1. How I Made My Bustier…

2. 1. First, I had a think. I planned the bustier, and chose the methods and fabric I was going to use.

3. 2. Secondly, I put my ideas to the real bustier
2. Secondly, I put my ideas to the real bustier. I made all of the panels separately, leaving space around the edges, so I could cut out the shapes later on. I made sure that the pieces were big enough, and I left the beading until later on.
Reverse appliqué
Hand Stitching
Free Machine Embroidery
Appliqué
Tucks

4. 3. Next, I made the lining. I cut out the shapes for each piece, and cut out the notches where required. I started with the front panel and the side front panel. then joined the two right sides together with pins. I used the guide of the measurement on the sewing machine, and sewed 1.5cm into the edge of the fabric. With stitch length 2.5. I matched the notches together on each piece before I sewed them, and this ensured that I was sewing in the right place.

5. A Notch
4. Then, I did the same step with the outside bustier pieces as I did with the lining. I tacked some of the sides together before sewing them, because the fabric was so sheer.

6. 5. After completing both the lining and front piece, I did the straps
5. After completing both the lining and front piece, I did the straps. I made the design using machine embroidery, and then cut out both the lining and the front piece. I then pinned them right sides together, and left one end free. I then used the sewing machine to sew 1.5 cm from the edge, carefully missing the top edge. This is used to turn the work in the right way. I didn’t need to sew the raw edges up after I had finished, because I could put them in the bustier as I sewed that up.

7. 6. Next, I had to sew the whole thing together
6. Next, I had to sew the whole thing together. So, you should now have 2 separate pieces and the straps. First, you pin the straps onto the front piece of bustier, where they will be when they are finished. The two right sides should be together, like in figure A. Then, when that part is securely pinned, place the lining fabric over the top, with the wrong side facing upwards. Now, you need to pin all the seams together along the edge, but leaving a gap at one of the ends, big enough to get a hand through. This is to turn the bustier inside out when it is all sewn up. Sew on the machine a line all the way around the outside of the bustier, 1.5cm from the edge. A

8. 7. When I had done this, and turned the bustier inside out, I put on all of the beads I wanted. I did this when the gap was open, because I could get the needle up and under the fabric easier. I had to use a really fine needle to do the beads on the butterfly’s trail, because the hole in the bead was so tiny!

9. 8. Following that, the gaping hole in the end of the bustier needs to be sewn up. I did this by hand, but it can be done by machine. You just need to iron it and pin it down ready for sewing. When this is complete, at this point, the straps are still hanging loose, and I just attached them to the back of the lining, and did a few neat lines on the machine to finish these off.

10. Finally, I had to make a fastening at the back of the bustier
Finally, I had to make a fastening at the back of the bustier. I chose to thread ribbon through button holes. I chose how many button holes I was going to have. When I had done all of them, and cut out the middle of them all, I threaded the ribbon through.