mala_14 | About Time Plum Stays

Stays! With pictures! Worn with my shift from the Under-it-all challenge. You can see that I cut the back of the shift neckline about 2 inches too low. Oh well.

The Challenge: UFOs & PHDs: I started these stays all the way back in 2010. It's about time I finished them!

Fabric: Cotton twill lining, cotton pillow ticking underlining, silk dupioni outer layer

Pattern: Brown jean corset from Jill Salen's Corsets

Year: 1790

Notions: Cotton twill tape, cotton thread, cable ties

How historically accurate is it? I'm giving this one a 75%. The fabric choices are possible but the silk is an unlikely choice for the period, same with the cotton thread. The cable ties are obviously anachronistic. However, lots of hand sewing on these: eyelets, seams, and binding.

Hours to complete: Can't even begin to calculate

First worn: Last night when I finally finished them!

Total cost: Don't remember, but not much since most of it came from leftovers from other projects.

I am pretty pleased with these stays. They fit really well. The only thing is that I probably could have made them a little bit smaller and about half an inch longer. They are hitting right at the top of my natural waist. But they'll be just fine for 1790s stuff since most of those waistlines are raised anyways. If I had started these last year instead of 2010, I probably would have chosen something white to make them out of instead of the plum silk, but it looks pretty. I still need to get a thin twill tape to sew over the seams. They don't sell the right width at my local store.

Thanks for all the advice about horizontal bones in the stays! I decided to put them in. They don't change the shape at all, but they do support my bust and stop it from sliding down into the stays which is good.