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I got (bought) a dressform for Christmas, as I had gotten some spare money. The idea was/is to design some simple stuff using the dressform and also to have a check on corsets and dresses I (hopefully) will sew.

What intrigues me most is the idea of designing corset patterns, or at least find out how to make the pieces in new un-orthodox ways. Also I simply have to find out how to make a (modern) corset with bust cups.

Has anyone else tried making patterns using a dressform AND has anyone made experiments designing corsets this way?

(Has anyone an idea how to make a corset with bust cups?? )

[Heather]

Actually, someone wrote a book on designing corsets on dress forms. "Waisted Efforts" by Robert Doyle. I have it listed on the TV recommended reading list http://astore.amazon.com/trulyvictorian/detail/0968303900

I just pulled out my copy of Waisted Efforts, and there is even a section on 1950's bras and bustiers towards the back. You could combine that with the corset models to get where you want to go I think.

I got a second hand copy of Dawn Cloake's Fashion Design on the Stand a few years ago. It describes very good the progress of designing new models on a dress form, not particular for corsets but there's a chapter "Boned foundation bodice block".
I will try to add Waisted Efforts to my library, whenever some "corsetted money" trickles in.

The Corsetmakers LJ community has had several posts about designing corsets with separate bra cups. Here's a link for the appropriate tag: http://community.livejournal.com/corset ... %20corsets

You'll have to dig a little, but I'm quite sure that at some point there were some tutorials about creating a pattern for such a garment.

That will keep me busy this weekend ...

Thanks a lot.

ralph pink does it here http://www.ralphpink.com/archives/2675

here`s a better link to all the corset videos http://www.ralphpink.com/tutorials/cors ... nstruction

I managed to lay my hands on a book called Fashion Design on the Stand by Dawn Cloake a few years ago. That book describes how to design clothes on a dress stand. It is, I guess rather hard to find these days though.

I did a 5 day course on 'modelling and draping on the stand', and still use the techniques I learnt when I need to design something, in combination with commercial patterns and more mathematical pattern drafting. The problem I have with it is that my dummy just isn't the right shape - the length from the shoulder to the bust line is too short, so I can never rely solely on using the dressform. I'd love to have a proper designers dressform one day

However, if you were starting with a basic pattern that fit, and drawing new seamlines to change the shape of the pieces to make a more interesting design, that sounds like it would work!

There are methods to make a personal dressform. I tried once to make one for for my wife, but it collapsed into a soggy goo when I was lining the mould with papier maché.