I just cut the fabric for my very first pair of stays. The pattern came from an
Elizabethan Corset Pattern Generator, and so (obviously) the shape is Elizabethan, which isn't my #1 choice of costume eras. However, the desired body shape is the same for 18th century costuming, which IS my #1 choice (flat front, conical bodice and prodigious titties), so I should be fine using one set of underwear for any dresses I make. The main difference will be in the back closure. As you can see in my icon, the back of a pair of Georgian stays laces tightly closed and looks kind of like a vest. Well, for one thing, mine doesn't have straps, but the main difference is that the Elizabethans are designed to leave a 2" gap down the center back. I'm fine with that - it allows for more leeway in gaining or losing weight. (Speaking of, when I took my measurements for this corset last night, my waist was 3" smaller than it was the last time I took measurements, several months ago. I'm still overweight, obviously, but 3" is a hell of a difference.)
I opted not to put tabs on the bottom of the corset, partly because they weren't included in the pattern and partly because I'm lazy. There were instructions provided for adding tabs, but I couldn't really figure them out, so I'll just not have tabs. I don't really need them to make skirts stand out (my hip:waist ratio is insane), so my only concern is that the bottom of the stays might dig into my hips a little. If that happens, I can always try to alter the thing later.
I'm making it with a red cotton lining and a charcoal grey twilled-somethingorother outer. (The outer is "unknown fabric origin," something heavy and synthetic in a twill weave, that I found on the $1 a yard table and bought the whole 6 yards left on the bolt. The inner is a scrap I had left over from making a tote bag; it was exactly the right size.) I'll be boning it with cable ties, and we're going to try to carve a wooden busk, if we can find a piece of oak or other hardwood that is 3/8" thick and 2" wide. We're on our way to Home Depot.
Yes, I am going to Home Depot for costuming supplies. My life is weird.
Oh - we were a bit worried about the fit, because when we had just the lining fabric wrapped around me the gap looked too wide, but when we took the lining and the fashion fabric together it was exactly perfect. This pattern generator is pretty awesome.
The best part is that since I already had the fabric lying around, and cable ties are really really cheap, this thing is gonna cost about $5 total.