The 18th century under petticoat was an essential part of everyday dress for Georgian fashion. In this installation of the historical sewing for beginners series, you get to learn in-depth (step by step) how to hand sew an under petticoat from the 18th century, which was worn under stays (early version of a corset) and over a shift (early version of a chemise) with other layers on top.

To see a video tutorial showing each of the hand stitches you'll need to make this under petticoat, please refer to this prior video:    • 7 MUST-KNOW Hand Sewing Stitches for ...  

This Georgian under petticoat is made from a warm but lightweight 100% wool flannel, which makes it an ideal option for liminal months where the weather is very much in between, as well as winter where it can be layered to provide extra warmth. If you're going to be wearing a historically inspired, historybounding, or historically accurate 18th-century ensemble during a colder month, this historical wardrobe staple is a MUST.

Historical dress might feel complicated to sew, but this hand sewing tutorial is beginner-friendly and designed for those who don't have access to expensive materials or even a sewing machine (no sewing machine needed).

It can be made using merely 1-3 metres of fabric, and in all honesty, you could probably utilise an old wool blanket from a charity shop, saving yourself even more money. While the construction and pleating may seem complex, this video breaks down the steps in a simple and concise manner for the greatest possible clarity.

To make this 18th-century under petticoat, you will need:
-A hand sewing needle and silk or linen thread
-Beeswax
-1-3 metres of wool flannel (or old wool blankets) or fabric of choice
-2-3 metres of cotton twill tape (2cm-4cm width recommended)
-Pins
-Tape measure
-Ruler
-Thimble
-Tailor's chalk (or another marking tool)
-Embroidery scissors
-Fabric scissors

The hand stitches that you will need to learn (which are all included in my aforementioned 7 essential hand sewing stitches video) include:
-Basting stitch
-Back stitch
-Whip stitch
-Felled stitch
-Mantua maker's seam (optional)

Finally, this project took me about 6 hours to complete from start to finish with a dinner break, having to film the entire thing, and also choosing to hand sew the garment, so my estimate is for most individuals hand sewing it would require around 5 hours, however, it could be shorter or longer depending on how fast you hand sew.

If anything isn't clear or concise, please don't hesitate to get in touch, either in the comments below or through Instagram/email, and I'll do my very best to clarify any of the instructions and offer up assistance.

Yours, etc.
V. Birchwood

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Time Stamps:
0:00 Intro
1:00 Stitches You Need to Know
1:28 Fabric Requirements
2:58 Materials You'll Need
3:26 Taking Your Measurements
5:14 Hemming Your Petticoat
7:03 Making the Side Opening
7:17 Sewing Your Side Seam(s)
9:02 Preparing for Pleats
10:39 Folding and Securing Your Pleats
15:04 Whip Stitching the Waistband
17:29 The Grand Reveal
18:01 Outro & Surprise!

All music used is from Epidemic Sound.

#18thcenturytutorial #underpetticoat #historicalsewingforbeginners