of coutil - one is the outer fabric and the other is the lining. The silk corset has the silk and outer layer of coutil treated as one piece.

If you're new to corsetry and you'd like to make your own corset, I would recommend attending the Genteel Arts Corset class. A friend of mine attended this class and left with a beautiful reproduction corset.

Silk Corset for Sale!

Just wanted to let you know that I've posted the Originals By Kay Silk Corset that I purchased several months ago on Ebay, as well as several other 'costumes' on Ebay - in case you're interested!

I figured that now - just before Halloween - was the perfect time to clean out some costumes that I'm no longer using! Many of those being listed were made throughout the years prior to college for Halloween, Fashion Shows, and my first Portfolio.

See my Ebay Items HERE.

1860s Silk Corset

I've been sewing like mad lately. I realized that when a friend asked me what I did all weekend and it pretty much included "In the morning, I sewed, after lunch, I sewed...and while Vince was out in the evening, I sewed."

But I've been working on lots of fun projects!

One of my favorites is an 1860s Silk Corset, and a White Cotton Coutil Corset. I'm making two. :) My Beth Miller corset has given me years of pleasure, but it's about to bite the dust. I've been dying to make a corset for ages.

I made one corset before using the Past Patterns kit and directions, but I was unhappy with the results. This time I'm armed with new directions and a pattern drafted from my Beth Miller corset. :)

Notice the supplies above - the silk cost me $0.50 + Tax. Isn't that wonderful?!?

Laying out the pattern pieces

So far I've gotten all of the pieces sewn together. Now for all of the finishing details!

The Pink Silk Corset Dream

The Pink Silk Corset Dream

Almost 10 years ago, I started reenacting the American Civil War after falling in love with the clothing of the era. I was just starting High School, and my mother was kind enough to take me to events. One summer we attended the Antietam battle reenactment. It was a huge event that year. I remember trudging around in the heat lugging our chairs until we found the other ladies from our unit who had camped out at the event. It was so hot and ridiculous just to sit all day in camp in our pretty dresses. So after awhile we headed over to the sutler area to spy out all of the best recreations. When we started reenacting we tried not to spend too much on our clothing, but I have always had a love of pretty things, so we did portray middle to upper class women with nice silk bonnets and parasols. Mmmm...silk.

This excursion to the sutlers has long been a cherished memory of mine. There I saw my first drawn bonnet and fell in love! Now I own a beautiful royal blue silk original of my own! And I'd love to reproduce it someday soon. I remember studying that beautiful bonnet, trying to memorize every detail of it. While I was in the shop a young lady in her 20s entered the tent. She was beautiful. And, she was wearing a camel colored wool reproduction of the 'Soutache' trim dress from 'Who Wore What?'! Do you know the one I mean? That stunning, absolutely fabulous dress with soutache trim all over it and a matching sash (yeah, she had the sash, too!). Wow, can you say inspiration? I remember overhearing her talk about a pink silk corset that she had recently made. Sometimes the things we imagine are far better than the originals, but I'm sure that her reproduction was stunning. The beautiful reproductions worn by that 20-something young lady have always inspired me. I wanted to be her! I wanted to be able to sew a beautiful silk corset, fashionable dresses...and she had the guy, too! That night at the dance she appeared in a stunning pale green silk dress. It was delicately trimmed with flowers and had a waistline that was straight across (just like Jo's red ballgown in 'Little Women'). She was gorgeous, and accompanied by a handsome young gentleman dressed in a black wool jacket, pants, and top hat. How lovely!

When I'm surrounded by people who care little for authentic clothing I reminisce on that girl and her stunning wardrobe. I've always secretly hoped to know who she was. Where was she from? Is she one of my peers on the Authentic-Campaigner forum. Did her dress really look as lovely as I remember? Wouldn't it be fun to know!

Working on my own silk corset has reminded me of the pink silk corset. :)

What experiences, sights, or people have inspired you in reproducing historical clothing?

1860 Corset Research Links

It's Official: I've started a new project!

I've wanted to make two new corsets for awhile and now I'm finally starting! I'd like a new coutil corset based off of my Beth Miller corset (she's my hero!), and also a silk 1860s corset. So, I thought I'd do a little more research on Silk Corsets of the 1860s.

The Blue Ribbed Silk Corset above is from approximately 1851-1860. Isn't the color stunning? I still have to determine the color I want to make mine, but this blue sure is pretty!

Here are a few more Inspiring Research Links for 1860 Corsets:

Antique Corset Gallery


c.1864 Blue Silk Corset
V&A Museum

19th Century Fashions: A Compendium

Have you seen any other links with 1860s Silk Corset pictures or research?


Update: Well, after a hard day's work at revamping my corset pattern I was able to cut out the coutil for my two corsets tonight! And, I ordered some royal blue silk on Etsy for the silk corset! I'm so glad to have another Civil War era project underway.

Originals By Kay Corset

Just wanted to share a few pictures of the Originals-By-Kay Silk corset that I recently purchased on ebay. The corset I've used for 1860s Reenacting for the past few years was made by Beth Miller Hall of Gettysburg. Her craftsmanship is beautiful, but it has seen better days. I had hoped to remedy that by purchasing this corset on ebay, but alas, it does not fit my long waisted body as perfectly as I had hoped. I guess I'll be making a corset after all. Hopefully this corset will find a home with my mother.

I'd like to make a pattern from my Beth Miller corset since it fits so perfectly.

Thought you might just like a peek at this very beautiful corset.

Kay Gnagey of Originals-By-Kay also made the corset for the movie 'Owl Creek Bridge' which is one of the short films featured in 'Ambrose Bierce: Civil War Stories'. She did such an excellent job on all of the costumes. I particularly fell in love with this corset and have wanted to make a silk corset since. For now, I suppose it will have to remain on my to-do list.