Black Corset Top

Lace up dream

Posted by Jess H.

About

Another corset top. I found a rectangular dress, from the 90s I think. made out of linen, and was able to turn it into this beauty. it looks like something you could find in Hot Topic, but way cheaper.

Share

You Will Need (3 things)

  • Bias Tape
  • Eyelets
  • Material

Steps (14 steps, 600 minutes)

  1. 1

    this is one of those weird rectangular 90s dresses. made from linen.
    long and ugly.

  2. 2

    I found the center waist, and pinched together the material (like making darts, only these stay on the outside). and I pinned them.

  3. 3

    from the center pins, I pinned all the way up, and down to the hips. as I moved up, naturally the amount of material lessened, and you have to be careful no to pull it to tight or you wont have any boob room.

  4. 4

    I marked it where I was going to cut. at first I was going to make it a strapless corset, but decided to make it a top instead. so I marked the bottom right at the base of the pins on the hips.

  5. 5

    you have to make sure to keep it a straight line all the way around. unless you go for a mermaid top look, but that is your prerogative. I then marked the center down the back where I would cut it for the zipper.
    I know I hadn't pinned yet, but you can see where I pulled it together to see how much room for back darts I would have.

  6. 6

    I cut it for the zipper, and I have also cut the skirt part off. it is now just the top.

  7. 7

    I sewed the front "darts"
    then I added bias tape on the underside of the flaps to strengthen the linen, for the lacing.

  8. 8

    I also added bias tape on the bottom hem, instead of folding it. I felt that with linen it is so prone to unraveling, that this would be better especially when washing.

  9. 9

    I wanted a separating zipper, but they didn't have an invisible one, and a normal one would just look hideous with it. so I found a fashion zipper. not what I intended but it turned out super cool.

  10. 10

    as with the front I found the center of the waist and pulled the darts. pinning up and down as needed.

    turning it inside out to do this would probably work better, but I just measured my darts, then flipped and made sure to have the same with the darts on the inside (where they belong). I then sewed them in place.

  11. 11

    on the front, as mentioned earlier. I sewed bias tape onto the underside of the flaps to strengthen it for the eyelets.
    I put the top on and used white chalk to mark the approximate spots for the eyelets.
    I then measured them to have even spacing, and from the edge of the flap to where the eyelet would be, so they would line up straight when laced

  12. 12

    I then hammered in the eyelets. I will probably be getting one of those hand held pressing things for that, I'm sure my downstairs neighbors don't want to hear hammering on the floor no matter what time of day.

  13. 13

    I then laced it up with ribbon, it just looked the best, and the coloring can be changed to go with different skirts/pants. I did not lace it through all the grommets.
    to be clear the way the flaps are sewn gives it a stationary fit. the lacing is just for looks, it does not adjust the tightness at all.

  14. 14

    I love this top. it goes with pants and skirts. from my angle my boobs look great. I love corsets, and the look of them. it fits super comfy to. for an even tighter fit I where a camisole under it, just a comfort thing (especially because I'm in marching band and keep losing weight)