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January 24th – 30th 2025

Categories: All, Previous Events

The Corsetry Retreat XL

Tutors – Elizabeth and Emma Brackenbury

The Corsetry Retreat XL was held at the beautiful Caer Beris Manor, a grade II listed building in Wales, surrounded by 18 acres of serene parkland.

Please note that our upcoming events include a full schedule of corsetry workshops and talks with experienced tutors and exciting speakers, a gallery of corsetry, as well as time to relax in the historic surroundings, meet with like-minded people, and unwind in the manor’s hot tub or beside an open fire.

The tutoring was focused on a three different skill set needed to create your perfect corset.

  • Part one was pattern drafting, and historical inspiration.
  • Part two consisted of toiling and fitting to ensure your stays fit attendees perfectly.
  • Part three focused on construction techniques where attendees could sample all the techniques they wanted to use, or the time was used to start constructing corsets.

Our XL event also had an extra two more days to indulge in completing attendees corsets with the tutors on hand for guidance throughout. As well as the workshops that you have come to expect from the corsetry retreat, we also had guest speakers in attendance – Dr Kate Cherrell, Queen of Victorian mourning culture, Jema Hewitt aka Emilly Ladybird, from Kindred spirits and DMU and Cat Miranda Ferreira, academic of the corsetry industry via live stream (due to vehicle issues preventing physical attendance).

A closeup of a female on the left of the image. They are leaning over a corset pattern and amending it with a felt-tip pen.

Attendees left the event with all the knowledge and materials needed to finish their corsets. Throughout each day they had our two experienced tutors on hand to guide them, each workshop started with a series of demonstrations led by the tutors and then workshop time where they were there to help them through the processes.

Around the scheduled workshops Emma and Elizabeth were also on hand to help troubleshoot their existing projects.

Attendees enjoyed the manor’s hot tub, extensive gardens and the communal areas for socialising.

In addition, materials were provided for the workshops including coutil, boning and busks, flossing threads and eyelets.

  • A close up of someone's hands using a sewing machine. The backs of their hands are tattooed with letters on their fingers and a large flower on the back of their hands.

  • 2 women are sat at a table and looking down at a pattern piece for a corset. They are lying the mock up over the paper.

  • A close up of someone's hands at an old Singer sewing machine. The lighting is dark and the material it lit by a small lamp that is not in shot.

  • A fitting for a corset mock-up is happening. One female is wearing the mockup and standing up, while another is kneeling down to her side and measuring the top while drawing on it in pen.

  • A long, oblong table with women sat around it. the main focus of the photograph is a sewing machine at the end of the table and closest to the camera.

  • A woman's reflection can be seen in an oval mirror. She is standing sideways and wearing a blue, tartan skirt and corset mock-up.

  • A female is sat on a sofa and holding a mug of tea. She is wearing a black skirt, and a steampunk corset over a white blowse. She has curly ginger hair and is wearing glasses.

  • A female is standing up and looking intensely at a folded piece of paper in front of her. She has her hair tied back, is wearing large, round glasses, and a grey corset. Behind her is a long, pleated, orange curtain.

  • The Corsetry Retreat Team are all facing the camera and posing. 3 people are stood at the back and smiling down at the others that are seated. The lady in the middle has a hand over her face by one of the ladies in the back. They are all having such a fun time.

  • 2 Women are holding hands and skipping off into the distance. The camera is taken from behind them. They are in Victorian dresses and in an open wood.

Want to ask about booking, or just got a question?

Just drop us a message below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.