Wednesday´s project up for finishing was a rather exotic one: a water-snake skin corset! I ordered the skin about four years ago, and started making the corset then, and as with many other projects, I come to a busy period of work, it´s set aside, and I tend to forget as new and exciting projects emerge. BUT this is too good a thing to forget!
The inside is all cotton. The downside with the snakeskin is that it doesn´t take any heat at all. Try to take it close to an iron, and it crumbles from fear. On the other hand, it probably won´t be much of a problem if you spill something on it, you can just wipe it right off!
I used the simplified pattern of ca 1850. I´ve used this pattern on a lot of other corsets. Amongst all the corsets for the “lovely ladies” in Les Miserables 2003-2004. Sewing it this time, in snakeskin, felt a bit like sewing in paper…
I had sewn the different pieces together, now the boning had to be sewn into place.
The main piece of boning is in the front and made of metal. The brilliant part is that it has it´s own little button-system, so you don´t have to lace yourself up more than once. When the lacing is perfect, you can get in and out of the corset on your own.
In the bodice itself I use a solid plastic boning I imported from Germany. I prefer the solid one to the woven plastic string boning you get here in Norway. It always somehow finds a way out of the corset and deep into your skin.
I also made the lining on a bias-tape-idea, but not cut on the bias at all, as the snake-skin is as elastic (or not) either way you put it. I am glad that the whole corset is all snake-skin, and not having to mix in other materials top and bottom.
The snake-skin is dyed petrol-blue, and the many different shades just make me happy, I think they´re so beautiful!
Now tell me this isn´t a sexy curve!
And here it is! On a stand for now, but I think I´ll have to wear this for New year´s eve. Unless anyone wants to buy it… (Terribly expensive with all those snakes, though. 13 of them…)
I can see this looking good both with jeans and a big skirt, all depending on if I want to dress up or down 
Kult, Janne!