Golden Pink sample - completed
Well, I am a tired little Sparklewren. In amongst everything else today, I got a standard-sized overbust prototype corset completed (you may remember it from a couple of months ago, it’s been sitting awaiting completion since then). It was a rush job (despite the length of time it took overall!) made simply to test the pattern, create a permanent display sample, and try out another design development.
Essentially, this piece began life when I had an overwhelming urge to use this metallic gold lace. Add in some golden pink silk and a desire to re-produce this design with an almost inverted colour scheme, and the end results are as follows…
There are a few areas which need development and improvement before I properly create my standard sized overbust patterns, but the first thing I need to do is try this piece on a model with the appropriate measurements. Then it will be a matter of tweaking some key points (eg: the bust may need to be more curved and higher, and I wish to smoothen and straighten the seam between pieces 2 and 3) and sorting out a range of sizes. I do prefer to do bespoke, of course, but I feel that a range of standard sized options for overbusts would be a useful thing to have.
Also, this piece is not for sale. As I say, I rushed certain parts of it, and it is not of a good enough quality. For example, I machine finished the binding since I have seen that technique used very neatly elsewhere and feel I should practice it. Alas, no matter what I do, my machine finished binding just isn’t good enough to make me happy.
When I make a sample like this (as opposed to the samples I mean to sell), it is essentially a glorified toile (mock-up). It’s useful and fun, but it’s starting to actually upset me slightly. Even with something that won’t be sold, I would be happier if it were the best quality I could manage. So I may have to put a stop to my quickly made, experimental samples, since every time I look at them I think, “I should have just spent a few hours more, and it would be perfect”! For this one, neater top-stitching, more boning, hand-stitching the lace down across the surface, and hand-finishing the binding are just a few things that would have helped. But nevermind, it has served its purpose. I’m looking forward to lacing it onto a real person, as I hope that will tell me some more about the pattern. For example, it is baggy on the ribs of my skinny mannequin, but I imagine that will smooth out on a person. I think the topline may need to be raised though, and the low hip may need the fullness tweaking. We shall see 
All that said, I do like it! It’s cool and contemporary, girly but not frothy. And it seems to suit Lady Decoupage quite nicely!
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