tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post5548019395401471525..comments2023-10-20T11:17:47.246-04:00Comments on Two Nerdy History Girls: How Many Handsewn Stitches in an 18thc Man's Shirt?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-72316821214024441782016-02-23T13:13:46.135-05:002016-02-23T13:13:46.135-05:00There don't seem to have been french seams in ...There don't seem to have been french seams in the. 18th C. But flat seams are common. I just learned they were slightly different from what we call flat felled, but, instead you turn each raw edge onto the RS one to the WS (since we don't have good selvedges to use for one of them) and overlap them to encase the raw edges, and then whip/hem each fold down, separately. Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13029537644437898609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-44082296625738700312016-01-15T15:28:01.353-05:002016-01-15T15:28:01.353-05:00I love this and wrote about it, too! On my one att...I love this and wrote about it, too! On my one attempt at a fine shirt, I found the number of stitches depended on which part I was sewing. I managed about 30/in. only on the backstitched parts, the rest weren't nearly as fine. I nearly went blind, though - maybe you can see why here, http://twothreadsback.com/category/19th-century-shirts/ <br />Never again! :)Two Threads Backhttp://twothreadsback.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-46343294126694060282016-01-15T09:38:13.639-05:002016-01-15T09:38:13.639-05:00Fascinating post. Absolutely agree with you about ...Fascinating post. Absolutely agree with you about this erroneous idea that people in the past didn't wash very often or do their laundry frequently. If that were true, we wouldn't see all those scenes with a laundress in them or the washing flapping in the breeze, would we? My current 18th century hero is very fastidious about his clothes. It's more comfortable to be clean. There's a reference somewhere to a man going off with the Jacobite army taking 16 shirts with him. <br /><br />Maggie Craighttp://www.maggiecraig.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-78019335212013911502016-01-15T04:43:24.667-05:002016-01-15T04:43:24.667-05:00if that covered the weaving as well, yes, QNPoohBe...if that covered the weaving as well, yes, QNPoohBear, but I handstitched all my son's Viking gear, and embroidered the tunic and it took me 2 weeksSarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03121102757759349165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-73324578841835829382016-01-14T22:08:10.220-05:002016-01-14T22:08:10.220-05:00I work at a former textile museum and we're to...I work at a former textile museum and we're told to tell visitors that before the mill and water-powered spinning machines, it took a year or more start to finish to make a linen garment at home by hand. I have no idea if this estimate is true but I can see a team of dedicated people taking a day to make a whole shirt not counting making the thread.QNPoohBearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14941631487565237299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-4479816679678043572016-01-14T20:37:42.679-05:002016-01-14T20:37:42.679-05:00This is very helpful information for authors of hi...This is very helpful information for authors of historicals. I can't imagine the time and stitches required to construct a ball gown. Thanks for sharing.Caroline Clemmonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14914658854159456335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-52954894758378905482016-01-14T13:34:20.707-05:002016-01-14T13:34:20.707-05:00Before I had a treadle sewing machine I used to do...Before I had a treadle sewing machine I used to do all my sewing by hand [and I now have an electric one as well which seems an almost sinful luxury] and that sounds about right in time. And a lot of that would be swearing over setting on the collar! 10 stitches to the inch? That's a little coarse for a fine linen lawn, I used to pride myself, when I had better eyesight, on twelve to the inch on fine fabrics, though a sewing machine rarely manages better than 10 to the inch. I'd never do a hem of anything except night attire by machine; top stitching is so ugly when it's almost as quick and much nicer looking to hem. Unless you shell edge in lieu of lace which is a &$@$!!!! to do. I did my last mob cap with shell edging and that's quite enough for the next year or so. No, I'm not in re-enactment, I just find night caps supremely practical garb for flyaway hair. It's fascinating to read about what people have recreated using original techniques. I'd use backstitch for the seams and then French seam them to enclose the raw edges, but I suppose you could forward-and-backstitch them tailor-fashion if you were making a hard-wearing shirt for a labouring man, which made of Holland would be heavier fabric and would probably even bear eight to the inch if the sewing was that much stronger with the essentially double stitching of forward and backstitch. Not sure if I can still do it, I've never had much cause to use it, but it's mentioned in the tailor's manuals. Incidentally, I've seen extant farmers' smocks, most of which were french-seamed, unless the selvedge was the seam, when it was left, and a [very] few held at the edges with herringbone. Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03121102757759349165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-91624663059709531402016-01-14T08:55:32.512-05:002016-01-14T08:55:32.512-05:00As a reenactor, I have sewn many items, but, I hav...As a reenactor, I have sewn many items, but, I have not done a complete shirt by hand but have finished all shirts, bed gowns, chemises,petticoats, wrap skirts by hand...(hems, edging, sleeve cuffs)<br /><br />I have many friends,(mostly men!), who have sewn entire hunting shirts/frocks and works shirts completely by hand! (even finishing the fringe off with a 'mouse tooth' stitch!) My husband has sewn leather <br />breeches entirely by hand also..I think they have more patience than me....Heathernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-48183632824044005942016-01-14T08:25:36.044-05:002016-01-14T08:25:36.044-05:00I wonder what stitches would be used. Backstich? R...I wonder what stitches would be used. Backstich? Running stitch? Mattress stitch? It would make quite a difference in speed and amount of thread used.dinazadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08925099926445116514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-60774556757394521192016-01-14T08:24:29.792-05:002016-01-14T08:24:29.792-05:00Now that is truly fascinating information. I love ...Now that is truly fascinating information. I love getting into the little details of people's lives. Lillian Marekhttp://lilmarek.indiemade.comnoreply@blogger.com