Authentic Victorian Dressmaking Techniques Paperback – December 29, 1998

This book had a few very good surprises.1. It really starts at a beginner level, how to thread a needle, how to make a knot at the thread end and how to sew basic hand stitches. From there the book moves on to how to adjust a pattern all the way to tailoring a coat.2. Compared to later sewing books (1920’s -1940’s) this book has a lot of diagrams and even photographs which are very helpful in clarifying techniques that are no longer or not much known anymore.3. The descriptions On how to sew or put something together are very detailed but can be challenging for the modern user to understand. This is not the author’s fault, it is simply a mix of changes in language, sewing terms , names for a garment ( Waist vs Blouse) and even fabric names and notions.The modern seamstress; even those of us who do historical sewing have simply never seen or were able to look close up on the inside of a skirt hem with a dust ruffle , an enforced pleat or a flat lined garment. This book shows how these things were sewn and constructed ( Ahhh-Ha moments here).The book is not for the modern, beginning seamstress, but it is very helpful for someone who sews historical garments ,or is looking for improving technique, function and construction on a modern garment .Still helpful and useful after 115 years.

Helpful book for costumers.

This is a wonderful and useful book. But it is EDWARDIAN and not VICTORIAN. I love the instructions in this book. They are very clear, very detailed, and come with useful photographs. But the book is focused on Edwardian clothing and has nothing to do with Victorian fashion. The techniques do transfer--faggoting is faggoting and lace inset is lace inset. It doesn't matter the era in which you are working. The techniques for lace inset work as well on a modern baby's layette or a bridal veil as they do on a Gibson girl blouse. If you have any interest in fine sewing techniques, this is a great book. If you want explanations of how to make a bustle or how to adjust a skirt for a bustle, you will not find it in this book.

This book was written to teach home sewers how to make these clothes. It goes directly to specific information on how to sew seams, how to match plaids, how to make a dress form, and so on. Because most, if not all?, women would have been hand sewing at this time, the instructions are all about hand work. If you already have sewing instruction books but you would like to refine your skills in making highly fitted clothes and working delicate decorative techniques, this book is a gem. Not at all a fluff or talkative book, it is all good practical how-to info. Since I sew by hand, rather than machine, I especially loved this. The sort of info that could help make one a fine, highly skilled sewer.

I just got this book in yesterday. I have a degree in fashion design with wide knowledge of modern day professional clothing construction. However I am moving towards historic clothing construction. This book is great and shows how to construct authentic victorian clothing. However, it does not show bustles, or corsets. But great for outer wear

This is an incredible resource for anyone interested in learning how to completely hand sew and hand finish a garment. It has given me the ability to give that final authentic touch to my historical recreations. The size of the book is handy but the layout, like a lot of older instructional books, is poor. The images do not match with the paragraphs and that can be distracting to anyone who is a very visual learner. The images are in grayscale so it can be difficult to decipher exactly what is happening in the photos, especially if the text that accompanies it is vague.

Such a rich trove of information! This book is applicable to anyone looking to improve their sewing whether they are interested in historical costuming or not - many couture sewing techniques are based on Victorian sewing techniques and this book has great information on techniques (especially in getting a nicely shaped skirt and making a dust sweep/balayeuse) which I've never seen in any other book.

I love this book, and have learned so much from it. I make authentic Victorian gowns for docents and reenacters an their standards are high. They like all of the extra features that I add to my gowns that I learned from this wonderful book. The pictures and dialog are very good and easy to copy in my sewing. I couldn't do without this book. Thank you. Charlotte Callison