Bee Stays (A Regency Remake)

Friends, I have finished something I started 11 months ago! It feels so amazing to cross it off my project list, and I cannot wait to work on the gown to wear it with. 

I started with Simplicity 2890 and decided to make a longer version of the shift. Its probably more nightgown length but I planned on wearing it with longer dresses so not a problem. The stays I changed quite a bit however, omitting the front clasp busk and making a channel for a wooden busk. I wanted to give this more of a Regency feel, rather than whatever simplicity was going for. 

My fashion fabric was far too light for stays so I spray adhesived pieces onto mirroring pieces of a much stronger cotton twill. The adhesive seemed to deteriorate with handling so it's not something I would recommend honestly. 

I wanted something lighter than steel boning and more historical than plastic whalebone or zip ties so I got some flat wood for basket making and used it as boning. Chef's kiss, 10 out of 10 friends. Its light, flexible, and yet holds shape beautifully. We'll see if it holds up over time but I have the most ginormous roll of it so replacements are no big deal. 

I spiral laced my closure with cotton twill, and all my edges are bound in cotton twill as well, same as most of the boning channels. The busk is actually a paint stir stick which is a trick I got from another blogger, genius I might add too.

This is my first pair of stays or corset I've ever made, and it's not the most beautiful thing to ever be made, it made me super happy to make and test out new techniques. 

I'm trying to finish up work in progress pieces before the end of the year, so for now friends it's back to the sewing room.