Bodice Laces

[Lady Ellie]

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.

[Lorraine]

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.

[Adriana Rose]

I use shoe laces on  alot of my bodices, but you can use ribbon or any other sturdy string thing

[gem]

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," 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.

[isabelladangelo]

Shoe laces.  They are sturdy and will last you a lot longer than most anything else.

[Bugsy]

I always use ribbon.  haven't had a problem yet.

[LadyDracolich]

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.

[operafantomet]

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

[isabelladangelo]

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.

[Lady Neysa]

I use boot laces, just like shoes laces except longer. I get the 72 in. ones 'cause I like nice long end cords.

[Randal]

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 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

[RumbaRue]

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.

[Mistress Anne]

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.

[RenRobin]

I use boot laces, just like shoes laces except longer. I get the 72 in. ones 'cause I like nice long end cords.

  Me Too!

[Adriana Rose]

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..