Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Anytime historical fashion can be made a little simpler, it's a good thing. These are the 15 historical sewing techniques that I feel are must-knows, certainly learning can make your creative journey easier.
I've just passed the 1-year mark of my sewing journey, and I've been reflecting upon and taking careful note of what construction methods keep showing up again and again (specifically for 18th century fashion and 19th century fashion). Upon examination of my notes, these are the techniques that I feel I constantly see, and if you enjoy historical sewing from these periods as well, there's a good chance you'll come across these methods too.
🕯 Support my art on Patreon: patreon.com/vbirchwood
✨ Leave a donation: ko-fi.com/vbirchwood
🌙 Books I read, supplies I use, gear I film with (affiliate links): amazon.com/shop/v.birchwood
🪡 Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/vasibirchwood
📖 Business inquiries: sofie@helmtalentgroup.com
While I won't be demonstrating every single technique, I do mention other videos I've shot in the past that do explain some of them in greater depth, and down below I've included videos that have helped me in my first few months of historical sewing.
Hand Stitching:
My 7 Essential Hand Sewing Stitches video - youtu.be/QB-iDDvAZhM
Lining Garments the Historical Way:
I explain these in the video. In summary;
For the "Georgian Method", wrong sides to wrong sides, place your lining against your fashion fabric and slightly stagger the edges so the lining is just a tiny bit smaller and further from the edge of the fashion fabric. Whip stitch all around the edges being sure not to go out onto the right side of the fashion fabric (stitching into the fold essentially).
For the "Victorian Method", cut a duplicate of your fashion fabric piece in your lining and flatline your pieces by basting them together, wrong sides to wrong sides, and treating them as one. The seam allowances will be exposed and you'll need to finish them using a method like whip stitching or with a silk binding.
Pleating:
For knife pleats and box pleats - youtu.be/w2XNjSNPlGA
For cartridge pleats - youtu.be/EqtDbM1ZQrM
Shortening or Lengthening the Torso of Your Pattern:
This video was helpful - youtu.be/0UfhQaHKZ_Q
The English Stitch:
I explain this briefly in the video, but here is a full tutorial I made on the stitch - youtu.be/zN1MaEV6pvU
Constructing Princess Seams:
This was a helpful video - youtu.be/djduB8IGqmc
Stroked Gathers:
youtu.be/__zWnZFta5U
Pattern Matching:
youtu.be/Rfj4S1FBv3g
youtu.be/oCH7oHQfSl0
youtu.be/lH4i94wdvU4
Piecing:
My tips are, make sure you always leave enough seam allowance to connect the two pieces and try to choose areas that will be the most inconspicuous if possible.
Preparing Fabrics for Sewing:
My Fabrics Care Crash Course - youtu.be/laDmj17cYSk
Two-Piece Sleeve Construction:
youtu.be/4ldQjyTbgFI
Grading and Scaling Patterns:
This one is quite complex and really depends on what you need to do. Here are some helpful videos -
youtu.be/9NMIIFLuX5M
youtu.be/EFT5Hv-3JwE
youtu.be/xQhIL0n2RdA
youtu.be/2lE72BSQ_VA
youtu.be/lGVTgXftt9U
Time Stamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:52 Technique No. 1 & 2
4:08 Technique No. 3 & 4
5:40 Technique No. 5 & 6
7:24 Technique No. 7 & 8
8:30 Technique No. 9 & 10
9:22 Technique No. 11 & 12
10:47 Technique No. 13 & 14
11:39 Technique No. 15
12:40 Conclusion & End Screen
All music is from Epidemic Sound.
#HistoricalSewing #MustKnows #HistoricalFashion
Anytime historical fashion can be made a little simpler, it's a good thing. These are the 15 historical sewing techniques that I feel are must-knows, certainly learning can make your creative journey easier.
I've just passed the 1-year mark of my sewing journey, and I've been reflecting upon and taking careful note of what construction methods keep showing up again and again (specifically for 18th century fashion and 19th century fashion). Upon examination of my notes, these are the techniques that I feel I constantly see, and if you enjoy historical sewing from these periods as well, there's a good chance you'll come across these methods too.
🕯 Support my art on Patreon: patreon.com/vbirchwood
✨ Leave a donation: ko-fi.com/vbirchwood
🌙 Books I read, supplies I use, gear I film with (affiliate links): amazon.com/shop/v.birchwood
🪡 Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/vasibirchwood
📖 Business inquiries: sofie@helmtalentgroup.com
While I won't be demonstrating every single technique, I do mention other videos I've shot in the past that do explain some of them in greater depth, and down below I've included videos that have helped me in my first few months of historical sewing.
Hand Stitching:
My 7 Essential Hand Sewing Stitches video - youtu.be/QB-iDDvAZhM
Lining Garments the Historical Way:
I explain these in the video. In summary;
For the "Georgian Method", wrong sides to wrong sides, place your lining against your fashion fabric and slightly stagger the edges so the lining is just a tiny bit smaller and further from the edge of the fashion fabric. Whip stitch all around the edges being sure not to go out onto the right side of the fashion fabric (stitching into the fold essentially).
For the "Victorian Method", cut a duplicate of your fashion fabric piece in your lining and flatline your pieces by basting them together, wrong sides to wrong sides, and treating them as one. The seam allowances will be exposed and you'll need to finish them using a method like whip stitching or with a silk binding.
Pleating:
For knife pleats and box pleats - youtu.be/w2XNjSNPlGA
For cartridge pleats - youtu.be/EqtDbM1ZQrM
Shortening or Lengthening the Torso of Your Pattern:
This video was helpful - youtu.be/0UfhQaHKZ_Q
The English Stitch:
I explain this briefly in the video, but here is a full tutorial I made on the stitch - youtu.be/zN1MaEV6pvU
Constructing Princess Seams:
This was a helpful video - youtu.be/djduB8IGqmc
Stroked Gathers:
youtu.be/__zWnZFta5U
Pattern Matching:
youtu.be/Rfj4S1FBv3g
youtu.be/oCH7oHQfSl0
youtu.be/lH4i94wdvU4
Piecing:
My tips are, make sure you always leave enough seam allowance to connect the two pieces and try to choose areas that will be the most inconspicuous if possible.
Preparing Fabrics for Sewing:
My Fabrics Care Crash Course - youtu.be/laDmj17cYSk
Two-Piece Sleeve Construction:
youtu.be/4ldQjyTbgFI
Grading and Scaling Patterns:
This one is quite complex and really depends on what you need to do. Here are some helpful videos -
youtu.be/9NMIIFLuX5M
youtu.be/EFT5Hv-3JwE
youtu.be/xQhIL0n2RdA
youtu.be/2lE72BSQ_VA
youtu.be/lGVTgXftt9U
Time Stamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:52 Technique No. 1 & 2
4:08 Technique No. 3 & 4
5:40 Technique No. 5 & 6
7:24 Technique No. 7 & 8
8:30 Technique No. 9 & 10
9:22 Technique No. 11 & 12
10:47 Technique No. 13 & 14
11:39 Technique No. 15
12:40 Conclusion & End Screen
All music is from Epidemic Sound.
#HistoricalSewing #MustKnows #HistoricalFashion
