Abigail Haughton is dispelling the Victorian myths of corsets being an item of restrictive torture by revealing their sexy side.

Students get to learn from the expert as Abigail guides them through a two-day course to walk away with their own made-to-measure corset.

Abigail, of Cold Overton Road in Oakham, trained as a costume maker and worked in the film industry for a number of years before having her children. The family moved to Oakham in 2006 and she set about finding a way she could use her skills to carve a new career.

Through an arts course at the Vale of Catmose College she met Abigail Bishop, the Catmose Gallery curator, and they came up with the idea of running corset making courses. Since then Abigail has taught adult education classes and GCSE and A Level students from Oakham School, Uppingham School and Vale of Catmose College.

She said: "Making a corset in two days is quite manageable. When you're making period costumes you always start from the underwear and work out so it seemed like a good choice for beginners.

"All the girls I have taught to make corsets have loved them. It's so satisfying to come away with something sexy that you've made and can wear yourself. I get girls of all different shapes and sizes but they all love their corsets because they make them look and feel great."

So far no boys have taken up the challenge of joining Abigail's classes but she hopes to find the odd few who want to make something special for the ladies in their lives.

Sewing has always been a part of Abigail's life and her passion is obvious as she explains the process from being measured up and cutting the pattern to adding the finishing touches.

She said: "Younger generations don't do much sewing anymore because it's just not a part of their everyday lives. When you can go out and buy a dress for £10, why would you bother to make your own?

"It's something I grew up with though. My mum made a lot of my clothes when I was a child and I started sewing when I was eight so the idea of not being able to do it is alien to me."

Disappointed by the sewing lessons she has seen taught in some schools, Abigail would love to see it become a more prominent feature of the curriculum with students encouraged to branch out from cushion covers and tea cosies to something more adventurous.

She said: "To have a level of skill to make your own clothes or customise something you've bought in the shops is fantastic. There are so many women who wear badly fitting clothes but don't know why they are wrong or how to change them."

Abigail (35) learnt her trade at Wimbledon School of Art where she studied costume design interpretation. She went on to design film costumes including everything from polar bears to monsters.

She now works part time for London fashion designer Jenny Packham as a student liaison officer working with undergraduates and recently took part in London Fashion Week.

She said: "There are a lot of misconceptions about the fashion industry - you get a real buzz but it is hard work.

"I'm fortunate to have the skills to do a job that I love though and one of the most rewarding things is seeing the girls' reaction when they realise they have made something themselves and it makes them look hot."

Abigail, who lives with husband Matthew and their children Gemma (8) and Holly (6), added: "The pattern I use for the course is challenging but I've never had anyone fail to finish."

She has more classes planned with VCC students and hopes to run another corset making class in the summer with a more Vivienne Westwood feel.