What do you use for your bodice laces ? It will my first time to wear garb to faire and I'm concerned that the laces that came with my garb aren't sturdy enough. ( Small silver metallic and about the size of crochet thread) Any help would be great.
I either use the cotton laces that they sell at Farthingales (a corset supply shop here in southern cali) or for nicer garb I really like the small braided cord that most fabric stores sell in the upholstery trim section and I finish the ends with aiglets, for undercorsets I just use shoelaces.
I use shoe laces on alot of my bodices, but you can use ribbon or any other sturdy string thing
I don't know about silver, but the laces that came with my first bodice were the "rattail" type of very thin cord, and they were sturdy enough to last through three or four seasons (when it was my only bodice so saw heavy wear).
Right now I'm using "craft cord," (http://www.cistamps.com/bagcord.jpg) which is crazy cheap and comes in a nice-sized skein at any craft store. It's not the most attractive thing in the world (it's all synthetic, so there's a bit of a sheen), but it works.
Shoe laces. They are sturdy and will last you a lot longer than most anything else.
I always use ribbon. haven't had a problem yet.
Mine are all a cotton cord w/ anglets (sp?) on the ends. Not sure where the lady gets them, but some of them have been through 3 seasons of faire w/ NO problems. I got a new bodice recently that came w/ the nylon cord... UGH! Could never keep it tied. So now I borrow the strings off another bodice for it.
I agree about shoe laces. Why?
1. The ends are already prepared, so you'll be able to fit them through lacing holes.
2. It'll endure basically anything.
3. And you'll get them in multiple colours and lengths at most shoe stores.
Thin shoe lace used for my Unicorn dress:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/unicorn/unicorn5.jpg
I probably should add that I've tried ribbon and that broke when using it with a corset/bodice. It also didn't lace nearly as nicely as a sturdy shoe lace. Now, for a dress over a corset? Yes, I'll use ribbon because the objective is to close the dress, not to make the dress tight or more fitted to me.
I've tried thin cords and if they are made of nylon, they will fray like anything. Some cotton ones are good but shoe laces are 1) cheap 2) easy to find 3) and very replaceable. You can't replace that cord you spent hours upon hours making with a lucet but you can replace the 60" boot lace you bought at the grocery store. Also, check out many of the outdoor stores. They sometimes sell boot laces by the foot.
I use boot laces, just like shoes laces except longer. I get the 72 in. ones 'cause I like nice long end cords.
Ditto on the shoe laces. Lot's of variety, easy to find, and made to hold. I can snug the wife up until she "Cries Uncle" without worrying about breaking one.
If you use ribbon, use grosgrain, it won't slip as easily. You'll have to figure out what to do about the ends. http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/agletrepair.htm (http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/agletrepair.htm) will show you how to make your own aglets. Satin is pretty, but won't stay tied.
Leather lacing looks good, but can get weak and break, especially when wet. If it gets wet and doesn't break, good luck on ever getting it untied.
Randal
I use mostly boot laces, but I have used cording that can be found in the upholstery section of Jo Ann's or similar. I just wrap the ends with some thread and a tiny bit of super glue to hold and works fine.
I use grograin ribbon. I fold approx 5/8" of the end over then fold in half and stitch. Makes lacing easier. I am planning on purchasing aglets, though, to make it more sturdy.
Quote from: Lady Neysa on October 14, 2008, 05:37:02 AM
I use boot laces, just like shoes laces except longer. I get the 72 in. ones 'cause I like nice long end cords.
:) ;D Me Too!
I used leather to lace up a corset but it broke in so many places and I had to have it tied in all the places. It was such a mess I had to get cut out of the damn thing..
For something cute I use cheap ribbons that I braid to make stronger.
i just purchased my first bodice and i got looking and decided that i wanted to know what it would look like with a wider ribbon in it. so i found some cheap ribbon at Michaels and totally loved the way the new ribbon i got for the sides looked that i also put it in the front. now i can't wait until April
For one bodice, I use the cotton (I guess?) cord it came with.
I've also used shoelaces and ribbon. The ribbon especially if I want to dress it up a bit.
I have those thin metallic cords in one, shoe laces in another and the twisted cording in yet another.
The metallic cords and shoe laces are wearing well and have not been replaced even though they've been worn quite a bit.. The twisted cording.............the jury is still out on that one because I've only worn it a few times. Although I will say, I replaced the original twisted cording that came in it with the current one because the one that came it it was shredding before I ever wore the gown.
I have one with the twisted soft cording with aiglets at the ends, which has been worn only once but looked beautiful and held snug for a very full day at Faire...one with a long, wide ( about 1/3") leather thong which has held up nicely for the couple of years that I've had it, and my very first bodice (purchased in 2004) that came with the thin, rat-tail type of cording that only lost a little piece this summer when DH was lacing me up, and to be fair there was quite a bit of tension on the cording (and the bodice - I'm a bit more ample now than when I got that particular bodice :o)
They've all worked well for me, I would go with what you like best (if H/A is not a concern) and just bring a back-up length of whatever you choose if you're not confident it'll hold all day...
That's a very good idea - bring along a backup if you aren't confident in the strength of your laces.
Although, if you are at faire it's not hard to find something if you do break a lace. Just about any clothier who sells bodices or corsets will have laces and usually they will only charge you $2-3 for one - if that. I've had them even give me one for free a couple of times! :)
... a bodice lace breakage would be bad on a day i'm a fairy or anytime one of my friends wears a bodice (no chemise)... So you can imagine what I was thinking at this... the puppies! they're Running Loose!!!!
Anyways, I've actually been using Military Parachute cord (550 Cable) which as the name may suggest has a tensile strength of 550 pounds.... I'm less worried about that breaking than when I walk across bridges... I was introduced to this stuff by my bf's dad who is in the Army, I use it for a LOT of things... It's nylon cord with 6 white strands on the inside that also hold a bunch of weight... You just run a flame on the end to melt the ends together..
But yeah... It's great
For Bodices, I use the cBraided cording with aglets or Bolo tips.
For corsets, I get the Athletic Shoe strength shoe laces. Haven't had one break yet.
Ice skating shops are supposed to have nice long shoelaces in lots of colors - I'll never personally be able to check this out as there aren't a lot of calls for ice skates in Houston.
Quote from: RumbaRue on October 14, 2008, 11:58:13 AM
...I just wrap the ends with some thread and a tiny bit of super glue to hold and works fine.
That is a great idea! I was alway pondering how to shorten laces without losing the ends.
I bought a wholesale lot of extra long shoelaces in many colors on eBay really cheap. I also like braiding my own cords out of embroidery floss, crochet yarn and other string. I agree that leather is not so good.
Quote from: Taffy Saltwater on October 16, 2008, 07:17:34 PM
Ice skating shops are supposed to have nice long shoelaces in lots of colors - I'll never personally be able to check this out as there aren't a lot of calls for ice skates in Houston.
There must be places to buy them on line...
Wow! Laces for PIRATE skaters! ;D ;D ;D http://www.skateasylum.co.uk/acatalog/skate-laces.html#searchlet
Just black and white, but verrrry long! http://www.icesk8.com/access8.htm
More colours, different lengths: http://www.usaskates.com/figureskatelaces.html
That's just from a quick google... :)
Now that is just what I was looking for a few months back! Regular shoelaces are not quite long enough for a few of my bodices. Never thought of skate lacing. Don't come across many of those shops in Florida either, though Inline skate shops might have them.
I've tried the rattail and it does tend to slip loose if it's relied upon to corset you in, not just to lace a bodice closed. I spent an entire season constantly retieing the thing.
Wow... I must be in a little universe all by myself, because to this date I have never found anyone else who uses MY favorite lacing material:
Double Fold Bias Tape!!!
Either buy it double folded, or buy single fold and fold it once more yourself. Put your sewing machine on a long zig-zag stitch, and just stitch down the length along the edge (this is just to keep the fold closed). This takes approximately 90 seconds. Either put points on the end, or just knot it.
It's strong, it's cotton so it holds a knot or bow without slipping, it's durable as all get-out, it's got a slight amount of give so it won't pull your grommets out, and it comes in every color under the sun! Oh, and it's cheap and easy!
I've used this religiously since I started costuming 17 years ago, and it has NEVER frayed, broken, or otherwise failed me.
I get my laces from Moresca. They are slightly wider than normal shoe laces and they come in many many many different colors. AND . . . they are very reasonably priced.
www.moresca.com
Macrame cord works as well. This is what I use on the corsets I make and sell (custom orders only).