Engineer has corsets all sewn up
May 3, 2007 
An engineer from Somerville, Massachussets, has discovered that the science behind building bridges is the same as the principles for making the perfect corset.
Both structures work on the principle of vital support, says Jim Dattolo, an engineer in New Hampshire, but a keen corset-maker after hours.
"It comes in handy being an engineer," Mr Dattolo told the Somerville Journal. "With potential issues, I look at them and think, 'How would I bone this garment?' much in the same way I would think 'How would I do this bridge?'"
Although Mr Dattolo has been sewing for 20 years, he only turned his hand to corsetry five years ago, after realising the similarity between bridge-building principles and corset structure.
The engineer says that corsets are a garment for any occasion. "Either you work in it, you play in it, or you wear it to look good," he commented.
Despite his belief in modern engineering, Mr Dattolo claims that vintage sewing books are the best for fixing a stitching dilemma. He also makes his corsets on an antique sewing machine dating back to 1913, complete with foot-pedal.
© Adfero Ltd
