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Catherine Earnshaw’s Stays

stitch-1

SUBMITTED BY:

Leila

(click images to to enlarge)

Outline the story …

This pair of stays was one of the first garments I have ever sewn, and are also my first attempt at creating historical dress. It was a bit of an ambitious project, but I was adamant about making the best stays I could so that I would be able to gain as much experience and knowledge as possible through the journey. When I found out about this contest, I was ecstatic, especially considering Classic Literature is one of my favorite things ever! I already had the stays done at that point, so the only thing left was to find a book or story that could relate best, and while I looked through my book collection, my eyes locked on my copy of "Wuthering Heights"- a perfect match! Not only does the basis of the story take place in the late 18th century, but these stays fit the character of Cathy Earnshaw perfectly. She was known to be vain and self-centered, and I thought is appropriate that she would have a beautiful design on everything, even her stays, which nobody would even see! I definitely see these to be Cathy’s stays.

Outline the construction…

The construction on these took a bit of a while, but that was only because they were completely hand-sewn as well as made during a time when I was in school. It took about a month to make them completely. This was my first pair of stays, so I learned new things about sewing techniques, adding linings, making eyelets, and binding, which brought about a love of staymaking and corsetmaking for me. The main resources I looked at were American Duchess on youtube, considering these stays were based on one of their own patterns, as well as other channels on youtube like Bernadette Banner’s, of whom I am a huge fan. I wanted to learn as much as possible about how to make these stays the best I could, so learning as much as possible was a huge part of the process.

COMMENTS

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20 Comments

  1. Avatar TERRI BLEN PARKER on March 11, 2021 at 8:47 pm

    Absolutely beautiful! I appreciate every detail, including the fabric selection. Just attempted my first stay done in denim, lined with muslin. Yours is gorgeous with bottom tabs and shoulder bows!.Good job.

  2. Avatar Elowen Blackthorn on March 12, 2021 at 1:16 am

    Beautiful set of stays! Well done indeed, especially for first ever set!!!

  3. Kitty Mortensen Kitty Mortensen on March 12, 2021 at 8:07 am

    Well done, loving the fabric choices for this!

  4. Avatar Melanie on March 12, 2021 at 4:56 pm

    Beautiful!

  5. Avatar Laurie on March 12, 2021 at 5:15 pm

    Very nicely done!

  6. Avatar Leora Wambach on March 12, 2021 at 7:17 pm

    Ambition looks good on you!! This is lovely!

  7. Avatar Regina Finan on March 12, 2021 at 7:20 pm

    It’s so pretty! Congratulations on such a lovely piece.

  8. Avatar Robyn Platz on March 13, 2021 at 12:33 am

    Wow you’re so talented!! 🙂 absolutely stunning!!

    • Avatar Vanessa Knobel on March 20, 2021 at 8:58 am

      Beautiful work, I love the fabric choice! I was shocked to read that this is one of your first projects, you are very gifted!

  9. Avatar Valerie Meachum on March 15, 2021 at 1:05 am

    Nothing like diving right into a challenge, and you have definitely done so with a splash! Beautifully done.

  10. Avatar AnnaCatherine Sendgikoski on March 20, 2021 at 4:00 am

    Well done, brava! I love these! I really love that fabric as well! When I venture out and make my first set of stays, they sure as heck won’t look this good! Thank you!

  11. Avatar Pentti Lahti on March 20, 2021 at 9:24 pm

    Full respect on sewing these completely by hand! Must have taken a lot of patience. Lovely work!

  12. Avatar Laura Ingalls Gunn on March 21, 2021 at 10:49 pm

    Such amazing work! I adore all the details. Bravo!

  13. Avatar Stephanie Murison on March 23, 2021 at 5:05 pm

    I’m blown away! This is an amazing pair of stays, I can’t believe you’ve never made any before! The shape is gorgeous, the placement of the eyelets is even and regular, the floral fabric is lovely, and well done for sewing them all by hand! Delightful work!

  14. Avatar Benigna on March 23, 2021 at 6:27 pm

    This looks wonderful! I really like the fabric you used.

  15. Avatar Nora Wickman on March 25, 2021 at 1:14 am

    Fantastic! These are lovely!

  16. Avatar Carol Phillips on March 27, 2021 at 1:01 am

    Seconding others on excellent workmanship and excellent fabric choices. Outstanding work.

  17. Avatar Kikkii von Fustian on March 29, 2021 at 10:17 pm

    These are super cute! 🥰🥰

  18. Avatar Nina Martin on March 29, 2021 at 11:24 pm

    You did a marvelous job! And I can totally picture Cathy wearing them.

  19. Avatar Leah on April 1, 2021 at 3:36 pm

    No way you’re a beginner~! There’s hope for me~ Beautiful.

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