The Handsewn Wardrobe is a well organized tutorial and technique guide for handsewn clothing construction designed and curated by Louisa Owen Sonstroem. Released 5th Aug 2025 by Hachette on their Storey imprint, it's 344 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.
Although this is, indeed, a book about hand-sewn clothing, and it contains start-to-finish tutorials with which readers can certainly create credible, functional, and beautiful pieces of clothing, the author emphasizes process and the meditative aspects of creating as much (or more?) than the actual finished products. It takes slow fashion to a whole other level.
She covers measurements, some simple design elements, and drafting patterns from pre-existing clothes. Materials selection and basic utility sewing are covered, but not in-depth (again, some background with handsewing, or a mentor/teacher/resource will prove handy for beginner sewists). Techniques like slash&spread, adding design elements and cutting pattern pieces are also covered in a straightforward (abbreviated/simple) way.
The author has added some whimsy in the form of a few simple games (thimble wars, thimble "football", tug of war, etc) which will probably bring a smile to readers' faces.
Many (but not all) of the included tutorials are surprisingly unisex and can be adapted to more or less anyone. The styling is not at all fussy. There's a Japanese vibe to the simple lines and emphasis on natural fibres and quality materials.
Four and a half stars. More for the philosophy and process than for the finished products. The author has an engaging, comforting, and wise style of communication. The pace is slow and methodical. This would be an excellent choice for public or secondary school library acquisition, for fibre-arts groups, and for the home sewist's library.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
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