I had a lovely response today from one of my patrons on Patreon that brought a tear to my eye;

''Fantastic customer service! You always go above and beyond expectations. Every corset pattern I've made from you is lovely. Your directions are amazingly descriptive as well including pictures. I simply cannoy explain how much I appreciate you and your talent! Your Patreon is the best $5 I can spend.

You can quote me on that!❤️''

Danyette Rosenbusch 

I decided on a bodysuit for the foundation garment as my intention was to create a pattern for my Patreon patrons and I hadn't made a bodysuit for a couple of years. I also like the way the bottom of the centre front is pulled downwards in these designs - a nice smooth silhouette and no 'overhang' to contend with.

At first I made the design very high cut over the thigh but the flesh containment was insufficient so I added a hip gusset. Overall it's an unusual design - I wanted long boning channels that angle into the gusset from the bust and other angled channels that are evocative of bracing struts in building structures. A curved covering channel in the same silver leather around the hip gusset seams further adds to this effect.

This is only the foundation of my piece but I wanted to complete it and photograph it so I can market the commercial pattern. It meant I had to line the very sheer bobbinet (double layered) at the front which presented its own problems and added more time than I would have liked, mainly be dent of the lining being seen through the bobbinet and therore having to be exacty matched with no seam allowances showing.

Here is the garment - hopefully giving the industrial feel I was trying to achieve;

I have deliberated for months about the subject of this year's competition. The theme, architecture, covers so much. The possibiities! In the end I think I am going to focus on one of my favourite buildings from one of my favourite eras - the Chrysler building in New York.

My idea is to make the foundation garment (which will also be the pattern of the month for my Patreon platform) that will emulate the building structure - the skeleton - and then apply some artwork. Corsetry mimics architecture - the shape and bones creating the foundation from which to hang the decorative elements. I have some incredible lazer cut silver leather that gives the impression of steel supports;