This is such a lovely book! I loved how it walks you through everything from making your own patterns to finishing garments with beautiful hand stitching, all in a way that feels really calming & encouraging. It’s not just about sewing, it’s about slowing down & really connecting with what you’re making. The instructions are super clear & there’s a lot of care put into every page. Whether you’re totally new to sewing or just looking to be more intentional with your craft, this book feels like a gentle nudge to create things that truly last!

Thank you to Net Galley and Storey Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

A very interesting handbook, full of very good advice and basic "sewing recipes". The schematics come very handy and it's quite thorough. It's a good book for beginners and intermediate sewists, and a good approach to "slow life" and becoming creative with useful items.

Great book, goes into so much detail – exactly what I need.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
2.5-3
I'm generally a big fan of Storey books, but this one puzzled me.
The author spends an enormous amount of time/pages on the very technical mechanics of drafting, which is fine, but maybe a bit daunting for beginners (yes, the blurb does say 'all experience levels). The hand sewing advice is fine, but it's available elsewhere. I personally dislike 'drawings' as instruction for books like this - I find good photographs are usually much clearer. The designs are uninspiring (especially for more experienced sewists), and I really think several of them aren't very well suited for hand sewing projects.
I've been sewing garments for many years, and I found the author's discussion of fabrics and threads somewhat superficial. The book design is cute and cozy, obviously a lot of time was put into it, but it's difficult to read, especially as an ebook with no option to change font size or style. It would have been nice to see an extra example or two from the designers mentioned as inspiration.
There seemed to be a couple of references that went nowhere, and the index wasn't included in the ARC, so I don't know if this will be remedied.
If you're experienced, and looking for a primer on drafting contemporary streetwear, I'd recommend this. If you want to learn how to hand sew tshirts, dresses, shirts and leggings, I'd recommend the Alabama Chanin books.

This is an easy-to-read guidebook for hand sewing clothes. To be clear, hand sewing means just that--sewing by hand, not handmade using a sewing machine. Once I realized that, it seemed like a crazy idea until I thought about the fact that was exactly how clothes were originally made. Further, not using a sewing machine makes sewing projects portable and not much different from knitting, crocheting, or other needlework. The guide includes instructions for making patterns, choosing fabric, and stitching techniques. A few of the featured projects are legging, underwear, jean jackets, and buttondown shirts.

I'm not sure I'll ever take up hand sewing my clothes, but this book made it seem like a viable option and helped me become much more comfortable about the possibility of altering my clothing. #TheHandsewnWardrobe #NetGalley

In recent years, the slow movement has become very popular, first with cooking, then restaurants and the slow sewing movement. This book incorporates the benefits of slow sewing in generating the Handsewn Wardrobe. Often, the time we take to make something, the handknitted jumper, the embroidered picture is reflected in our enjoyment of the piece when it is finished. This book shuns fast fashion, and focuses on the precision of hand sewing items for the wardrobe including leggings, jeans, hoodies, skirt, blouse and tee shirts.

Each project is itemised in small simple steps suitable for the novice. There are details on how to use a number of stitches, types of hems, darts, fitting instructions. The book is thorough in its approach to the topic and is a very useful reference book.

I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I had high expectations for The Handsewn Wardrobe that were unfortunately not met. Expected unique items and ways to create a bespoke wardrobe with alterations for body type.. Instead, the book has only instructions for very basic garments that did not look flattering, such as the T shirt (starting on page 159). And the gathered skirt invisible zip is completely visible - why? The author provides no real reason for hand sewing other than 'it can be done anywhere' and 'slows down production' WTF? The instructions are clear and the author provides good information about measurements, which is why I am giving 2 stars. Also there are random blurbs about 'Featured Makers' but no clear link to those folks and the book patterns. Would recommend many other sewing books over this for basic sewing instructions.

This is a seriously useful book to have if you are into sewing or just getting into it. There is so much useful information, tip, and tricks to create your own pattern as well as how to sew practical items for beginners. There's even some very practical patterns to use with great information on how to execute. Super beginner friendly. Definitely a great book to have on hand for anyone who wants to be a little more self sufficient with their clothing without having to rely on more complicated patterns.

This book was provided by NetGalley but all opinions and reviews are my own.

4.5 stars. This is a really thorough sewing book on a topic not covered by too many others: hand sewing a wardrobe. It covers basic pattern making, the most important hand sewing stitches with nice illustrations, and instructions for drafting nine garments. Each includes techniques for specific elements, like understanding sleeve caps or making a rub off of your jeans. A lot of these instructions would be helpful even if you sew on a machine. I don't know that I'll be making any of the designs in this book, but this would be a nice reference for drafting and finishing techniques.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

What a wonderful book. There is a wealth of information contained within The Handsewn Wardrobe - it would be so useful for anyone interested in making their own clothes. Even if you intend to machine stitch the pattern making section would be invaluable and the hand stitching instructions are thorough and inspiring. The pattern instructions included are a great starting point.
I will definitely be adding The Handsewn Wardrobe to my library of sewing books - thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an early ebook version.

A must have and I rarely think that.
This is a wonderful guide for people who do not wish to commit to a sewing machine.
It is for a levels of sewers, especially total beginners and slightly less advanced ones.
Everything from materials to patterns, techniques and tips are well explained and illustrated.
There is even a mention of games (that was cute).
My only minor criticism is that a small number of the items sewn did not appeal to me in their style, but mostly because of the fabric and colours used in the example. But their techniques and patterns were great nevertheless. The jean, the hoodie, the button up shirt were awesome and will try making them soon.
For the denim jacket, skirt and the t shirt, I wish the photos and colours were different (more snappy, catchy and clear). This is somewhat a matter of personal taste, but also, it is to make the item stand out for everyone.

Such a great book for those of us who want to sew their own clothing. I love that it's all hand sewing, it's so contemplative and relaxing to make something literally with you own hands.

Plus a great way to pass the time that doesn't involve a screen!

Tells you how to take your measurements, how to fit your pieces to your body, and how to create a pattern.

Once you know these things you can create anything! I cannot wait to put it into practice, and I am sure that I will be returning to this book over and over for years to come.

This is a fantastic resource. It is very detailed in all the right stitches to use with hand sewing (hint — not the stitch I always used), how to make your patterns, supplies and more. There are detailed instructions on how to make your own T-shirt, gathered skirt, leggings, jean jacket, button up shirt, hoodie, underwear and even jeans.

This is one of those books that is so detailed on how to do things right that I realized I am not that well suited for it because I am inherently lazy with a short attention span. 😉 I prefer books that are more along the lines of ˋlook what you can do in an hour; it’s not perfect but it’s fun and easy.´

I also am always looking for books that will teach me how to make my style of clothes (basically fairy) that will fit my excessively tiny (under 5 feet ), curvy body. These patterns are very boxy, utilitarian and practical. They seem quite comfortable and standard, just not the type of clothes that would make it worth the effort for me.

I also like to reuse and repurpose, and would have liked information on using oversized shirts, sheets, ruined clothes, etc. as materials.

That said, that’s just me. I love the diversity of models and how thoroughly every step is laid out. It will be a perfect book for people who want to start hand sewing their own clothes and want to make standard clothing.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.

As someone who has yet to learn how to machine sew, I was so thrilled to pick up this book and learn more about handsewing. This book is a wealth of knowledge and an absolutely fantastic resource for anyone interested in learning more about handsewing. I am feeling a lot more confident about growing my own wardrobe with handmade pieces even though I'm still currently unable to machine sew! This book has truly opened up so much for me!

This has officially jumped to THE book I will recommend to anyone wanting or even considering hand sewing!

While I love sewing, my sewing machine is my best friend. However I've always found the concept and history of hand sewing fascinating.
I picked up this book in more of a curious, intellectual capacity.
I finished this book with my hands itching to pick up a needle, thread, and create my own hand sewn wardrobe!

This is a wonderful resource for someone looking to get into hand sewing clothing. I machine sew some, and have made a few garments, but getting into hand sewing has been so enjoyable. Something about taking your time creating something is almost meditative. The book is laid out very nicely, it’s very pleasing to look at and not at all overwhelming. The instructions are super clear, and the photography is very pretty. I will totes buy a physical copy of this.

The Handsewn Wardrobe is a really extensive book all about sewing. This book is especially good for beginners, but would also be good for more advanced sewers. There is information about patternmaking, sewing, and fabric. There are also some great patterns as well. The instructions are very clear and thorough. The photos and diagrams are also very helpful. Overall, I learned a lot from this book, and I feel like it helped me advance my sewing skill. I would recommend this book.

This very straightforward guide makes hand sewing garments seem extremely doable - also includes a lot of patternmaking information. It does seem to ramp up in difficulty pretty quick though, from very simple tops to woven buttondowns to jeans!

"The Handsewn Wardrobe" is a user friendly guide to making your own clothes without the use of a sewing machine.
As a keen sewist, I didn't initially see the appeal in hand sewing over using my sewing machine but after reading this book, I've been won over by the charm of hand sewn garments and their special imperfections.
I really enjoyed the different methods and stitches and they will be a useful reference for hand finishing my garments. I'd love to try and handsew a garment.
The pattern drafting seems easy to follow. I have never drafted a pattern from scratch before, but have followed the pattern for the boxy top easily enough. I think some of the terminology might not be easy to follow for complete beginners but can be worked out.
"The Handsewn Wardrobe" is a great resource for anyone interested in creating their clothing. Whether a beginner or an experienced sewist, this book offers something for everyone.

This was a great, informative guide! Handsewing is a skill that not a ton of people have, and a lot of people aren't sure where to even start. This book was a great guide. It was easy to understand, had helpful images and diagrams, and was easy to follow and has some great starter projects. I appreciated the inclusivity and different body types and kinds of people that were used to model the projects too!

Overall an excellent guide.