Johanna ([info]britgeekgrrl) wrote in [info]corsetmakers,
@ 2004-07-15 11:22:00
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Entry tags:laughing moon 100, patterns

Pattern Review 1 - Laughing Moon Victorian Corset Pattern
Who's used the Laughing Moon Victorian Corset Pattern? Who's liked it? Hated it? Tips and tricks for assembling it?

If you want to suggest a pattern or online generator for the Pattern Review threads, please email me at johanna_mead(at)yahoo(dot)com. If you're recommending an online generator, don't forget to include the URL!


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[info]mi_ciana
2004-07-15 11:30 am UTC (link)
I have used Laughing Moon. It's a matter of getting used to it. It's workable and steady. There are others out there, but I "grew up" on this pattern. So it's the most familiar. Mainly beware of seem allowances. Otherwise, my suggestion is to try it out. The fitting, as always, is the most difficult with this pattern. Good luck.

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[info]nasagrl
2004-07-15 11:30 am UTC (link)
I used it once, and I liked it, but it was my first corset ever, and I wasn't really sure what I was doing.

The directions are very clear, and the pictures also seemed quite clear.

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[info]britgeekgrrl
2004-07-15 11:36 am UTC (link)
I've used the Laughing Moon pattern a lot - almost exclusively for Victorian corsets, in fact, and I like it. It's what I always recommend as a 'first corset' pattern for anyone.

The instructions are clear, and make a point of warning you not to skip certain steps just because they don't seem so useful.

Don't bother tracing the boning channel lines when you're cutting the fabric, it's just time-consuming aggravation. Keep the paper around as a reference, but eyeball the channels as you're assembling the corset.

The corset fit me well going by my measurements and adjusting for my petite height - although I thought the bust-gore version ran a little big in the bosom. The corsets are designed to be *fully closed* at the measurements given (as my experience has been, ate least) so if you're looking to tight lace, make the pattern at least one size smaller than your measurements (ie, if the instructions say you're a size twelve, make it a size ten - but take care to keep the length of the garment correct whilst you're at its)

And, of course, always do a muslin, first!

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[info]moizissimo
2004-07-15 12:02 pm UTC (link)
Sarah has a great comparison of the Silverado w/a purchased corset here.

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Silverado vs. Dore
[info]ophymirage
2004-07-15 12:22 pm UTC (link)
Agreed on Johanna's muslin comment, with the caveat that I did *multiple* muslins with Kayta's help. :-) But since I wanted to be able to dance in it, 12 hours a day at Fezzies, it had to fit phenomenally well. Those making "show" corsets may not need to take so much trouble.

I did use the boning channels as they sat on the pattern, but they come out to "1 on the seam, 1 in the middle" which I guess is standard/proper boning anyway.

Also experienced the large bust-gore issue - which was bloody surprising, given my size. :-) since I wanted the corset to squish the boobs up in proper Victorian fashion, I eventually ended up taking out 1 of the 2 gores on each side. If you want your boobs to just sit in cups, costume/lingerie-style, rather than be tight-laced up, you might build the full gore in.

When I built it, I built a gap into it of about 3" when laced. Lost enough weight during Fezzies that it shut by the end of season. I also adapted it to be longer in front (a little closer to Edwardian style), which I would not do again, as it made sitting down kind of uncomfortable. And it's unnecessary, since hoops cover the lower belly I was trying to flatten anyway.

Overall, an _extremely_ comfortable corset to wear for long periods of very active time. I LOVE lacing it on. I'd built one corset previously, LONG time ago, so was familiar with basic theory, but the pattern was very easy to work with! (I've done a good bit of historical costuming, though, so take that for what it's worth.)

I will certainly use this corset pattern again - in fact, I'm building a new one for new Dickens Faire season. sadly, I can't find the final version of my muslins from last time, so I'll have to build 'em up again. This time I will probably do the Dore again, keep the hip gores from last time, but leave the bust gores out entirely. Or put in 1 front, instead of 1 side (removed the wrong one last time, and it looks just slightly weird.)

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[info]purplecleo
2004-07-15 12:25 pm UTC (link)
I just posted my findings with this pattern so far here.

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[info]kehua
2004-07-16 12:53 am UTC (link)
I've used this pattern a number of times, and I've found it one of the best patterns I've ever worked with. The only problem I had with it initially was the size difference between US/Australian sizings, but after making a number (grr!) of muslins this problem was alleviated.

I found the instructions clear and precise, and the tips to be invaluable.

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[info]miss_tori_jones
2004-09-01 06:17 am UTC (link)
I have made the Silverado corset as the other does not accommodate my large bust size....I found the gores for the silverado corset to be all wrong. IF you go by your size and use the gores as specificed the bust will be too big. I used gores that were 1-2 sizes smaller than I *should* have based on my cup size.

Still not exactly the type corset I am looking for, but I am working on getting a custom pattern that will be what I want.

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Fitting in the Bust for Dore or Silverado
[info]allusionist2day
2006-01-19 06:55 pm UTC (link)
I've made only the Dore and have refined it several times. I still can't get the tightness in the bust area that I want without having to draw it in. I've cut the fitting muslin down to a B cup and it's still a little to much room. Which is weird because I'm a C-D cup. Although I'm a size 30 in clothing the 28 fits in the waist and the hip. So can someone tell me what to do with the bust area should I trim it another 2-3 inches or just make my seams a little larger on top?

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[info]maggishness
2006-05-01 02:27 am UTC (link)
I know this is an ancient thread, but in case people come back here looking, I thought I'd add this link:
http://trulyvictorian.netfirms.com/LM100.html
It has a good review of the pattern and more importantly a good guide to choosing size.

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[info]goatsfoot
2007-07-11 02:32 am UTC (link)
Laughing Moon have now put out a supplement for sizes 26 - 40 (Hip/Waist/Bust 50/40/48+) for the Dore corset, cups B - D. It's available on their website for $2 and is front of me on the desk just arrived. In fact (shhh!!) it looks like the complete pattern for Dore (3 back panels, 2 front panels each for B,C,D), minus the written instructions.

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[info]goatsfoot
2007-07-11 02:37 am UTC (link)
oh yeah and the cup size isn't really matching "modern" cup sizes, it's more about bust to waist ratio. so my guess is that B cup for a woman size 26+ would be someone with smaller breasts for her size than average, rather than "tiny" breasts!

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