5 Ways to Hand Finish Seams for Historical Fashion (and Beyond)

These are my 5 favourite ways to hand finish seams for historical fashion. All of them were actually used by people throughout history and I've seen many examples of these finishes on antiques in my collection! There are, of course, many other ways that seams were finished historically, but these are the ones I like the most with historical hand sewing.

I hope you enjoyed this video and find it helpful! Thanks so much for watching and supporting this channel.

Sources:

#historicalfashion #historicalsewing #sewing

[VBirchwood]

Thank you so much for watching and I hope you enjoyed learning about these seam finishes! 🥰 If you'd like to help fund future videos like this one and historical sewing projects to come, become a Patron and receive a number of behind-the-scenes perks, including weekly polls and posts to learn about projects early and help make decisions: patreon.com/vbirchwood

[watsonmelon]

It's amazing to think that these techniques were used for generations but are largely forgotten about now

[phranerphamily]

I love hand sewing while chatting with friends, on planes, watching TV etc... It's just so satisfying.

[katwitanruna]

I taught myself to sew so I ended up with a version of French seams. I put right sides together, fold down a shirttail hem and finger press it and stitch down the center of that.

[camille.c]

I do wanna shout out the under-appreciated faux french seam! Aka _the one to use when you want french seams but it would make the order of operations too complicated_ — I find it particularly useful for welt pockets in loose garments and bags.
It's less work than felling down both sides, allows you to retain the seam allowance in case of future alterations, and you can't see even the tiniest felling stitches from the pretty side of the fabric.

It's also neat how the ribbon binding is basically a Hong Kong finish without the bias tape... and your 'Georgian method' of felling/whipstitching down linings is something I think many of us have instinctively done when putting in linings by hand. Just goes to show how we humans tend to converge on what works best! Also, like another commenter said, I'm inclined to call the last one a ribbon facing.

[catherinejustcatherine]

Thank you for the collection of seam finishings.

I am grateful that you continue to share videos with us

[SueMurnin]

I love hand sewing I find it very therapeutic. My grandma taught me to hand sew and I always use quilting needles. Enjoying your films you are a good teacher.

[BethAge]

I love hand sewing and use it for re-enactment clothes but also modern ones! So far mostly flat felling or felling down both sides of the seam allowance for thicker fabrics. Want to try the "Georgian method" soon when making a lined blouse :)

[annamarie]

I love to flat fell my seams as it’s so neat and tidy for unlined garments. Definitely over than serging.

[gildedgitta]

English stitch and the "Georgian method" are definitely my personal favourites! English stitch because I'd rather only sew a seam once slower than twice, and Georgian method because it's so neat looking. I only really use extra ribbon or twill tape if I really have to since I am, if nothing else, a bit of a lazy sewist. I did, however, buy 100 meters of thin cotton tape for some of the trickier seam finishes and it has worked well! :)

[saraa]

I'd call that last one ribbon facing when it's on an edge much like how we do bias tape facings today. One of my favorite seam finishes that's totally doable by hand is a French seam. With your fabrics wrong sides together, do a spaced back stitch about a quarter inch from the raw edge, then turn the piece so that the right sides are together, press and sew your seam normally. It's like a flat felled seam, but not stitched down. It's great on fine, floaty fabrics and ones prone to fraying. Also great for children's clothes since it's double stitched and won't irritate them.

[jocelynleung]

Your hand sewing gets more beautiful and beautiful with every video! 😍

[ericalarochelle]

I appreciate the compendium of techniques!

[rubytook]

Thank you! I'm definitely going to reference this video often in my wardrobe making journey!

[carolinemaluca]

This is a video to go to a playlist (it's on mine already)! I think it's so satisfying to see and they look so beautiful in the inside. It's something we don't have with modern clothes. Thank you V for sharing this video! 🥰

[fikanera]

I love your Georgian method! When I worked in a liturgical garment shop there were some items we made by lining each piece individually, then handstitched each piece with a tiny ladder stitch. Of course, we machined a bagged-out lining for speed, but I really enjoyed the handstitching.

[kayleighbullen]

I love to flat fell stitch. I’m working on a Tudor hand sewn cotton shirt. It’s taking a while. But I can see myself using historical techniques on some more modern shirts xx

[Morticia]

Great video, very informative. Thanks

[jaehaywardkent]

gosh i was struggling with this the other day trying to finish some seams on an armscye of an unlined shirt, thanks vasi!! so useful as always😌 that last technique is probably my favourite, it looks so neat and reminds me of that bright tape u used on the hem of your berry dress

[melissel]

Those kind of videos are so helpful for a beginner like me, thank you so much for making them :) I'm so sorry that you were unjustly demonetized, this system is so absurd ! I know they tend to demonetize people who make content that is deemed "controversial" but it isn't even your case, it all just seems so random