Starting from the world of martial arts in the Condor Heroes, practicing martial arts across the hea

Jiangnan honed his tailoring skills slowly over ten years in the Zhongnan Mountains.

Jiangnan never deliberately focused on honing her tailoring skills or improving her proficiency. It was just that the fabric was cheap and easily damaged, so she changed clothes frequently. Jiangnan's clothes were easily damaged because of work and martial arts activities, while Xiaolongnu's clothes were always ill-fitting because she grew quickly and needed to be changed often.

Now, Jiangnan wants to make wedding dresses, and his tailoring level of Lv5 is sufficient, but Jiangnan wants to do better, and Rong'er deserves better as well.

And if you can do your best, it doesn't take much effort, so why not do your best?

This is Jiangnan's idea; it's a bit lazy, but it's practical.

However, Jiangnan also had some troubles. If he used the production of clothes to increase his proficiency, it would be troublesome, and the consumption of fabric would be a lot. In addition, it would be a waste if he couldn't finish wearing all the clothes!

Hmm... no, it seems that women's clothes serve more than just the function of "wearing". Women in later generations buy a lot of clothes while shopping, but they can't wear them all. So many clothes are stored in the closet and hung in the dressing room, but I don't know what their purpose is.

Looking at Big Yellow dozing at his feet, Jiang Nan raised an eyebrow: 'Should we cut some cloth and make clothes for Big Yellow and Blue Ox?'

It's not that it's impossible, but I'd rather not use it to grind proficiency! It uses too much fabric!

Hmm... do towels and handkerchiefs count as sewing skills?!

I never paid attention to this when making towels and handkerchiefs before! I can give it a try. If you count it, I have a way to increase my proficiency, and I won't waste fabric. The finished products can be given to Rong'er and Long'er.

Isn't it normal for girls to carry several handkerchiefs or handkerchiefs?

Oh, and you can also make purses, which should also increase your tailoring skill experience.

Sigh! Is shoemaking considered tailoring? It seems so, and it isn't. There's some overlap; I remember when I made shoes with cloth, both skills gained experience. But when I only made straw sandals with straw rope, the tailoring skill wasn't activated.

Jiangnan acts on his ideas.

He first used his blacksmithing skills to forge a sharp pair of scissors, and then began to practice his tailoring skills.

From that day on, Huang Rong and Xiaolongnu discovered that Jiangnan, aside from eating, sleeping, taking care of personal hygiene, and morning exercises, began frantically making handkerchiefs, handkerchiefs, and purses. Just like before, he spent two days forging iron and produced a bunch of unusable sewing needles.

Two days later, Jiangnan's tailoring skill also rose to Lv7, reaching the maximum level in this world.

As usual, Jiangnan rested for two days, clearing her mind and letting knowledge flow slowly through her cerebral cortex.

In the next two days, Jiangnan also gave Huang Rong and Xiaolongnu a task: to draw! Draw whatever they like, whatever it is, and it doesn't have to be lifelike or indistinguishable from the real thing, as long as people can tell what it is.

Two days later, Jiang Nan retrieved the sewing needle he had used when he maxed out his blacksmithing skill. Using the embroidery technique from the tailoring skill, he used needle and thread to draw the things Huang Rong and Xiao Longnv had drawn on handkerchiefs and distributed them to the two of them.

The remaining handkerchiefs, handkerchiefs, towels, and purses were embroidered with the Four Gentlemen (plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum), peach trees, peaches, blue oxen, rhubarb, and jade bees...

Jiangnan began designing clothing, not wedding attire, but everyday wear.

For wedding attire, you generally only need to consider the quality of the fabric, its color, and the embroidery pattern; for everyday clothes, there are many more factors to consider.

First, it must be sturdy and durable. Since Jiangnan's clothes were often damaged by thorns and branches in the mountains and forests, and later by the surge of internal energy and strength when practicing martial arts, Jiangnan paid great attention to the practicality of his clothes. They had to be sturdy and durable, able to withstand the wearer's full force.

Whether a garment can withstand long-term wear and tear does not depend on the thickness of the fabric, but on the meticulous refinement of the materials, the cut, the stitching, and the structure.

Ordinary, mass-produced clothing may look thick and sturdy, but it will tear and rip after a short time, making it only suitable for comfortable home life. However, if you are going to travel with people through mountains and wilderness and traverse dangerous places, your clothes must be able to withstand the scratches of thorns and the friction of rocks, and endure the hardships of traveling day and night.

Jiangnan possesses top-tier tailoring skills and is well-versed in the secrets of tailoring.

The first hurdle is fabric treatment.

  

Newly woven linen and silk fabrics have loose fibers and the threads are prone to coming undone, easily tearing with the slightest force. In Jiangnan, the entire bolt of fabric is repeatedly soaked in a solution of plant pulp, then laid flat on a stone slab and repeatedly pounded and rolled. After being starched and pounded, the fabric fibers are tightly bound together, becoming dense and supple, with its resilience greatly increased, no longer pilling or tearing easily. Outer garments are often made of a blend of coarse linen and brocade, tough and durable, specifically designed to resist scratches from branches and gravel; the inner garments retain a soft silk texture, combining suppleness and resilience, ensuring both external abrasion resistance and skin-friendly comfort.

Secondly, there's the seam structure, which is the weakest point where clothing is most easily damaged.

Ordinary tailors simply align two pieces of fabric and sew them together with a single thread, making the stitches prone to breakage under strain. Jiangnan, however, uses double-stitched close-fitting seams, employing a back-and-forth overlock stitch. Each seam is stitched twice, with the threads interlocking and overlapping. All seams are folded inwards with three layers of fabric, firmly pressed shut, eliminating any exposed rough edges. For the areas subjected to the most stress—shoulder, neck, armpits, waist, and hem—an additional layer of the same material is added, with the two layers sewn together. When a person raises their arm, crouches, or runs, the pulling force is first applied to the reinforced lining, preventing easy tearing at the seams.

Special treatment should also be given to the corners of the garment.

Cuffs, hems, and skirt corners, which drag on the ground year-round, are most prone to wear and pilling. Jiangnan craftsmanship involves folding the fabric edges inwards twice, creating a narrow, neat seam, with fine, tight stitches to firmly hold the fabric threads in place and prevent fraying. The belt and ties are all made of double-layered, twisted strips of fabric, making them strong and durable, unlikely to break even when used for binding miscellaneous items or for temporary climbing. The buttons and loops are reinforced with stitching, ensuring they won't come loose even with repeated pulling.

The silk thread itself is also very particular.

Ordinary cotton thread is prone to rotting and breaking easily when damp. Jiangnan uses waxed cotton and linen thread, which is firm, smooth, and resistant to moisture corrosion. The tension is carefully controlled during sewing; the thread won't be too tight, tearing the fabric, nor too loose, causing it to sag and wobble. The needlework is fine and microscopic, preventing large stitches from creating numerous holes that compromise the fabric's integrity. Smaller holes preserve the fabric's integrity, resulting in a more durable garment.

In addition, the cut and layout also affect durability.

Martial artists move with extreme range of motion. If clothing is tightly tailored, the fabric will be continuously stretched during exertion, causing it to tear quickly. Jiangnan deliberately leaves room for movement under the armpits and at the hips, creating rounded transitions to avoid sharp right angles. Right angles are stress concentration points; they will break easily with slight force. By replacing them with smooth curves, the stress is evenly distributed, directly doubling the garment's tensile strength.

Good clothes are soft enough to fit comfortably and sturdy enough to withstand the wear and tear of the elements.

The outer stitching is smooth and even, with no signs of deliberate reinforcement, while the inner lining is reinforced layer by layer, with no weak points or gaps. No matter how much it traverses wild forests, scratches and cuts from thorns; no matter how much it sleeps in the open mountains, sitting and lying down repeatedly; no matter how much it is exposed to the sun and rain year after year, the fabric is still not easily worn out, and the stitching will not break for a long time.

Looking at the neatly stacked semi-finished products on the table, Jiangnan had already decided on the style of her wedding dress.

A wedding dress must be both exquisitely beautiful and durable. The brocade outer layer is used for decoration, while the inner lining is lined with a layer of starched and reinforced fabric. The visible areas feature exquisite embroidery, while the hidden areas are meticulously edged and reinforced. Every stitch ensures both comfort and sturdiness, making it suitable not only as a celebratory dress for the wedding night but also to accompany the couple on their journeys, remaining in pristine condition even after many years.

Secondly, there's comfort. Jiang Nan believes that he leveled up so many skills to the maximum level so that he could live comfortably and freely in this other world... Therefore, comfort is not only a requirement for clothing, but also Jiang Nan's attitude towards life.

People only know that clothes are good-looking, durable, and presentable, but very few people truly understand that the greatest quality of clothing is comfort.

Ordinary tailors consider it a good craft if the size is right, the stitches are neat, and the shape is pleasing.

But after mastering his skills, Jiangnan tailor finally understood: truly good clothes are never about "the person adapting to the clothes," but rather the clothes adapting to the person.

Comfort is never as simple as a softer or thinner fabric; it is the ultimate fit that conforms to all the movements of the human body, from head to toe and inside and out.

First and foremost, the fabric is comfortable.

Coarse cloth is stiff and abrasive, chafing and scratching the skin; after wearing it for a day, the shoulders and back itch and the neck stings. Ordinary silk cloth, though soft, is thin and cool; a mountain breeze will chill you to the bone.

In Jiangnan garment making, the first step is selecting and layering the materials.

The inner layer, which comes into close contact with the skin, is made from the finest soft silk and cotton that has undergone repeated soaking, washing, desizing, and softening. It has a warm and delicate touch, feeling like a cloud against the skin, without a single stiff thread, loose string, or rough edge. When worn against the skin, it will not scratch, rub, feel stuffy, or irritate. Even if worn day and night for extended periods, whether sleeping in different positions or engaging in martial arts activities, there will be absolutely no discomfort.

The outer layer is selected according to the temperature: it is light and breathable in spring and autumn, has open pores to dissipate heat in summer, and is layered to lock in heat in winter.

Good clothes should make your skin forget they're even there.

Secondly, the cut should be comfortable, which is also the most crucial aspect.

All ready-made garments are made to fixed measurements. Shoulders are fixed, waist is fixed, sleeves are fixed. They fit well when standing, are tight when raising your arms, restrict when bending over, and are constricting when turning around.

Especially for those who practice martial arts, their movements are expansive and dynamic, leaping and bounding, punching and striking, squatting, sitting, lying down, and so on, with countless variations.

Ordinary clothes restrict the shoulders, elbows, waist, and hips with any movement.

Jiangnan, through her master tailoring skills, had long since grasped the dynamic and static textures of the human body.

He never takes "static measurements" when making clothes, but rather tailors them according to the dynamic movement of a person's muscles and bones.

Allow for some leeway in the shoulder line; when raising your arms, don't pull or shrug your shoulders.

The sleeves are wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, allowing for unrestricted punching and arm raising.

The waist and abdomen should be relaxed and not too tight or constricting, and should fit snugly without compressing the abdomen when squatting or sitting.

The skirt sways freely, allowing for unrestricted turning and leaping;

The neckline is rounded and fits snugly, without chafing, irritating the neck, or scratching the skin.

Static, it is dignified and upright; dynamic, it is fluid and graceful.

Wearing this outfit, whether you're reading quietly, running in the mountains, practicing martial arts under the moon, or sleeping on a rock, no matter how relaxed your body is, the clothes will always fit snugly, loosely, and move with you, without any sense of constraint.

This is the comfort of top-notch tailoring, which is similar to the requirement for clothing to be sturdy and durable.

Furthermore, the craftsmanship is comfortable.

Ordinary ready-made garments have exposed threads, raised seams, heavy folds, and stiff, dense stitches. When worn close to the skin, these hard ridges will chafe the skin, causing fatigue after prolonged wear.

Jiangnan-style clothing is made with all seams concealed inside, resulting in garments that are smooth and seamless, without any rough edges or bumps.

All fabric edges are double-folded and tightly sealed, resulting in a smooth and seamless finish that feels completely one-piece, with no visible seams.

All loose threads were gathered up, flattened, and concealed, making the inside of the garment as smooth as a single piece of soft silk.

There was no foreign object sensation, no friction whatsoever.

Ordinary people wear clothes by "draping a cloth over their shoulders";

Rong'er and Long'er wore clothes made by hand in Jiangnan, which gave their skin an extra layer of soft warmth.

Finally, it feels comfortable all year round.

Truly good clothes breathe.

Spring clothes are light, breathable, and won't feel stuffy or stick to your body;

The summer fabric is soft and breathable, suitable for mountain breezes and not scorching under the sun;

Autumn clothes are soft and warm, providing a slight coolness without feeling cold;

Winter clothing features a quilted lining that provides warmth and softness against the skin without feeling heavy or bulky.

It is neither stuffy, cold, dry, nor sticky, and is suitable for both hot and cold weather.

Jiangnan's fingertips brushed against the smooth, soft handkerchief and embroidered purse before her, her heart filled with profound clarity.

People generally believe that the purpose of clothing is to be presentable, to decorate, and to cover up.

But in his eyes—

The finest garment-making craftsmanship is never about dazzling embroidery, but about making the wearer feel completely at ease and comfortable.

It looks good for others to see.

Comfort is the most lasting form of tenderness for yourself and your loved ones.

The wedding dress he wanted to make was also like that.

Stunning beauty is necessary, but intimate tenderness, year-round comfort, and freedom from constraint are the most fitting romance he wants to give Huang Rong and Xiaolongnu for a lifetime.

Third, the function of concealing and storing items. Whether ordinary people or wandering swordsmen, their clothing all have hidden pockets for carrying some items. Jiangnan aims to arrange hidden pockets even more rationally.

Ordinary people's clothing only needs to fit well and be presentable, clean and neat, with secure hidden pockets and no unnecessary embellishments. However, when traveling the world or wandering deep mountains and ancient tombs, one must always carry elixirs, silver needles, secret letters, and small weapons. Bags are easily searched, and carrying them in a waist pouch is too conspicuous; the best place to store them is under one's clothes.

Jiangnan possesses the skills of a seventh-level tailor, and is particularly adept at ingenious designs within the layers of fabric. These designs are so subtle that they appear unchanged from the outside, yet are intricately designed to hold a multitude of items within a small space.

First, the design includes a hidden pocket on the front of the garment.

Inside each of the left and right lapels, a close-fitting cloth pocket is sewn, its opening hidden beneath the seam, leaving no visible trace. Instead of an exposed knot, the pockets are secured with concealed cloth snaps, ensuring a tight seal when closed. These pockets are used to store medicine, antidotes, and calming powder, placed close to the heart, making them difficult to find even during a cursory search by the enemy. A thick, soft cloth is added to the inside of the pockets, preventing the medicine bottles from digging into the skin and ensuring they don't rattle when running or jumping.

Second, wide sleeves with a lining.

The wide sleeves provided the perfect hiding place. The sleeves were divided into two layers, with a narrow, elongated concealed compartment in the middle. One compartment held dozens of fine jade bee needles, while the other held the silk threads of the binding silkworms, the threads tightly coiled within the fabric tube to prevent tangling. A narrow cloth pocket was sewn into the inside of the cuff, capable of concealing folded, secret letters. The outer fabric was smooth and even; when the arm was raised and the sleeve was waved, it hung naturally, revealing only a flowing, simple garment to onlookers, who would never suspect the hidden secrets within.

Third, the seams in the skirt.

The long skirt, made of wide fabric, conceals numerous storage spaces. The skirt is divided into two layers, with a row of independent small pouches sewn down from the waistband, none of which connect. These can hold gold dust, silver scraps, a few pieces of dried food, or tinderboxes. Near the ankles, a slender cloth tube can be sewn to hold two three-inch short blades. All the pouches follow the folds of the skirt, concealed by the folds when hanging down, and even when standing or walking, the taut fabric hides the bulges.

Fourth, the belt is hollow.

The outer layer is a wide brocade band, folded and sewn together, leaving a hollow tube in the middle. Thin sheepskin maps, books, and secret manuals can be rolled up and tightly tucked into the belt. Both ends are sealed shut, the needlework hidden beneath the pattern, making them impossible to spot without opening it. When necessary, the belt can be removed, serving both as a rope to bind enemies and as a means to immediately retrieve the blueprints—a dual-purpose item.

Fifth, the inner lining has pockets.

The inner garment is the safest place. Flat, flesh-colored pouches are sewn into the sides of the chest and abdomen, and the back of the waist. The flat design prevents any protrusion, so there is no discomfort when lying down, squatting, or jumping. Valuable jade pendants, spare gold notes, and unique medicine prescriptions are all kept close to the body. An outer garment is then placed on top of that, creating multiple layers of concealment, making it difficult for someone to detect the inner garment's layers even if they search the person closely.

Sixth, hidden storage in corners and corners.

Even the hem, collar, and inner lining of the garment can be transformed into tiny storage pouches. These pouches can hold a few tinder sticks, a small piece of musk, or a few small copper coins. The stitches follow the original folds, the seams are tight, the fabric is smooth, and it blends perfectly into the original texture of the garment, leaving no trace of human sewing visible to the naked eye.

There are three main principles to follow when making hidden pockets.

Firstly, the design is seamless. All the bags follow the cut of the garment perfectly, without any unnecessary protrusions, ensuring that the clothes remain smooth, beautiful, and neat when worn, without looking bulky or disheveled.

Secondly, it is completely silent. The interior is lined with soft cloth and firmly fixed with hard objects, so that when running or jumping, the objects will not collide with each other or make any unusual noises, and when sneaking around in the dark areas of the ancient tomb, it will not reveal its presence.

Thirdly, it is also sturdy. The interlayered fabric is double-stitched tightly, so even if the fabric is pulled hard, the hidden compartment will not easily break. The pocket opening is tightly fastened, and the contents will not fall out on their own even when running or bumping around.

As Jiangnan drew the interlayered lines on the brocade, he pondered to himself.

The wedding dresses made for Huang Rong and Xiaolongnu should be embroidered and shimmering on the outside, dignified and elegant, and festive for their wedding. The inside should have layers of hidden compartments, with concealed weapons in the sleeves, dried food stored in the skirt, medicine wrapped in the lapel, and secret maps hidden in the belt.

Fine clothes are merely an outward appearance for the world to admire; hidden storage mechanisms are the true source of confidence for navigating the world.

A single garment can be adorned with jewelry and makeup, or it can be equipped with all the necessary supplies for a long journey of adventure. In public, she is a gentle and graceful bride; in private, she is a wary and composed wanderer of the martial world. Exquisite brocade envelops the universe, and within a small space, it contains everything—this is the kind of martial world attire that only a master tailor could create.