Lacing Your Stays
The Essential ‘How to…’
On this page we have links to the following methods of lacing. The only one that has a correct 18th c term to it is the ‘Straight Lacing’. The others are just names that we have applied to the methods ourselves – others will probably use different words but in essence you can see the effects they create.
Please click on the links for more info on each method.
– Straight Lacing Method
. This method creates a ladder-like effect running up the opening of the stays.
– Crossed Lacing Method – Creates a criss-crossed effect evenly up the lacing section and is the one used most commonly in modern day trainers – we know we don’t really need to tell you this! This method seems to be largely not used during the 18th C. It seems to be reserved for lace-up bodices only, as you often see it in images of working class girls – a criss-cross effect between their robings.
– Double Crossed Method – A variation of the Crossed Method that creates a slightly different effect. This is pretty but we’ve listed it with absolutely no historic evidence behind it. It’s just another way you can lace your stays.
– Under/Over Method. A variation of the Straight Lacing Method but one where you keep going in through the Top of the eyelet through to the Under.
