Shirts, Shifts and Sheets of Fine Linen: British Seamstresses from the 17th to the 19th centuries

Shirts, Shifts, and Sheets of Fine Linen explores the evolution of the seamstress job between 1600 and 1900, from skilled craftswomen to low-paid outworkers. The book uses original sources to highlight the seamstresses' change in status and the resurgence of the trade today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 11 January 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Shirts, Shifts, and Sheets of Fine Linen delves into the remarkable transformation of the seamstresses' roles and prestige between 1600 and 1900. In the 17th and early 18th centuries, seamstressing emerged as a specialized craft for women, engaged in the production of various linen and cotton garments for men, women, children, and infants. Some of these skilled seamstresses were true artists, capable of creating intricate patterns and stitches that were nearly invisible to the naked eye. Unfortunately, few examples of their work have survived, but those that do serve as a testament to their exceptional talent.

However, as the ready-to-wear trade gained prominence in the 18th century, the roles of women who assembled these garments began to be recognized as seamstresses. By the 1840s, the majority of seamstresses were employed as outworkers for companies or entrepreneurs, receiving incredibly low wages per dozen for the garments they produced. These women were often subjected to deplorable conditions and exploitation, representing the downtrodden and marginalized members of society.

To explore the seamstresses' changing status and the underlying reasons for this transformation, Shirts, Shifts, and Sheets of Fine Linen relies on a diverse range of original and previously unpublished sources, including business diaries, letters, and bills. These sources provide valuable insights into the working lives of seamstresses during the 18th and 19th centuries, shedding light on their challenges, struggles, and achievements.

The book also includes 60 captivating images that bring seamstresses to life as real individuals, offering fresh perspectives on working-class life in 18th- and 19th-century Britain. By highlighting the contributions and experiences of these women, the book contributes to our understanding of the past and the ongoing significance of the seamstresses' trade in today's world, where skilled clothing repair and alteration are becoming increasingly rare.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350252967