Regency Corset & Chemise Class

Regency Corset Class


Regency Corset & Chemise Class 

You’ve been asking for this class and it’s now here!

Now open for year-round enrollment!

 

You’ve dreamed about dancing with Mr. Darcy…. The local historical society is hosting a summer picnic…. The book club is delving into Jane Austen….

The time has come to DRESS in the time period you LOVE – the Regency Era! 

Whether you are new to the elegant period of the early 1800s or a long-time reveler, this online sewing class will feed your need to connect to the past through the clothing. It is designed specifically for you as a historical costumer. For those who want to build a wardrobe but need to begin with the all-important undergarments! 

We start sewing the chemise in Lesson 2 

 
Through 5 lessons we’ll cover each step to making a basic Regency-era chemise and long-line, corded corset. Yes – we will go over every detail together! Lessons have 4 to 7 videos each along with an accompanying PDF handout. You get over 5 hours of video tutorials!

1814 January Red Evening Dress

Accomplish the Smooth Regency Silhouette

This is an Intermediate to Advanced level sewing class. You should have some experience with sewing clothing – modern or historical – and be willing to advance your skill with advanced techniques including how to set in gussets, fitting a mockup to the figure, and binding long edges. We will follow the pattern closely but other options will be presented.

The priority is for you to understand corset construction techniques & create the basic undergarments to produce the sleek silhouette for this period of fashion. Because we all want to look fabulous in our Regency wear! Get the underwear finished then you’ll be ready to build a wardrobe of various designs.

Come to class and focus on the specific topic of making a historically-accurate pieced chemise and fitted corset with gussets to challenge your dressmaking & fitting skills. Together we’ll explore each area to look at when fitting this type of corset as well as the various sewing methods to make it come together easily. (Just be aware that sewing all the cording channels takes a lot of time!!)

Cording detail on corset front
Cording detail on corset front

“I want to say that [the Victorian Corset] class was fabulous- nice job Jennifer Rosbrugh! It was a challenge and a great learning experience- and I will definitely be making more corsets in the future.” ~Diana Kocunik

 

Thrilling Lesson Plans Prepared for You:

Lesson 1: Discuss fabric selections, specific tools & notions, and taking detailed measurements

Lesson 2: Sew the chemise with gussets and flat felled seams

Lesson 3: Corset mockup & fitting; begin construction 

Lesson 4: Insert cording, set grommets/eyelets, sew seams 

Lesson 5: Finish corset with binding & flossing 

“I never would have done it without you, Jen!! Your videos were so helpful, as were the handouts.” ~Jeri Bills 

Regency corded corset & chemise

 

Although you’ll find a variety of Regency undergarment patterns out there I wanted to use a tried and well-drafted pattern to make the project easy for you. I studied and debated for months on which pattern to use – trust me, it wasn’t an easy decision! I was really torn between a couple of them!

So… for this class we’ll be using the fantastic Laughing Moon #115 Regency & Romantic Era Corset pattern.

Sizes in pattern – Bust 30″ to 62″ with adjustments for cup measurements up to 16″ larger than underbust measurement.

Although, as with all our classes, you can choose to use another corset pattern. But be aware that the specific steps of each lesson will cover the class-specific Laughing Moon pattern. Although, I’ve found they translate well to other published patterns.  

Corset hip gussets

Valuable Skills & Techniques You’ll Learn:

  • Fabrics to use for a Regency chemise and corset  
  • Tools used in corset making 
  • Inserting sleeve gussets 
  • Corset mockup tips 
  • Fitting tips for this slim corset style 
  • Dealing with large cup sizes
  • Inserting triangle gussets 
  • Cording a corset – the marking & inserting 
  • Binding a corset for finishing
  • Pattern sizing and adjustments
  • Finishing a corset with reinforcement flossing 

 “Jennifer: just watched lesson 2- & i MUST say thank you for such a concise video on doing plackets- i have a perceptual problem that causes me to do things backwards at times & need very precise step by step visual directions for small things like this. your vid was PERFECT! is much appreciated” ~RL Johnson

“I learned so much in this class and was really pleased with the experience. It was, honestly, better than I expected and I have made some of the best looking garments of my sewing career. I thought that any little issues, all of which were incredibly minor, started to work themselves out over the course of the class. I cannot stress how important I felt the Facebook group was.” ~Anonymous from exit survey

Jen 1800 White Regency back view

Intermediate to Advanced Level Class

If you have sewing experience but are new to historical garments, you may find this class a comfortable challenge. We’ll be following the pattern closely, but you may feel a bit behind. 

If you are new to sewing, this is not the best class for you at this time. Perhaps starting with a basic Victorian chemise and drawers class would be better so you don’t become frustrated with techniques that are beyond your current skills.

If you are advanced in your sewing skills, you are welcome! Maybe you want to try a new time period. Or simply want the class as accountability so your corset gets done. We’re here to push you forward. 🙂

No matter your level, we all have methods we can share with each other. Bring yours along to the class for full participation. 

Regency Corset front
Un-corded Regency style corset

Online Class & Workshop:

Includes all 5 sewing lessons followed with no-expiration  & unlimited access, access to instructor, connection with other Regency costumers, and two fun sewing projects!

Be part of this exciting program of online sewing lessons! To be notified when new classes will be offered, please visit this page. I’ll see you in a class soon!

Jennifer Rosbrugh, instructor

P.S. The class lessons are entirely online and self-paced with no specific day or time required to be online. You work at your own speed and schedule. Read the lessons and watch the videos when it’s most convenient for you. All lessons remain available to you after the workshop ends.

For more info on our online workshops, please read this pageNo refunds will be given for online workshops due to intellectual property and materials provided in class. Please see our full terms of service here.

Jennifer Rosbrugh, DBA HistoricalSewing.com, and Old Petticoat Shop, LLC, is an affiliate of Amazon.com.

8 thoughts on “Regency Corset & Chemise Class

  1. Karen Field says:

    I am in the process of moving house and am concerned about starting this class right now. Do you have ant idea when this class will happen again? Will it be in 2015, for example? I’m wanting to build a Regency outfit for the Jane Austen Society of North America’s conference either this year or next. Looking over your website I believe I can actually do that! Karen Field

    • Jennifer Rosbrugh says:

      Hi Matilda,
      Registration for the January class will open either the 5th or 6th – or about three weeks before we continue class with Lesson 2. Watch this page for the Register Now button to sign up. I’d also invite you join our newsletter mailing list so you’ll be the first to know when you can sign up. Visit this page to do that. Hope to see you in class!
      Jennifer

  2. Adrienne Unger says:

    Hi Jennifer, Can we do the workshop if we are not in the USA. Australia for example is home for me. How do we make this work, as I am very keen to do this workshop, or follow the learning in some way.
    thanks
    Adrienne Unger
    Sydney Australia
    . ps You are the best!!!

    • Jennifer Rosbrugh says:

      Hi Adrienne!
      Yes, you can certainly take the workshop from Australia! In fact, we’ve had many students from Australia and New Zealand join us in class. Vendors for fabrics & the pattern (our shop included) who ship internationally are offered, and some students may have suggestions for local vendors they’ve used. Hope you’ll join us!

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