[caption id="attachment_6118" align="alignleft" width="215"]
An early corset, circa 1910.[/caption]
Boning is one of the most useful yet most overlooked items of haberdashery in our collection. When you think of boning you automatically think of bustiers and structured evening gowns and of course boning is an extremely useful way of adding light structure to your formal garments and for holding in place embellishments such as ruching detail. Boning, of a sort, has been used in the art of corsetry from as far back as the 16th century when a wooden busk would be placed down the front of a corset in order to mould the upper torso into a rigid shape. Steel boning, much closer to how we know it today, was first used in corsets in the mid 19th century and today the most popular materials for boning are nylon or Rigilene and for more cost effective designs, plastic. Boning is popular on evening and wedding gowns as it helps a garment to maintain its shape and lifts the bust making it possible to wear without a bra and gives the body the desired 'hourglass' shape.
Boning is a very useful item of haberdashery for evening wear and bridal gowns but is also particularly useful in everyday clothing. Boning can be sewn along the hips of a pencil skirt to prevent it from riding up or into a wide neckline to keep it from draping and to keep pleats in place. Also useful for accessories, boning can be used to add structure to items such as hats, fascinators and bags. The uses for this item of haberdashery are endless when you think outside of the box. Our collection of boning is particularly popular with costume designers in order to achieve a period look.
Our haberdashery department carries a variety of boning and waistbands including Rigilene and Petersham which are useful for a variety of projects:
Cotton Covered Boning - this type of boning is ideal for stiffening ribs in garments, hoops in crinoline petticoats and is often used in wedding dresses.
Curved Petersham - our easy sew curved petersham has been specially created for low waistline trousers and skirts. Curved petersham requires no awkward tacking or notching and no gathering which means no ugly press marks will ruin your designs. Petersham is a versatile product and is useful for many other accessories including hatbands.
Plastic Covered Steel Boning - an alternative to cotton covered boning, steel covered boning is useful for stiffening ribs in garments and can be used for hoops and crinoline petticoats and is often used to create beautiful volume and shape in bridal gowns.
Polyester Boning - popular within corsetry, polyester boning is often used to create the rigid shape and structure of required from a corset. Polyester boning is easy to work with as it cuts and attaches well to all kinds of fabrics. A durable item of haberdashery, this is the perfect boning for achieving a high quality and professional finish to your garments, in particular evening gowns.
Rigilene Boning - eliminating the need for making your own casing, Rigilene is designed so that you can sew straight through it. Although Rigilene is extremely flexible and durable it is also unbreakable and is particularly lightweight and comfortable to wear. Rigilene is not only useful for dressmaking but can be used for craft projects for example in structural pieces of art.
[caption id="attachment_6119" align="aligncenter" width="171"]
Corsets are popular with costume makers for an authentic period look.[/caption]
All of our boning and waistband products are available to be purchased from our haberdashery department by the metre or by the roll.
Choosing the right kind of boning can be daunting and I hope that todays blog has taken some of the complexity out of this often confusing task. If you would like to venture into the world of corsetry but are unsure about how to go about incorporating it into your garments, keep an eye on our blog over the next couple of days for a tutorial from our dressmaker and expert costume maker, Zoe.
Until next time!
Calico Laine
An early corset, circa 1910.[/caption]
Boning is one of the most useful yet most overlooked items of haberdashery in our collection. When you think of boning you automatically think of bustiers and structured evening gowns and of course boning is an extremely useful way of adding light structure to your formal garments and for holding in place embellishments such as ruching detail. Boning, of a sort, has been used in the art of corsetry from as far back as the 16th century when a wooden busk would be placed down the front of a corset in order to mould the upper torso into a rigid shape. Steel boning, much closer to how we know it today, was first used in corsets in the mid 19th century and today the most popular materials for boning are nylon or Rigilene and for more cost effective designs, plastic. Boning is popular on evening and wedding gowns as it helps a garment to maintain its shape and lifts the bust making it possible to wear without a bra and gives the body the desired 'hourglass' shape.
Boning is a very useful item of haberdashery for evening wear and bridal gowns but is also particularly useful in everyday clothing. Boning can be sewn along the hips of a pencil skirt to prevent it from riding up or into a wide neckline to keep it from draping and to keep pleats in place. Also useful for accessories, boning can be used to add structure to items such as hats, fascinators and bags. The uses for this item of haberdashery are endless when you think outside of the box. Our collection of boning is particularly popular with costume designers in order to achieve a period look.
Our haberdashery department carries a variety of boning and waistbands including Rigilene and Petersham which are useful for a variety of projects:
Cotton Covered Boning - this type of boning is ideal for stiffening ribs in garments, hoops in crinoline petticoats and is often used in wedding dresses.
Curved Petersham - our easy sew curved petersham has been specially created for low waistline trousers and skirts. Curved petersham requires no awkward tacking or notching and no gathering which means no ugly press marks will ruin your designs. Petersham is a versatile product and is useful for many other accessories including hatbands.
Plastic Covered Steel Boning - an alternative to cotton covered boning, steel covered boning is useful for stiffening ribs in garments and can be used for hoops and crinoline petticoats and is often used to create beautiful volume and shape in bridal gowns.
Polyester Boning - popular within corsetry, polyester boning is often used to create the rigid shape and structure of required from a corset. Polyester boning is easy to work with as it cuts and attaches well to all kinds of fabrics. A durable item of haberdashery, this is the perfect boning for achieving a high quality and professional finish to your garments, in particular evening gowns.
Rigilene Boning - eliminating the need for making your own casing, Rigilene is designed so that you can sew straight through it. Although Rigilene is extremely flexible and durable it is also unbreakable and is particularly lightweight and comfortable to wear. Rigilene is not only useful for dressmaking but can be used for craft projects for example in structural pieces of art.
[caption id="attachment_6119" align="aligncenter" width="171"] Corsets are popular with costume makers for an authentic period look.[/caption]
All of our boning and waistband products are available to be purchased from our haberdashery department by the metre or by the roll.
Choosing the right kind of boning can be daunting and I hope that todays blog has taken some of the complexity out of this often confusing task. If you would like to venture into the world of corsetry but are unsure about how to go about incorporating it into your garments, keep an eye on our blog over the next couple of days for a tutorial from our dressmaker and expert costume maker, Zoe.
Until next time!
Calico Laine