I have recently completed some Regency Short Stays!
PATTERN
While in researching which types of Regency stays to make for my gown, I learned of the short stays from the Sense and Sensibility Short Stays pattern, so I decided to try it myself.
(Someone else kindly made another recommendation to me a few months ago but I can’t find that comment.)
Reading that this pattern runs large, I learned that was true.
Despite taking measurements first, I learned that I only needed half the size I thought I did.
FABRIC
I used 100% thick cotton fabric, which was purchased a few years ago so I don’t remember the exact name of it.
MOSTLY MACHINE SEWN
Because the layers were dense, I machine stitched nearly all the stays.
BONING, CORDING, OR QUILTING?
There were lots of options to develop the support from boning to cording to quilting.
Since I’ve used boning with my 18th century stays, I liked the idea of trying something different.
Reading how many like to cord their short stays, I decided to try quilting.
Besides I like to quilt and thought I’d experiment.
Although I looked for early 19th century quilted short stays, I couldn’t find anything.
I machine quilted these, about 1/8″ apart, in three areas.
After trying them on, they appear to support as well as I could hope for.
LACING
Although I’d like to find thinner lacing, for now here are two bows, one to lace shut in the front and another for the bottom casing.
I’ve read that it’s not supposed to have a perfect fit but have a bit of gap in the front.
HANDSEWN EYELETS
Despite all the machine sewing, I did handsew the eyelets!
Now that I’ve completed these short stays, and my bodiced petticoat, I can spend time researching and planning the gown I’d like to wear for our Napoleonic Becoming History presentation!
