You don’t want to skip boning if your dress is strapless, especially if the pattern calls for boning. It’s necessary to support the bodice and keep the dress from falling down. Sew it along the hips of a tight pencil skirt to keep it from riding up. It will prevent the fabric from folding and wrinkling as you move.

Hello, would you recommend the whalebone or spiral steel for a Shaheen style dress? The dress would be worn over a corset or corselet to provide the body shaping. The dress only needs the help to stay smooth and upright over the bodice and bust. Thank you so much for your very informative posts. The choice of boning material is also important. Steel boning is stronger and more rigid, providing excellent support for garments with a tight fit or heavy fabrics. Plastic boning, on the other hand, is more flexible and lightweight, making it suitable for lighter garments or those with more movement. Some dresses may incorporate a combination of both materials to balance flexibility and support.Advantages: Plastic material is extremely durable and highly resistant to washing detergents and other fluids. High flexibility. Feather boning provides a unique approach to corset construction. Made from a combination of feather and polyester, this type of boning is exceptionally lightweight and soft. While it may not offer the same level of support as steel or plastic boning, feather boning is perfect for corsets that prioritize a gentle shaping effect and light structure. Featherweight boning is a thin, flexible, and lightweight option. It is made from a plastic material, usually polyester or nylon, and is often used in garments that require gentle shaping and minimal support. Featherweight boning is ideal for lightweight dresses, such as summer sundresses or lingerie-inspired designs. It provides a subtle structure without adding bulk or stiffness to the garment. If you are using the sew-through type of boning, follow the same steps as above, cutting the boning pieces shorter than each seam by ¾” (1.9cm) on each end. Instead of sewing the fabric casings to the bodice, center the boning over the seam line, and edge stitch along both edges right through the boning. Figure 18: Sew-Through boning Also, because of its lightness, you can sew through it with the right kind of needle and some forms of boning are pre-covered with fabric.

It’s not heat proof and and it won’t hold it’s shape as well either, so if you try to iron it or expose it to too much heat, it will unfold. The Boning is available in 2 widths, ¼” and ½”. Each width is used according to the degree of structure you want to achieve. The ¼” will give light support and structure, while the ½” will give heavier support and structure. Customers use the ½” Sew Through Boning for garments such as strapless dresses or boned bodices. The Boning can be sewn right into the front seam of a princess style dress. Customers also use ½” Rigilene Boning in the lower cup of bras, for extra support. The ¼” Rigilene Boning is used for general applications, in areas that require light support and structure. The range of plastic boning on sale at Sew Curvy. All of it is suitable for corsets but in different ways and some, only as a supplement to Steel boning. This whalebone was cool because it was both bendy and strong. People who made corsets used heat and water to shape them so that they could fit nicely on the body. But as time passed, it became hard to find and cost a lot of money. Cut the boning so that it will finish approx. 6 mm away from the upper and lower seams to prevent an unsightly bulge. So If you have a 1 cm seam allowance the boning will end 6 mm below that.Below I will go into detail on how to sew 2 types of boning into a garment. The instructions will be for Rigilene Boning& Plastic Boning. These are the types of boning most commonly found in fabric stores. Tools Required Bamboo pieces can be cut with a sharp blade. Wooden strapping pieces are used in a similar way. These pieces have to be cut into necessary lengths and filed to get smooth edges and surface. You get a mix of flexibility and support with this, so you can wear it comfortably and still have the corset keep its shape like you want. Synthetic whalebone is often used in corsets that strive to replicate the aesthetic of vintage designs.

So, next time you see a corset and wonder why it looks so awesome, remember, it's all thanks to these different types of boning doing their thing! Prepare the Boning: Cut the boning pieces to the desired length, ensuring they are slightly shorter than the garment seam to allow for movement. If using steel boning, cover the ends with boning caps or tape to prevent them from poking through the fabric. Disadvantages: Very flexible, not suitable for “waist-reducing” corset. Cannot be sewn in curved channels.The purpose of the boning in a corset varied slightly from era to era. Generally, the cinching/shaping properties of corsetry puts strain onto the fabric from which the corset is made. The boning supports the desired shape and prevents wrinkling of the corset fabric. Bones, and the substances used for the purpose, are generically called boning. It is 100% plastic, safe to wash in a machine, and is nice and springy, so you don’t need to worry about it losing shape or deforming. Side by side two authentic baleen corset bones (top) and a plastic 'whalebone' at the bottom (white). The modern version is maybe half a mm wider than the actual whalebone. The boning is used to stiffen the fabric and stretch it out and even to make it stand upright. It is used to keep the body straight and erect when used inside a corset.

Boning helps a garment maintain its shape and stay wrinkle-free by supporting a garment at its seams. Or it can be used for cinching/shaping the body. While it is most often used in corsets, it can also be found in bustiers, swimsuits, strapless gowns, and in other garments that may need additional support. Types of Boning Bra-makers Tip – You can cut Rigilene easily with scissors and finish the ends with heat from a match or lighter. This melts the rigid interior strands and keeps them from poking out. Alternately, you can cover the cut end with a piece of fabric stitched over the end. Uses: Figure 14, Take the boning out of its casings. You’ll have curly plastic strips. To straighten out the boning pieces, fill a shallow dish with boiling water and drop the plastic pieces into the water. Leave the boning in the hot water for five to ten minutes, using a mug or dish to hold the pieces under water. Take the pieces out and press them flat under something heavy while they cool off. (If you’re not able to soften the boning in hot water, alternate the direction of the curl as you insert each piece into its casing so that they don’t curve the same way. Over time they should straighten out.) (Figure 14) Lastly, boning can also be placed in the hips area to provide added structure and support. This is particularly useful for dresses with a full skirt or layers, as it helps to maintain the shape and prevent the fabric from collapsing or bunching. The boning in the hips area also helps to accentuate curves and create a flattering silhouette.Whalebone is also light, easy to work with, and you can mold it with heat. Reinforced Plastic boning Reinforced plastic boning is a good substitute for flat steel boning or any application where light weight is the key factor rather than anything else.