Victorian Undergarments Online Class
Work on your projects at your own pace & schedule with this unlimited access class!
Are you new to historical costuming and don’t know where to begin? Perhaps you’ve been sewing period clothing for a few years but you’ve never sat down to make a set of undergarments (yeah… you know who you are!).
Or maybe you’re like me and simply need to replace the well-worn items?
My friends, you’ve come to the right place! Our beginner class is for YOU who want to get into historical costuming and not just dream of the past but dress in the fashion too. It’s for those of us who put undergarments last on the sewing list. Time to get ’em done!
“Jennifer – I want to say that… I also have been sewing a long time and my new Victorian underwear looks better than anything I’ve ever made before. These lessons have un-done eons of self-taught bad habits and helped me become a much better seamstress in a very short time” ~Constance T.
Through 6 lessons we’ll cover four undergarment projects so you’ll be ready for the real dressmaking. Lessons have between 4 and 12 video tutorials along with an accompanying PDF handout complete with homework assignments. This is a real sewing class!
This is an Beginning to Intermediate level class. You should know how to operate your sewing machine and understand basic sewing techniques such as seams, topstitching, gathering, and basic hand whipstitch. Alternate finishing processes will be touched on but for the most part we’ll stick to the patterns.
The priority is for you to practice simple sewing methods while creating beautiful Victorian unmentionables. By practicing the basics your more advanced designs in dressmaking will become easier.
This class will focus on sewing specific undergarments suitable for Victorian dress, primarily 1870s to 1900. The objective is to build basic sewing skills and techniques. We’ll explore various seams, trims, and good dressmaking habits to successfully complete a full set of undergarments.
Exciting Lesson Plans Prepared for You:
Lesson 1: Discuss fabric selections, patterns, and taking measurements
Lesson 2: Sewing the chemise
Lesson 3: Sewing the drawers
Lesson 4: Making a lobster tail-style bustle support garment
Lesson 5: Sewing a tiered, late Victorian petticoat, part 1
Lesson 6: Finishing the late Victorian petticoat, part 2
NOTE: A corset and other dress items are not covered in this class.
Although undergarments are quite simple, really, and for some a pattern isn’t needed. It’s nice to start with drafted shapes and concentrate on improving the sewing skills.
For this class, we’ll be using the ever popular Truly Victorian patterns. (Patterns sold separately.) Specific patterns covered include: TV102, TV163 and TV170.
As with all of our classes, you may choose to use other patterns but know that the specific steps of each lesson will cover the Truly Victorian patterns.
Valuable Skills & Techniques You’ll Learn:
- Fabrics to use for soft undergarments and sturdy petticoats
- A variety of seam finishes
- Pressing tips – when and how
- Pleating and gathering tips
- Special tools when working with hoop wire for bustles
- Pleating by the Divide & Conquer method
- Easy steps for even gathers
- How to make tucks in a petticoat
- Tips for fitting your skirt over your new bustle & petticoat
“Thanks, Jennifer…. I have learned quite a bit and consider myself a more skilled historic dressmaker than I was a few months ago!” ~Terri A.
“Your videos are wonderful!!! Keep up the great work. I have learned so much from your class – can’t wait to take another one!!!” ~Maureen Larsen
Beginning to Intermediate Level Class
If you have sewing experience but are new to historical garments, you will feel quite comfortable here. We’ll be following the patterns closely so you should be able to keep up with the class just fine.
If you are new to sewing, this class was created for you! Although, we do ask you know how to operate your machine and have a few hours of basic sewing under your belt.
If you are advanced in your sewing skills, you are welcome! Many of our students are advanced but take the classes simply as a means of personal accountability. And a way to get those forgotten projects DONE. 🙂
Class begins when you’re ready. Access to the class never expires.
Be sure to download & print the handouts too for future projects!
Includes 6 full lessons with handouts, 6.5 hours of video tutorials, and 4 fun sewing projects!
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you!
Happy Sewing!
Please read our Terms of Service for more information.
Jennifer Rosbrugh, DBA HistoricalSewing.com, is an affiliate of Amazon.com.
Jennifer are you still offering this class?
Yes! You can sign up for it anytime and work through it at your own pace and schedule (as with all my classes). Visit the registration page here: https://classes.historicalsewing.com/p/victorian-undergarments
I have never made undergarments before, I would like to make Truly Victorian’s Edwardian undergarments. Would the class help me very much if I took it and did Edwardian undergarment instead of Victorian especially since I’ve never made any before?
I’m not so sure it would. Of course the techniques might be repeated but the TV Edwardian undergarments are a little different. The instructions would help to a point but that TV pattern is made differently with a yoke on the chemise and the drawers having a different cut to the hem and narrower waistband. I would recommend this class for Victorian undergarments (even if not Truly Victorian patterns) but not for the Edwardian ones.
would it be historically accurate to use the undergarments in this class for a mid to late 1890’s outfit?
Yes. The bustle is for 1870s and 1880s, but the chemise, drawers, and petticoat following the cutting for the 1890s shape are all accurate for the 1890s.
And do I need to have a corset made before I make the chemise and drawers?
No. These undergarments are worn under the corset so measurements in a corset are not needed. However, for the lobster tail bustle and petticoat – those waistbands are cut to the corset measurement. But you could cut larger and make adjustments in the overlapping closure when the corset waist measure is known.
Do I need to purchase the patterns from TV in addition to ordering the online class?
The patterns are a separate purchase from the class. We sell the patterns too in our Old Petticoat Shop.
Thanks for the question!
Would the $6.00 white cotton lawn from RenaissanceFabrics.net work well for the chemise, drawers, and petticoat?
It’s perfect actually! I used that exact fabric for my Regency chemise which you can see here. Although, using it for a petticoat would give you a very light petticoat that would need to be starched for better support, especially for Bustle Era skirts. For later 1890s and Edwardian petticoats the lawn would be perfect.
What is an approximate overall cost of all the materials I would need to take this class?
That’s hard to tell as sources vary. You could spend upwards of $20/yard for fine cotton for a chemise, or grab an old set of sheets from the thrift store to make your undergarments. I like to use plain cotton for my chemise & drawers and that runs me around $3 to $6/yard depending on the quality I want. Each project takes from 1 to 6 yards and I do recommend cotton for all. The lobster tail bustle also requires hoop wire which Truly Victorian sells in pre-cut lengths for your size, or you can order a roll ($12 to $18 range) and u-tips to custom cut yourself. Trims such as ribbon and lace are optional and extra. Drawstrings and closure hooks are needed too. Since the class has no expiration date you can spread out your cost and do one project at a time when funds allow.
Sorry I can’t be more specific but I hope this helps some.
Thank you very much, this was helpful.
I am a beginner to sewing and 16 years old, but have sewn two basic shirts, and am working on a basic child’s dress. Am I still to much of a beginner to take this class? I get confused with pattern instructions. In the online class do you show how to assemble the garments step by step? I simply love historical fashions, especially from 1890-1910 and thought that this class looked like it would be very fun.
Also I am correct in assuming that the online class is not a workshop?
Yes. All lessons are online available to you to access anytime.
Hi Richard,
Yes, this is a great class for a beginner; although, I do recommend you know how to sew a little, which it seems you do by already have made two shirts. With each project, I walk step-by-step through each process from cutting to pressing to finishing and sewing tips along the way. You can watch the videos as much as you need to, pausing if necessary. The handouts are thorough too with loads of photos you can zoom in on in the PDF format. These projects are a great way to work on basic skills like seam finishes, hems, and gathering and are perfect for those just getting started in historical costuming.
Thanks for the question. Good luck in your projects!
Jennifer
Dear Friends, I already sent another email in another reference, so please accept my apologies, but I am searching for the right chemise to wear for regency period, for the ball for Andrew Jackson following the Battle of New Orleans. A friend is making my dress but I need to make a chemise, and cannot be sure of the best one. I need to be sure it will fit under the wide neckline and little sleeves. I saw the one pictured with the truly Victorian workshop but do you know if that would be appropriate? And I cannot tell which spefic pattern that would be. Thanks so much. Bonnie
Hi Bonnie,
I highly recommend the chemise in the Laughing Moon #115 pattern or the women’s chemise/shift from Kannik’s Korner. Both are period correct for Regency.
Hi! It’s Christmas and my husband has asked me what I want. So….how could he order for me the online Victorian Undergarments class? This is something I really want to do come the turn of the new year and I have been itching to figure out what I wanted as a gift. This could fit the bill if there is a way. Let me know what might be the easiest way to do this. Thanks so much
How fun and what a great gift! The ordering/access is all automated. You can have him purchase access to the class but use your email address for the order so you get sent the PDF link with initial instructions. Or he can purchase then forward you the link email. The class PDF contains login information to the start of class on the Welcome Page which is hosted on this website. From that page you’ll have access to all the class lessons.
Let me know if you have any other questions! 🙂
Hello Jennifer,
So I really want to take this class and I’m trying to figure out if I have the time. So I have a question or two. Is there a specific time frame in which I need to be signed up by for the class? Is there no time frame in which it has to be completed? How many spots left in the class are there?
Thanks
Hi Samantha,
We have plenty of room for you in the current August 2014 workshop class. Registration will stay open until the first part of September, but the private Facebook group will only be up until October 15th – so the earlier you sign up the more you can participate & learn even if you’re not quite ready to begin sewing. The online class itself is on an unlimited access basis, so when you purchase the class you can watch the lessons whenever you want indefinitely. Your access continues after the workshop class ends in October.
Hope to see you in class!
Jennifer