Coutil Question

[Miss Credit]

I just got my pattern in the mail today from Betsy for a pair of corded stays. She gave me detailed instructions on which types of materials to buy and how much and one of them was coutil, and she recommended farthingales online. I went there and was shocked to see the cheapest kind being $30 a meter! Im not exactly tight with my money but wowza I wasnt expecting that much. I was just wondering where you ladies buy your coutil or if any of you know a good substitute thats a bit more reasonable?

[cosmoblue]

I didn't use coutil for my stays, I used canvas. I think that a lot of people choose not to use coutil for regency stays.

Richard the thread has some for $11.90 a yard with a 5 yard minimum.
richardthethread.net/index.php?src=directory&view=shop_richard&srctype=display&id=100&category=Corset%20Supplies
www.richardthethread.com/index.php?src=gendocs&link=resources_coutil

[Val]

I've used a good sturdy twill or denim, denim being the most popular substitute that I've seen.

[Mrs Parker]

There's also cotton duck. It's the same sort of twill/denin/canvas-type fabric. I used coutil once and didn't see any advantage.

[aylwen]

I use both coutil and cotton duck. The main difference is the weight - coutil is much thinner for its strength. I still prefer the look of coutil.
Cheers, Aylwen

[dawnluckham]

Yes, coutil is expensive by the yard and meter, but you need to remember you’ll probably only need one yard or meter. So when you think of it this way, $30 for the fabric for your stays isn’t that much.

I find to make a nice pair of stays, the costs for materials run from $40 to $60 (depending of course, on the pattern, the materials needed, the size). I can’t make them for less. Lots of people say they can save money here and there by using different types of materials (cable ties for boning etc.) but I prefer to use good quality materials.

I like coutil. I’ve used other types of fabrics, but I still prefer coutil. Coutil is firmly constructed with a herringbone weave to give almost no stretch at all. As Aylwen mentions, it’s lighter weight than duck or even some denims but is a firm fabric specially designed for corset making. I’ve had an ongoing curiosity if our modern “ticking” is similar to older coutil (I’ve not found ticking and coutil to be the same in my fabric store comparisons). “Coutil” is French for “ticking” and ticking does have the herringbone weave. If you find a good firm, non-stretch ticking, it might work just as well for staymaking.

Compare the cost of custom made stays (over $300.00) or ready made stays at $270.00. www.periodcorsets.com/865.html?store_products_id=16 to the final cost of your own stays – made to fit you personally at $40-$60. I think it’s a pretty good deal!

[Miss Credit]

Thanks ladies!
I guess I wasnt thinking about how much I would really need to make my stays. I found a place where I can get coutil for 20 something a yard, and needing only a yard I guess thats not bad at all, but I may just go ahead and use duck.