16TH BIENNIAL TECH EXPO DISPLAY AND CATALOG Figure 4 - Front of finished corset Figure 5 - Back of finished corset inside, should have a long life, and resist "denting," will withstand heat (better than thermoplastic in hot warehouse). The sweater is felted so edges don't ravel. The sweater is already in the shape of the torso even after felting. COST! Industrial felt is 3,000 percent more expensive than sweater ($150/yd vs. $5), thermoplastic is 500 to 1200 percent more. It's much easier to cut out coated sweater than cutting thermoplastic. I used 100 percent water-based coatings and was able to saturate the material (unlike thermoplastic). No need for respirator or advanced protection from materials. Cons: The drying time required to layer up coats of texture paste and sealant can take many hours. A piece this thin needs extra support, which is why I added a busk and cable around the perimeter. If I had no busk, I would use steel bones. Weights of sweater vary after felting, so you must felt a few sweaters to find ideal weight. I may use a slightly heavier sweater next time. Figure 6 - Finished corset 54 theatre design & technology S u m m e r 2 0 1 7