Joining segments to make corset - what stitches?

[fuyuko83]

Hi all!

I'm new to the forum - so hello =) I've made a few leather projects, but usually small-scale - nothing 'epic.' I'm trying to make a simple waist-cincher for my Renfest costume. I'm working with vegetable tooling-leather.

I've found lots of stitches for joining pieces back-to-back, for instance belts, etc. But aside from the 'butt' seam, I can't seem to find techniques for stitching two adjoining pieces, at least with any sort of strength. I wondered if I could use a narrow strip of leather and sew both pieces to it - achieving a 'topstitched' look. I figured it would create a sort of faux-boning for the cincher/corset. Is that feasible? Is there a better way? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks for your time! =)

-Janice

[wildrose]

I like your idea, but honestly, my corset is simply held together with rawhide lacing on the sides, back and front. It's made from burgundy latigo - and while it tends to bleed like crazy, I use the same shirt under it all the time so it really doesn't matter.

[celticleather]

I'm not really into garment stitchery, but I wonder if this may work?. It gives quite a rigid seam, which covers the cut edges. Excuse the scruffy drawing . . . it's bedtime!

PS - It's the way ancient Romans stitched the seams on their leather tents!

Edited November 8, 2008 by celticleather

[fuyuko83]

I'm not really into garment stitchery, but I wonder if this may work?. It gives quite a rigid seam, which covers the cut edges. Excuse the scruffy drawing . . . it's bedtime!

PS - It's the way ancient Romans stitched the seams on their leather tents!

So you go through all three (doh, four) layers then? Thanks for the advice and picture =)

Edited November 9, 2008 by fuyuko83

[cris]

for corsets, the best type of seam is the flat felled type, pictured above, but depending on the thickness of the leather it may not work. with corsets you have to take into account the thickness of the leather you're using and the purpose of the corset. if your intention is to reduce measurements with the corset, and the leather you're using has a garment weight, a strength layer is mandatory, coutil being the most suitable fabric.

hope this helps!

[celticleather]

Yes, all four layers are stitched through. Depending on the thickness of material, it may be necessary to skive the edges to reduce the bulk of the seam. Never tried it so it's all strictly theoretical!