Celebrating you guys, welcome welcome. @Diana Casey @Sherry Todd I started this group not too long ago, less than 2 months and I've been building in real time, which has been fun! With lots of new things happening in the background, I can't wait to share with you all, and you guys organically finding the sewing hub, it's exciting times! Please do give our latest members a warm welcome and do introduce yourselves on our Welcome Post that is pinned 🫶 Sending smiles, Claire Amelia 🪄🪡🧵

When we look at a finished corset, it's easy to focus on the silhouette. What often goes unnoticed is the incredible amount of engineering hidden beneath the surface. For centuries, makers have searched for ways to create garments that were both supportive and wearable. Early stays relied on reed, cane and layers of stiffened fabric. Later, baleen (commonly known as whalebone) revolutionised structured garments by offering flexibility alongside strength. The Industrial Revolution introduced steel busks and steel boning, transforming corsetry yet again and paving the way for many of the techniques we still use today. Modern corset makers now have access to an extraordinary range of materials: ✨ Flat steel ✨ Spiral steel ✨ Plastic boning ✨ Coutil ✨ Cotton drill ✨ Mesh foundations ✨ Modern support fabrics and findings Yet despite all these changes, the fundamental components remain remarkably similar: • Panels that create shape • Boning that provides support • Busks that add stability • Lacing systems that allow adjustment • Waist tape that reinforces the garment • Binding and finishing that ensure longevity The materials may evolve, but the principles of structure, fit and craftsmanship remain at the heart of corsetry. I'd love to hear from our members: 🪡 Have you ever made a corset, stay or structured bodice? 🪡 What boning materials have you worked with? 🪡 If you were making your first corset today, what materials would you choose and why? 🪡 Is there a particular historical corset period that fascinates you? Share your thoughts, experiences, photographs and questions below. Let's learn from one another and explore the hidden architecture of dress together. Claire Amelia 🪄🧵

🪡 The Foundations of Corsetry 🪡 Before corsets became one of the most debated garments in fashion history, they were something much simpler: a foundation. For centuries, corsets and stays provided support, structure and shape beneath clothing. They helped garments sit correctly on the body, supported heavy skirts and gowns, improved posture, and created the fashionable silhouette of the day. This month in The Atelier Hub, we're exploring corsetry not as a trend, but as a craft. We'll be looking at: ✨ The history and evolution of corsets and stays ✨ Why structured foundations became so important in dressmaking ✨ Boning, busks and support materials ✨ Patterning and construction techniques ✨ Fitting and shaping the body through structure ✨ Corsetry in bridal wear, couture, tailoring and historical costume ✨ How traditional techniques continue to influence modern garment making One of the most fascinating things about corsetry is that it touches almost every sewing discipline. Whether you're making a wedding gown, creating a historical costume, tailoring a jacket, altering a bodice or developing couture techniques, understanding structure makes you a stronger maker. As we move through the month, we'd love to hear from you. Have you ever made a corset, worked with boning, created a structured bodice, or studied historical costume? Share your experiences, photographs, questions and discoveries below. Let's explore the hidden architecture of corsetry together ✨ Claire Amelia 🪡🪄🧵

✨ Welcome to Corsetry Month in The Atelier Hub ✨ This month, we're exploring the fascinating world of corsetry, the hidden architecture behind some of fashion's most beautiful silhouettes. From historical stays and Victorian corsets to bridal foundations, couture construction and modern structured garments, we'll be uncovering the techniques, materials and craftsmanship that give garments their shape, support and strength. Whether you're a dressmaker, tailor, costumer, bridal maker, alterations specialist, or simply curious about how structure transforms a design, there's something here for you. Throughout the month we'll be exploring: 🪡 The foundations of corset construction 🪡 Boning, support fabrics and materials 🪡 Fitting and shaping techniques 🪡 Internal garment architecture 🪡 Historical and contemporary corsetry 🪡 Structured garments across every discipline As always, our community spaces will be open for sharing, learning and collaboration: ✨ The Studio Wall – Share your makes, works in progress and discoveries ✨ Creative Crisis Desk – Bring your fitting and construction challenges ✨ The Little Black Book – Discover trusted suppliers, tools and resources ✨ Community Notice Board – Updates, opportunities and events Whether you've made dozens of corsets or you've never inserted a single piece of boning, you're warmly invited to join the conversation. Tell me below, what are you most excited to learn about corsetry? 👇 Sending smiles on this wet Yorkshire day, Claire Amelia 🧵🪄

I've been tinkering around in the background, whilst building The Atelier Hub in real time, and I can't believe how fast the time is going and what I have been learning, building and imagining. This space is for all sewing disciplines, and last month we touched on Historical Fashion, June has a new discipline coming !! (announcing that next woo woo) For now, the classroom is hidden as I build lots of lovely learnings for all us lovely sewers. So, I thought, to ask, is there 1 sewing discipline you would LOVE to deep dive into in the near future? Drop your sewing discipline in comments, what you would love to engage with and learn more about 🪡👇