Tutorial: How to sew on shoulder boards and collar tabs

Disclaimer: I DO NOT SUPPORT ANY REGIME OR IDEOLOGY AFFILIATED WITH THE SYMBOLS SEEN IN THE VIDEO, NOR IS THIS INTENDED TO SPREAD HATE SPEECH OR PROMOTE ANYTHING SUCH AS RACISM, ANTISEMITISM, ETC.
FOR EDUCATIONAL AND REENACTMENT PURPOSES ONLY!!!
In this Video, I will show you how to sew on a pair of collar tabs and shoulder boards to a uniform jacket of the Reichswehr which was later used as an early uniform by the Wehrmacht. If you want to see any other uniform get done or any other tutorial to mount anything be it patch or medal, leave a comment bellow!

[@almarcson]

It’s like you read my mind, I’ve been lookin extensively for a tutorial on how to do this. Great work, and thanks!

[@germanuniformworks3009]

Glad I could help!

[@WEREWOLFxALPHA]

@@germanuniformworks3009 can I pay you to do my uniform 😅

[@germanuniformworks3009]

@@WEREWOLFxALPHA Just email ne and perhaps we can help you out! [e-mail]

[@JamieShiel]

Will be following this video when I get my uniform for reenactment

[@General.Longstreet]

Beautiful tunic !

[@Shushuganbei]

Please do a tutorial on how to attach the loops for medals on the breast pockets. Also the loops for ribbon bars. Thank you

[@robertsmith2829]

They're called thread loops, search you tube for thread loops to find out how to do them.

[@germanuniformworks3009]

I can certainly show how to do that but as Robert has mentioned, one can also find other tutorials around KZbin should I take longer to prepare the next project.

[@andreweckford6319]

Bit late, but this one went up a month ago - very clearly done. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6TNZ3l4Za1ga9U

[@robwrone]

Well done, looks clean 👌🏻

[@JK-vb8di]

beutiful tutorial, well done

[@Silver-Foxxo]

Perfect, this will help me sew my boards on my Hauptmann uniform for Luftwaffe

[@livelife5947]

6:31 it’s called a seam ripper.

[@germanuniformworks3009]

Thanks on that one!

[@roo99710]

Could you do a teutorial for SS uniforms? And maybe the sleeve eagle and cap totenkopf too?

[@garveymcneill138]

Thank you for the video-

[@DenKHK]

Just the kind of instructables that I've been looking up and down for! Clear, concise. What about the type of officer shoulder boards with a strap underneath? Unlike enlisted men and NCO boards the officer ones have no buttonhole on the strap.

[@germanuniformworks3009]

Do you mean a agguillette? Or the actually shoulder strap that attacehs to the belt?

[@DenKHK]

@@germanuniformworks3009 KZbin is really censoring all my replies...

[@DenKHK]

Let me try (yet) again ... if you google WH officer shoulder boards, you'll see the type of shoulder boards that I'm referring to. Has a thin strap underneath the boards that are as long as the boards but without buttonhole.

[@germanuniformworks3009]

@@DenKHK Now I understand! Shouldboards that have those straps underneath are generally for field uniforms meaning they are not sewn in. They come with or without a hole and are even simpler to mount. They also help for the shoulder-board not to fly around too loosely

[@DenKHK]

@@germanuniformworks3009 Finally, my message got through :PP So how does one mount the type without a hole in the lower strap? Button through the shoulderboard, loop the strap through the shoulderboard loop and then....?

[@robertsmith2829]

Where would you get silver embroidery ss officer collar tab cord from? I’m not referring to the trim braid around the tab. Or do you have a better name for the embroidery cord? thanks,

[@germanuniformworks3009]

Generally it is called metallic embroidery thread. It is almost like a very fine wire that comes in different sizes depending on where you get it from.

[@kdawg1076]

Could you do a video on how to fold litzens please I can't figure it out and it's a pain to deal with.

[@germanuniformworks3009]

I will certainly talk about that in the future. After the next project that is coming up I'll focus more on a enlisted tunic which will involve that.

[@comander2033]

Hello , I have a question , I got for myself one of these ribbons that for the life of me I can't remember the name of , it's the red white and black one you show in the beginning of the video and do not really understand how I am supposed to use it , at first I thought it was one of these ones you have to place between the 2nd button from the neck down but I couldn't make it work. Can you explain please ?

[@germanuniformworks3009]

The ribbon you are refering to is that of the iron cross 2nd class given during WW2. It is mounted on the second button, with its ends being mounted on the back. Does that help in any way?

[@comander2033]

@@germanuniformworks3009 Yes , how exactly do I mount it , as I am having problems with it , is it supposed to have holes in it or do I have to sew it ?

[@germanuniformworks3009]

@@comander2033 You hat to sew it to the inside of the jacket. I’ll do a Tutorial on it perhaps tomorrow or to help you out with it ;)

[@user-ns1mi3px9j]

Can u a tutorial for panzer uniforms

[@mr.s.7081]

Howdy! Do you know if it would be possible to sew in slip-on major boards? I've only seen pictures of those, but it looks to me like it wouldn't work, since it appears you wouldn't have any material to sew in, except maybe the strap.

[@germanuniformworks3009]

It’s definitely not possible because they were intended on being slipped on rather than sewn in. You would definitely need the right ones or attach material to the shouldboard itself to get it in properly, which probably won’t be easy either

[@mr.s.7081]

@@germanuniformworks3009 That was a fast response, and I guess it's morning where you're at! That's what I thought, but attaching material to the shoulderboard, I didn't think of that, I suppose it would be possible. The underlay would be black in this case, and then you would sew that and some black cloth together really tight, and then stick that sewn on material down the opening of the shoulder.

[@germanuniformworks3009]

@@mr.s.7081 That could certainly work. Just a bit of extra work in this case. And of course! I try to respond as soon as I can!

[@cristianocampos9153]

Hi. How braiding this type of flat soutache shoulder board?

[@squidgamepsycho9146]

Hello with the collar tabs, do they usually have spikes prong things in them? I have bought PLA ones. Rank ones and they do but I read somewhere even though they have the spikes things you still just sew it on the collar? Is that all true do you know? Thank you.

[@germanuniformworks3009]

Spikes? Not sure what you are refering to, however these types of collar tabs that I was using certainly had no spikes in them.

[@nathanrisch5919]

What if you already have shoulder boards stitched in can you make a tutorial on how to unstitch them?

[@germanuniformworks3009]

It is actually the same as sewing them in; simple open the shoulder seam where the shoulderboard is located and carefully open it

[@nathanrisch5919]

Thanks alot! @@germanuniformworks3009

[@mr.s.7081]

It's been over a year since you posted this video. I was wondering about the seam on the sides of the opening you made on the shoulder, did the stitching there start to come loose after a while? I mean, there was one line of stitches that you basically tore open in the middle, so that you have stitching without endings. Another question, I have a tunic very similar to yours from MH, but my shoulder boards are for jr officers. Do you think it would be possible to use your method to sew those on? I'd have to open them up on the underside to pull out the inner material (which is the same as on the upper side), the inch of it that is there. Obviously that material is much thicker than the white material on your shoulder boards. Also, I not sure how to stitch underneath the edge of the fabric. I imagine you'd have to have a needle that was rounded so that its tip would come out where you want it to.

[@germanuniformworks3009]

The stitches I made on the shoulder do stay and won't open, but on ocassion, when they do get used for reenacting or for show, sometimes add just a tad of Fabric glue (Nothing too drastic; just enough to add some extra security to the whole thing.) For Junior officers shouldboards, there are pairs that have open ends which are sown in, into the shoulder seam. You can open them as you have described and use the exact same method as seen here. A little bit tricky, but it does work. And sewing it shut can be done with a rounded needed, which in any case makes things easier though it does take practice to get the hang of it. I use a standard needle; to add, I usually sew through the jacket and shoulderboards and then tighten it up once I am done with the shoulderboard itself, that way I have enough room to sew into the jacket, etc. I hope this helps!

[@mr.s.7081]

@@germanuniformworks3009 It does, thanks! Just wondering, when you tighten it up, you make a few stitches next to where the shoulder board is sewn on, on the shoulder of the jacket? However, those stitches would be visible, I gather.

[@germanuniformworks3009]

@@mr.s.7081 First go through some bits of the jacket then the shoulder board and then through bits of the jacket. The ends do get tricky because everything being tightened up. You can also just loosely sew everything together and then tighten it up at the very end, if the helps. If you use the previous stitches of the jacket, it should stay perfectly hidden. Also opening less of the shoulder to barely fit the shoulder board in does help with that struggle, perhaps even allowing for simply glueing in the board itself

[@mr.s.7081]

@@germanuniformworks3009 OK and thanks for your help! One prefers to be a bit sure of how to do it before actually starting.

[@mr.s.7081]

​@@germanuniformworks3009 Except for stitching up the underlay of the shoulder boards that I had cut open to be able to pull out the silvery material, I used only fabric glue to fasten the shoulder boards to the tunic. Anyway, thanks for your help!

[@mr.s.7081]

Hello again! Where did you buy the shoulderboards?

[@germanuniformworks3009]

www.historical-militaria.com/germanww2/schulterklappen/generalitaet-der-luftwaffe-german-luftwaffe-generals-generalit-della-luftwaffe/generalmajor-slip-on-shoulder-straps-2-2-2-4-2-2-3-2.htm This is the link to the shoulderboards and where we got them from. I do hope this helps!

[@mr.s.7081]

@@germanuniformworks3009 Thanks!!

[@germanuniformworks3009]

@@mr.s.7081 Seems that the link had changed as they are general shoulder boards. Wehrmacht.es has the regular shoulderboards for officers as well; my mistake there!

[@larryblevins8078]

The tool is called a seam ripper

[@josebazaton615]

Nice video! Where did you get that tunic??

[@germanuniformworks3009]

I got it from Military Harbor. A decent site actually. One that should definitely be checked out!

[@josebazaton615]

Thanks! I wondered for long about the quality, I think i'll give them a chance!

[@germanuniformworks3009]

@@josebazaton615 It's not terrible but it is also not the best thing one could get. Definitely worth the price though

[@DenKHK]

@@germanuniformworks3009 on that note, where would you consider a good place for good quality, authentic (that is, using the original patterns instead of just suit coats in field grey) feldblusen? Opinions abound on the internet but hoping to tap on your 1st hand experience :)

[@germanuniformworks3009]

@@DenKHK If you really want to get as close as possible for patterns best places are probably Nestof as well as Epic Militaria, or if you want serious quality, you can go to Quarterdeck-Militaria. I do hope this helps!

[@CorneliusBogfrollupFitzgerald]

I got an Allgemeine SS uniform. I don’t have a loop on the shoulder. I can’t figure out how to put the shoulder board on. I can send you a picture over discord or something

[@germanuniformworks3009]

Hey there! Just saw the comment and here is the solution; simply send an email to the following address and we‘ll get right to it! ([e-mail])

[@CorneliusBogfrollupFitzgerald]

@@germanuniformworks3009 email sent.

[@frankmg4250]

And for "install" the Aiguillette?

[@germanuniformworks3009]

You would place the Aiguillette under the shouldboard before sewing it shut, or, use screw on buttons as a means to remove it any time

[@billb89]

I have a nice M43 that needs authentic insignia sewing. Do you know anyone in the US that can do it?

[@germanuniformworks3009]

Sadly, the last place I knew that could help went out of business. Most places will have you buy an entire uniform from them. The best Idea would be to find books that help with the insignia and perhaps find a tailor that could help. What specifically needs sewing?

[@billb89]

@@germanuniformworks3009 The toughest part for me will be the sleeve eagle zig zag stitching. Thanks for the assistance.

[@germanuniformworks3009]

@@billb89 We’ve seen people do it via hand or machine, though a machine capable of zig zag would certainly be better!

[@ddr_collector107]

Nice early waffenrock

[@thefrench8847]

Name Music Intro?

[@germanuniformworks3009]

Unfortunately we can no longer find the actual title of this piece however we do remember it was a march dedicated to the Jägers

[@gordonadamson5854]

Why not use a screw button?

[@germanuniformworks3009]

One could certainly add that to the uniform though for this purpose we didn't as that is a tutorial in itself for the future, surely

[@envitech02]

Excellent tutorial. However the uniform doesn't look complete without the Reichsadler (German Eagle) above the right breastpocket. Before and for most of WWII, Hugo Boss (Yes, THE Hugo Boss) did all the manufacturing for the uniforms. They do look dazzling and cool (from aesthetic and fashion point of view, not political)

[@germanuniformworks3009]

This uniform was still part of the Reichswehr. A late version of their uniform before being adopted by the Wehrmacht and later entirely removers.

[@envitech02]

@@germanuniformworks3009 Yes sir, My apologies, I missed that. You're right. This was shortly before the NSDAP came to power and in the early years of A.H.

[@pipermac]

Not trying to be too pedantic but the shoulder board is on the wrong shoulder...you can tell by the button loop...

[@gordonadamson5854]

Why do you feel you need to justify what you’re doing just do it and stop worrying What other people are thinking or have to say.

[@onlinecommentator2616]

Were the shoulder tabs sewn on like that by contemporary manufacturers? I would have thought the button was there for a reason haha

[@germanuniformworks3009]

Generally they were always sewn like this (Surely with different methods). The buttons would always be added last. The reason why we see them with buttons today already in place on the shoulder is simply for those that use slide on shoulder-boards, which in any case is wrong anyways for service uniforms anyways