This pattern is great if you have broad shoulders and wear no corset. If you are curvy, be prepared to take in the waist. Do not be alarmed. This pattern is forgiving and it’s a great pattern to start from if you want to draft your own late 19th c. bodices. The collar may be a bit high for some people. The tails lay out fine over a bustle. The construction techniques are invaluable. Some tips: make a muslin first. If you are lazy (I can be), you may use your altered muslin for the lining. If you are really in a hurry, but don’t want a bunch of raveling, unfinished edges on the inside, then ignore half the instructions and do this: make sure have a good fit (!) and then make up the bodice lining and outer fabric separately. Machine sew the casing for the steel bones to the wrong (raw edges) side of the lining. Add the sleeves as described in the instructions. If you’re using this quick method, tacking the two layers together down the center back is a good idea.
Rated 3 out of 5
Trystan L. Bass –
A nice, basic bodice pattern. Good instructions, but the pattern is a bit tricky with all the curved seams. I eliminated the tails in back and rounded out the hem so that it would sit nicely on a bustle. The bodice would work well in heavy wool for winter or a lighter fabric for a summer day bodice.
Rated 4 out of 5
Denise Lorraine –
Good pattern; well drafted. Good instructions. I didn’t have any problems. Not for beginners but, it’s a good first Victorian/Edwardian bodice for intermediate level sewers. The finished bodice fits well and is attractive. In the attached images, Dilys Brighty-Schmidt models the bodice Denise made.
Rated 4 out of 5
Maggie Heriensky –
I had lost the directions and still managed to put together a really nice jacket. I’ve done it three times, for three different people and have had no problems. I did use modern assembly techniques, however, since I didn’t have the directions. I didn’t use the boning in the assembly, but the ladies all wear corsets and I used a very heavyweight upholstery fabric, so it looks nice.
Sorrel Smith –
This pattern is great if you have broad shoulders and wear no corset. If you are curvy, be prepared to take in the waist. Do not be alarmed. This pattern is forgiving and it’s a great pattern to start from if you want to draft your own late 19th c. bodices. The collar may be a bit high for some people. The tails lay out fine over a bustle. The construction techniques are invaluable. Some tips: make a muslin first. If you are lazy (I can be), you may use your altered muslin for the lining. If you are really in a hurry, but don’t want a bunch of raveling, unfinished edges on the inside, then ignore half the instructions and do this: make sure have a good fit (!) and then make up the bodice lining and outer fabric separately. Machine sew the casing for the steel bones to the wrong (raw edges) side of the lining. Add the sleeves as described in the instructions. If you’re using this quick method, tacking the two layers together down the center back is a good idea.
Trystan L. Bass –
A nice, basic bodice pattern. Good instructions, but the pattern is a bit tricky with all the curved seams. I eliminated the tails in back and rounded out the hem so that it would sit nicely on a bustle. The bodice would work well in heavy wool for winter or a lighter fabric for a summer day bodice.
Denise Lorraine –
Good pattern; well drafted. Good instructions. I didn’t have any problems. Not for beginners but, it’s a good first Victorian/Edwardian bodice for intermediate level sewers. The finished bodice fits well and is attractive. In the attached images, Dilys Brighty-Schmidt models the bodice Denise made.
Maggie Heriensky –
I had lost the directions and still managed to put together a really nice jacket. I’ve done it three times, for three different people and have had no problems. I did use modern assembly techniques, however, since I didn’t have the directions. I didn’t use the boning in the assembly, but the ladies all wear corsets and I used a very heavyweight upholstery fabric, so it looks nice.