Sew with Alice: Basic Corset Making Workshop

Build your own corset.  Never used bones and grommets before? This class will get you started with the basics of corset making and boned bodices. 

In this 4-week class you will make a decorative corset* used for fashion and costumes. You will be introduced to boning and the various types and uses. Alice will teach you the basics of using structural fabric to flat line garments, adding bones in various ways and adding grommets to lace a garment.

Alice, your instructor, is a professional costume maker for opera, theatre, film, and tv. You may have seen Alice’s work at Pacific Opera Victoria, the Belfry, or RuPaul’s Drag Race. Alice passes on her love of sewing through teaching sewing and costume making.

*The pattern for the corset in the pictures will be provided.  If you have a simple boned & laced corset/bodice pattern you would like to use instead, please get approval.   You may have to supply additional materials and do homework outside of class to finish by the last class. 

Skill Level: Advanced beginner - Intermediate

Skill requirements:

Have sewn a few garments projects on your own, basic sewing experience (knowing how to thread and use a sewing machine, wind a bobbin, construct simple seams, and be familiar with sewing terminology such as right sides of fabric together and seam allowances.

Must be aged 16+


You will learn:

• Basic knowledge for corsets and boned bodices

• How to flat line 

• How to sew in bone casing, and cut boning

• Fitting a garment with lacing

• How to bind the edge of a corset

• How to put in eyelets and grommets

• Learn the fit as you go method specific to corset making

We supply:

• Machine, if you are not bringing your own 

• Recirculated fabric 

Included in the cost of the course:

• Corset Pattern

• Boning

• Grommets

• Lacing

You bring:

• Thread - the colour of the outside of the corset & bias binding

• ½ meter 55” wide or .8 meters of 45” wide of non-stretch cotton twill or denim*, medium to heavy weight. *You can bring in an old pair of non-stretch jeans. 

• Equal amount of non-stretch cotton, linen, or other natural fiber fashion fabric for the outside of the corset 

• Equal amount of non-stretch cotton or lining for the lining 

• Equal amount of non-stretch cotton, linen or other natural fiber fabric for the outside of the corset

• Cotton bias binding or .3 meters of cotton fabric for the binding 

• (Fabrics can be picked out from our recirculated fabrics) 

***Please buy/pick out your fabric and supplies in advance. If you are using any of our recirculated fabric be sure to come see what we have in advance, so make sure we have what you want. We strongly recommend you wash and dry your fabric in the same way that you will wash and dry your garment to pre-shrink your fabric. ***


We offer a 20% student discount on supplies. You also receive 20% off at Gala Fabrics and Buttons and Bows for your supplies.