Neck Corset - Class with Sarah Martin

Do you like historically inspired garments? Do you want to learn more about corsetry without tackling a huge project? Then spend your Halloween with us making a gothic style Neck Corset!

In this class students will build a closed front fully lined and boned neck accessory with a lace back. They will be cutting their pattern size out to hand finishing the binding, within a 2 class - 4 hours each, sessions. The first session will focus mostly on fabrics, cutting, and prep sewing, and the second session will contain the bulk of the rest of the construction sewing, boning, and edge finishing.

Students will learn about the different corset finishing techniques for all corset types, and physically use the “Floating Lining” or “Bag” Method, with the option to do the “Single Layer - Twill Tape” if they choose. Students will learn about the specific tools corsetry uses, like grommets and boning, and how to use them properly. This class will not cover using busks. We will also go into some of the history of corsets and the different ways in which to lace them. By the end of the class, which is Halloween, you will have a fully finished Neck Corset!

There's a bunch of different types of fabrics you could choose - jacquards and brocades would provide a cool pattern, but laces would look more gothic, and velvets could provide some cool texture as well! We've got plenty of fabrics too choose from here at the shop, and you can also bring your own. We will be supplying the spiral steel boning and the pattern for the class.

Legacy Fabrics is also offering 15% off all fabrics and supplies for the class for the students!

Materials Needed (Supplied by Student):

• Tightly woven cotton fabric (Fashion) - 1 yrd per student - available at Legacy Fabrics
• Coutil, bull denim, twill, upholstery canvas, tarp, ticking, anything tightly woven (Structure) - 1 yrd per student - available at Legacy Fabrics
• Tightly woven cotton fabric, softer (Lining) - 1 yrd per student - available at Legacy Fabrics
• Matching thread
• Boning, i.e. spiral steel, synthetic whalebone, re-enforced plastic boning
  • DO NOT recommend using flat steel boning - it is not able to be shortened easily, so you have to be very precise about your measurements. 
• 1” double fold Bias tape (Fashion) - 1.5 yrds per student
• Corset ribbon, can be made or use interfaced folded 2” bias, or shoe strings, etc.
• Twill tape (Structure) - 1.5 yrds per students (if choosing this method) - available at Legacy Fabrics
• Grommets, and grommeting tools (Structure and Fashion) - 8+ sets per student
  • Silver and gold options are found at Legacy Fabrics!

Materials Included in Class:

• Boning - Synthetic Whalebone - 1.5 yrd per student

Tools Needed (Some may be supplied by class but students should also bring if possible):

• Hand Press Grommeter
  • Sarah has 1 table press grommeter with a ½” press she can provide
• Fabric Hole Punch (grommeter might have die cuts)
  • Sarah has 1 hand press die cut/hole punch
• Paper/Plastic Scissors
• Fabric Scissors
• Metal Scissors/Wire cutters (if using spiral steel boning)
  • Sarah has 1 pair of wire cutters she can provide
• Marking tools, i.e friction pens, wax pens, pencil (not chalk)
• Paper Highlighters
• Straight Pins or Sewing Clips
• Seam Ripper
• Sewing Machine with regular foot

• Class 1 Friday 12pm-4pm: Cut Pattern, Cut Fabric, Sew
• Class 2 Saturday 10am-2pm: Sew, Hand-Stitch, Grommet

A little about Sarah Martin: Sarah Martin is a local costume and fashion designer, born and raised in the Kansas City area with her B.F.A in Theatrical Costume Design from Stephens College. Sarah is a generational sewist, meaning she has stitching in her blood. As far back as her family's history goes there have been professional and home sewists. With so many influential stitchers in her life, Sarah began her sewing journey before she could read, and has since been sewing and altering garments, professionally for the last 10 years. Sarah has also spent time in the Bridal industry, learning the tricks of the trade for special occasion garment construction and alteration. In recent years she has started sharing her skilled knowledge through teaching at The Sewing Labs, local Middle Schools, and private lessons. Her work can be seen in theatrical productions and runways across Kansas City and on her Instragram SarahMartinDesigns, or on her website sarahmartindesigns.com.