Pink Stays circa 1660-1670

[Capt. Sterling]

Because I forgot which thread to place this in....

Right then I can read the print without specs, but if anyone else is having trouble, let me know and I will type it out...

Edited January 23, 2010 by Capt. Sterling

[Capt. Sterling]

Edited January 23, 2010 by Capt. Sterling

[Capt. Sterling]

right then cannot get the sleeve to flip...tis upside down...what you are looking at is actually the top of the sleeve where it ties onto the corset body

Edited January 23, 2010 by Capt. Sterling

[Ransom]

That is absolutely beautiful! Might even make me want to dress like a girl. Now, if I could just get my waist that small again!

Thanks for the post. It really is stunning.

[LadyBrower]

Thanks for posting all the detail pictures. They are hard to find.

They are a great example of how the boning widths varied. Some pieces in the stomacher look rather large.

Oh I love these stays... Thanks again.

[lady constance]

Captain Sterling..

1. thank you for posting this beautiful peice

2. i dont think anyone cares which posting you put it in!

3. thank you thank you thsnk you!

4. thank you thank you thank you!

5 may you be blessed for sacrificing yoru time do so... soe day , i shall repay you the time.. dont know how or when, but i shall attempt to repay!

it is just plain nice to watch the evolution of stays and sleeves over a course of time... one can almost understand their thinking..... and purpose

andi definitely LOVE that this garmnet supports that PINK was a color-- now i amnot saying it was commom, but it did happen and it wsa color used!! :)

[lady constance]

i am convinced that using a princess cut gown and tabbing it at the bottom and fabric inserts between the tabs will give the same desired effect and look......

the front of the princess cut can be elongated and then boned like stays... running the ribbing/boning as one would for our time period...

sleeves can be attached and not tied on...(arm scythes not as hard as one thinks they are-- math!}

i traced off that white gown i found... the pieces are cut/shaped closely to what i see in waughs bookand what is posted as exploded veiws of contruction and peices shape....

so to choose a fabric to demo and trial run....

any one have any caveats to offer?

advice? suggestions?

[LadyBrower]

I would advise... if you are going to do something from scratch, do it right. Don't just chop up sorta kind, this looks almost right but not really, princess cut something or other.

Kass's stay pattern for this period would be perfect for these.... because she mentions them IN the pattern, and how to do it. :-/ then you can choose a period correct fabric, and do it right from the start. When resources are available, I see no reason to make excuses why not to do it correctly.

Then... once you have done it properly, in the period appropriate way, then you can start chopping up other things and bending the rules. I was long ago taught, in my art, writing, sewing, acting, etc. That one should always learn to do it the original way, appreciate what you are doing and how it was done, and then break the rules (for artistic expression). Even modern artists study classic techniques.

But then again, if you don't want to be accurate, that's another story other story. This area, after all, is not twill, so excuse my assumptions. But that is my advice, none the less.

[Jack Roberts]

Ditto! What Lady Brower said.

[Kate Souris]

I tend to agree. Lady Brower gave the best advice possible. I am a huge advocate of doing a mock up out of cheaper fabric before cutting into the good stuff...so that is my only addition to said advice. :)

[LadyBrower]

Kate is right too, a mock for these sorts of things is a REALLY good idea.... I should do it more often. =P <br>

[Capt. Sterling]

I HIGHLY recommend a mock for the pink stays as, from what I recall from a person who attempted the pattern for the pink stays, and sent me photos of the completed project asking what went wrong, the pattern does not line up properly with the line drawings of the original as posted in the Hart and North book

[Black Syren]

Wow stunning indeed...Now if only I could sew..

[Lily Alexander]

I HIGHLY recommend a mock for the pink stays as, from what I recall from a person who attempted the pattern for the pink stays, and sent me photos of the completed project asking what went wrong, the pattern does not line up properly with the line drawings of the original as posted in the Hart and North book

I am said person that attempted the pink stays from Kass's pattern. If you would like details, please pm me.

[LadyBrower]

After thinking on it a hot minute, I figured I may as well post my open front stays and how I did it.

First, I took Kass's pattern and picked the size that was about 4-6 inches smaller than my measurements.

Then, I chopped top- I cut off about two inches or so from that weird side top area, to make a bit of a point (this is were the straps will attach). I left the length at the bottom till I got the pieces together.

I also removed "stuff" from the center (where it would normally be on the fold). I marked about 1.5 inches in from the center line, and tapered in to the center line at the bottom (so there is a substation piece at the bottom).

Mine also lace in the back (my sad hope that I would loose weight.... *sigh*) but if you don't do that, I would almost suggest cutting the two pieces and stitching them together for the center back- or making it narrower from the center.

I boned the front parallel from the cut line, the sides are boned towards the front, vertical in the middle and towards the back, well, towards the back. =P.

Then for the stomacher, I measured across my bust, then the length. I eyeballed the curves and made it a little wide at the bottom (I have a belly and didn't want the front bending too much.) I also used 1/2 inch reed in the stomacher for strength.

And here is what I got.

I have to say, they are super comfy.

[Capt. Sterling]

Nicely done.

[LadyBrower]

Thank you, I hope my explanation was clear an "helpful."