How to lace the corset back of a dress

Lacing a corset can be overwhelming when you first look at it. Where do you start? There are different ways to lace, just like if you look up tying a shoe... but the basic way is just like that. Imagine the back of the dress just like a long, wide tennis shoe. Below, you'll find a written description and a video if you're a visual learner! Scroll to the bottom for the video or click this link:

Preparing to lace:

There are a few choices to make before you begin, but there's no wrong choice here. You want to decide if you want to begin the laces from top to bottom, or bottom to top. I prefer the bow that you tie to be at the bottom of the dress so that the strings don't hang down and cover the beauty of the lacing, but to all their own.

Next, decide whether you will lead your lacing ribbon through the holes from inside to outside or outside to inside. (It is rare anyone will notice if you are not precise and your lacing is different, just like in shoes. It is similar to dusting your house, no one notices if its not done, but it looks better when it is. In the dress pictured here, I chose to lead my ribbon from the inside of each eyelet, to the outside of the dress.

Last, decide what pattern you will lace the dress with. I always liked the tradition of the basic criss cross, but you can follow any pattern. This basic criss cross gives you the most precision for fitting the dress to the wearer. In this post, we will focus on this as shown in the photo, but keep your eyes out for a future post about different ways to lace a corset.

You're getting the hang of it! Now it is just repeating steps.

Now that you have the straight line started, pull both ends of the string tight, and cross them to make an x. Just like a shoe, you will cross your strings and pull them through the eyelet on the opposite side it's coming out of. Work with one side, then the other as you move down the dress an eyelet at a time. In the picture below, you can see how I hold my x where my two sides cross as I put the ribbon through the next eyelet. Continue all the way down the dress.

When you get to the bottom (or top if you chose it) make sure your ribbons are tight all the way through. If not, pull the strings that are loose and continue tightening down each layer until there aren't any loose ribbons throughout the lacing. Now tie it with a bow. DONE!!! Some Tots Attire dresses have a sewn bow on the waistband. You will find secret pockets on the back of the bow. These tiny pockets are made to hide your corset strings. You can tie your small bow and then the extra strings can be bunched and hidden in the pockets so you have a perfect bow and no strings to get untied!

There is an alternate way to lace the crisscross pattern.

Follow the same first set of steps so that you have created a straight line at the top. If you prefer, you can work with one half of the lacing ribbon at a time. After you have this straight line, choose one string to let lie for now. Pick up the other (in the pictures, I worked with the ribbon on the left first and set the right ribbon out of the way. Bring the ribbon from the left across the back and through the eyelet directly under your line.

Now, bring this same ribbon across and back to the left BUT, skip an eyelet. Now repeat, bring your ribbon across the back to the right, but again, skip an eyelet. Repeat to the bottom of the dress skipping an eyelet each time.

Lastly, repeat this with the side of the ribbon you put out of the way. This time, you are repeating the crisscross, filling in all eyelets that are left! DONE!

Lacing the corset:

To start, I grab my entire lacing ribbon and fold it in half. Roughly, this spot should be in the middle of the dress. Begin at your chosen spot (top or bottom).I chose the top. If you want to be perfect, you can use a sewing pin or safety pin to hold that midpoint right in the center... but its really just not necessary, I just get it about right.

Next, take one end of your lacing ribbon and push it through the left or right eyelet. (Tots Attire dresses all use the eyelets/grommets, but some other dresses use loops. Instructions will work for both). Make sure that middle point you found stays in the middle of the dress, not all the way to the eyelet hole. Now repeat this step on the eyelet on the other side of the dress with the other half of your lacing ribbon. (Don't forget to be consistent with your choice for pushing the lacing from the inside or outside of the eyelet). You now have a straight line across your dress!

How to Lace a Corset - Video

This is the same information as above, but this is a video version to see and hear at the same time. Featuring my daughter to assist!

For more tips about lacing a corset, alternative ways to lace, and how to bustle the back of a Tots Attire dress with the corset lacing, see other blogs!