Aubree's Dressmaking Notebook

A working reference on dressmaking - techniques, materials, tools, and history - written by Aubree.

New to sewing? Start here instead.

71 Articles

53 Diagrams

6 Calculators & charts

1837–Now Years covered

Explore by category

Seams, darts, closures, and the hands-on methods that hold a garment together.

Fabrics, fibers, and notions - what to choose, and why it matters.

Hand tools and machines, from tracing wheels to industrial machines.

Two centuries of Western fashion, from Victorian corsetry to the New Look.

Pattern pieces and foundations - bodices, skirts, sleeves, collars, and fit.

Short, plain-language definitions for the terms used across this site.

Small tools for the sums and lookups that come up at the cutting table, each with the method explained, in inches or centimetres.

French Seam
A self-enclosed seam that hides raw edges, ideal for sheer or lightweight fabrics.
Silk Chiffon
A sheer, floaty silk with a crepe texture - beautiful to wear, a challenge to sew.
Sewing Shears
Long-bladed shears kept for fabric only, and how to keep them cutting cleanly.
Victorian Corsetry
The boned foundations that shaped the Victorian silhouette.
Basic Bodice Block
A fitted foundation pattern that every bodice design can start from.
Bias
The 45-degree diagonal across woven fabric, where it stretches and drapes.