Edwardian Health Corset, C. 1905/1906

I made an Edwardian health corset with external boning channels, buttons instead of a busk, and hand sewn eyelet holes (it's period incorrect, but I don't have a grommet setter or $ to get one, and sewing eyelets is fun!).

This was a project I was a bit conflicted about at first, due to my interest in history from a woman's perspective. But since corsets due receive an awful lot of bad press, I decided to investigate myself and try one out.

But disclaimer: Nobody should feel uncomfortable with their natural body shape! That is NOT what this post is about. This is about how it would feel to be living in 1905, and whether that is good or bad, I decided to find out for myself.

Spoiler alert: I did not faint, die, or get stabbed in the heart from a stray bone during this experiment.

I used the free pattern from Areana Black, (here), and didn't change much, except for using fewer bones and omitting the busk.

Each side has three metal bones, plus one feather bone (from a peacock feather). One side has an extra of synthetic whalebone, while the other has a "feather bone" from small zip ties, made using the same process. There are about 12 small buttons on the front, and I finished the eyelet holes using wicking yarn, which was easy and fun, but historically incorrect as metal grommets were the standard.

The bottom is bound with orange ribbon, and the top is finished with lace. The fabric I used was the same as for my 1790s stays, which I still haven't finished...

For the boning channels, I was lazy and used ribbon instead of bias tape, which puckered a bit. I would not recommend it. The waist tape was of the same ribbon.

I simply used polyester ribbon to lace the corset, and tried it on. It seems to fit OK, except for in the hips. I am currently in the process of using quilt batting to pad it out a bit.

The buttons seemed to hold very well considering the pressure they are under. Only one has popped thus far, and that was right on the tummy, where the most pressure is.

I used embroidery floss for flossing, a process a still haven't quite finished...

Anyway, here are some pictures!

Ugh the fit here is so bad

Also, don't tie your corsets or stays around front; it's bad for them.

Messy messy buttonholes

In the end, I'm a bit undecided about this project. But it was fun!

Tell me what you think!