Join Historical Tailoring Masterclasses

Historical Tailoring Masterclasses

Learn the skills you need to draft, fit, and tailor beautiful historical clothing using traditional techniques.

Does any of this sound familiar?

  • You want to make yourself some clothing for historical reenactment, but have no idea where to start and digging through all of the information is overwhelming.
  • You’ve spent countless hours trying to get patterns to fit right or decipher their vague instructions and you’re tired of the clothing not turning out how you imagined.
  • You’ve made some historical clothing before but you’re not quite satisfied with the results, and there are some specific techniques you’d like to learn or improve.

If it does, then you know how difficult it can be to find the correct information or get quality instruction.

Introducing Historical Tailoring Masterclasses

I started Historical Tailoring Masterclasses in 2011 (wow, how time flies!) to help people such as yourself who wanted to learn how to sew beautiful historical reproductions for themselves. Not satisfied with the majority of patterns or their instructions, and how easy it is to get frustrated when your hard work turns out not to be quite as you imagined, I sought to create a way to teach people the art of historical tailoring.

Rather than say, “here, follow this pattern exactly and you’ll come out with a passable garment for your reenacting”, I wanted to go more in-depth with my instruction; that you could take a historical pattern and alter it not only to your unique size and shape, but also to closely reproduce that original garment you saw in person at a museum or historical society, or even on Pinterest.

While I love in-person classes and workshops, they can often be overly expensive when you consider travel costs, hotels, materials, and often, it’s difficult to finish a project during the short weekend or time allotted for the class. So I decided to put all of my material online to help keep those costs down for everyone, while at the same time, being able to get much more detailed photographs and videos of the various construction processes right to your home. This makes it possible to work completely at your own pace, even in your pyjamas, as you follow along with my instructions.

James Williams’ historical tailoring online workshops are some of the best opportunities to improve your historical tailoring. Whether fairly new to needle and thread or a fairly knowledgeable tailor or seamstress, you can not go wrong by taking these online courses. You will gain a better understanding of how the garments of the day were made and a better knowledge of what the men of the time wore and how they should look. Not only are the workshops wonderful but the support from the facebook group and from James through email is phenomenal. I can’t wait for more workshops to continue my growth in becoming a historical master tailor!

Jonathan Hawkins

I’ve tried to keep the instruction for each project as straight-forward as possible, while at the same time going into as much detail as necessary to get the technique conveyed to you. So if you don’t get something quite right, you can rewatch or reread the lesson and apply it to your current project, or even make the project a second time to really let the processes sink in. And if you get stuck on something along the way, I’m always a quick email or message away. I love helping members as they work through the various project and seeing what they come up with!

So in short, you can think of Historical Tailoring Masterclasses almost as a digital apprenticeship of sorts, helping you to learn and preserve the fine art of historical tailoring as you construct beautiful reproductions for your self or others.

Get Instant Access to Historical Tailoring Masterclasses

Apprentice Membership
Monthly Access to Beginner Courses
$
24
/mo
  • Tailoring Basics
    Drafting Trousers
    Drafting Waistcoats
    Plain Cut Trousers
    Shawl-Collared Waistcoat
    Double-Breasted Waistcoat
    Pleated-Front Shirt
    Detachable Collar & Cravats
    Access to the Support Community
Journeyman Membership
Monthly Access to All Courses
$
38
/mo
  • Everything in Apprentice Membership
    Drafting Frock Coats
    Unlined Linen Paletot
    Unlined Linen Frock Coat
    Double-Breasted Wool Frock Coat
    Enlisted Frock Coat
    Wool Paletot *coming December 2021
Master Tailor Membership
Yearly Access to All Courses
$
380
/yr
  • Everything in Apprentice and Journeyman Membership
  • Get two months free when you pay yearly.
*Plus sales tax. All prices in U.S. Dollars

Historical Tailoring Masterclasses will help you to

Learn the basics of sewing by hand with a variety of tailoring stitches.

Draft clothing patterns to your own measurements to get that perfect fit.

Learn traditional tailoring techniques that can be applied to almost any project.

Design your projects following the styles and nuances of the 19th century.

Follow along step-by-step with detailed clothing construction tutorials.

Tap into the knowledge of fellow tailors through our support community.

I started with James Williams’ “Masterclass” program with two objectives. First, I wanted to develop a proper pattern for a mid-nineteenth century frock coat, usable for both Military and civilian applications. Second, I wanted to refine my understanding of period men’s style and tailoring methods. I feel I have largely succeeded in both following the procedures outlined in James’ program.

Richard Milstead

What’s Included with your Membership

Immediate Access to Tailoring Projects

There’s a huge library of content, featuring 15 (and counting) projects for you to dive straight into as soon as you join, from full courses on topics ranging from pattern drafting and tailoring period garments using traditional methods, to shorter tutorials for beginners and more advanced tailors alike covering specific sewing techniques. Learn at your own pace, wherever you are.

Charts, Rulers, and Patterns

Printable spreadsheets and documents to make your drafting and tailoring a little easier, including:

  • Measurement Charts
  • Graduated Rulers
  • Pattern Drafts
  • Various Pocket, Collar, Cravat, and Other Patterns

Supportive Sewing Community

Access to a private, community support forum is included with your Masterclasses membership, and is the best place to go for all of your questions, getting feedback, gaining support, and getting to know like-minded tailoring enthusiasts. It’s kind of a combination of the best of Facebook groups, Discord, and the old style discussion forums that used to be very popular.

Prefer to email? You can email me personally at any time with your questions for personalized support!

All of this and much more only inside Historical Tailoring Masterclasses

James Williams is a true Master of historical tailoring. He has mentored me through emails and videos and questions. I can not think of any one in this craft that is more knowledgeable and approachable. If you want to learn the art of tailoring garments then this is the place.

Robbie Vines

Yeller Hammer Productions

Get Instant Access to Historical Tailoring Masterclasses

Apprentice Membership
Monthly Access to Beginner Courses
$
24
/mo
  • Tailoring Basics
    Drafting Trousers
    Drafting Waistcoats
    Plain Cut Trousers
    Shawl-Collared Waistcoat
    Double-Breasted Waistcoat
    Pleated-Front Shirt
    Detachable Collar & Cravats
    Access to the Support Community
Journeyman Membership
Monthly Access to All Courses
$
38
/mo
  • Everything in Apprentice Membership
    Drafting Frock Coats
    Unlined Linen Paletot
    Unlined Linen Frock Coat
    Double-Breasted Wool Frock Coat
    Enlisted Frock Coat
    Wool Paletot *coming December 2021
Master Tailor Membership
Yearly Access to All Courses
$
380
/yr
  • Everything in Apprentice and Journeyman Membership
  • Get two months free when you pay yearly.
*Plus sales tax. All prices in U.S. Dollars

Available Courses

17+ IN-DEPTH COURSES cover almost every aspect of historical tailoring. The tailoring library contains all the training you need on topics ranging from pattern drafting to historical stitches to detailed construction tutorials.

Double-Breasted Waistcoat (New)
Linen Paletot
Plain-Cut Trousers
Detachable Linen Collar
Tailoring Basics
Double-Breasted Wool Frock Coat
Silk Cravat
The Art of the Buttonhole
Federal Enlisted Frock Coat
Pleated-Front Shirt
Linen Frock Coat
Shawl-Collared Waistcoat

Having taken a number of William’s Clothiers Masterclasses, they have greatly added to my knowledge and abilities in reproducing historical garments. Time and treasure well spent!

Christopher Wilson

Video Content

Projects (except for the older ones) are accompanied by videos explaining and demonstrating the particular steps involved, in addition to the photographs and written instruction. Here’s a short video excerpt from one of my shirt making projects demonstrating a rolled hem stitch.

Meet James and Scott

Hello, I’m James Williams, cutter, tailor, researcher, editor, and janitor here at Historical Tailoring Masterclasses. I’ve been studying and working professionally as a historical tailor for fourteen years now, after deciding that I needed some more historically-accurate clothing (that actually fit!) during my Civil War reenacting years.

In 2011, after making about two-dozen Federal enlisted frock coats for clients, I decided to begin sharing that knowledge I had gained along the way by writing about and photographing each step to help others out. Things grew from there and I started the website and Historical Tailoring Masterclasses to document other types of clothing to help others achieve the same results.

A couple of years ago, my brother Scott was able to join me and help with the photography and videography. His work behind the camera allows me to focus more on my sewing and producing new projects and content.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Get Instant Access to Historical Tailoring Masterclasses

Apprentice Membership
Monthly Access to Beginner Courses
$
24
/mo
  • Tailoring Basics
    Drafting Trousers
    Drafting Waistcoats
    Plain Cut Trousers
    Shawl-Collared Waistcoat
    Double-Breasted Waistcoat
    Pleated-Front Shirt
    Detachable Collar & Cravats
    Access to the Support Community
Journeyman Membership
Monthly Access to All Courses
$
38
/mo
  • Everything in Apprentice Membership
    Drafting Frock Coats
    Unlined Linen Paletot
    Unlined Linen Frock Coat
    Double-Breasted Wool Frock Coat
    Enlisted Frock Coat
    Wool Paletot *coming December 2021
Master Tailor Membership
Yearly Access to All Courses
$
380
/yr
  • Everything in Apprentice and Journeyman Membership
  • Get two months free when you pay yearly.
*Plus sales tax. All prices in U.S. Dollars

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

When you join Historical Tailoring Masterclasses you are fully protected by my 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. If you don’t feel like you’ve received value and you decide you want to cancel any time within the next 30 days, just let me know and I’ll send you a prompt refund.