The same things dressmakers use today: cloth, needle and thread, scissors and patterns. They used dressmaker's dummies to determine the correct size, just like we do today.
Dress makers use sewing machines these days and some use needles and thread. But my question is what did they use back in the day?
If a bride was lucky enough to have a wedding dress in the 1850s then the collar was high (lace on the chestline and bodice) and the skirt of the wedding dress hung off the hip and went straight down (not snug) to her ankles.
trains, horses and cars
they made dresses and types of clothing for women
Most of your neighborhood "mom n pop" dress makers shuld be able to accommodate you. These dress makers often times have just the dress you want in stock they just need to make some slight alterations to accommodate your smaller stature.
Oops, 1950's !
they used sewing machines and lots of tools.
they use crinoline and s h i t
Why did the 1850s have no electricity?
Why don't micorscope makers use 100x ocular lenses?
Go on Google images and type kathrine fro the vampire diaries and she will come up in a dress choose your favourite one and tell a dress maker to make it for you, you may think that there are no more dress makers but just look for your local dress maker on the Internet.
The use of clippers ships decline in the 1850s, because of the oceangoing steamships. Theses sturdy iron vessels carried more cargo and traveled even faster than clippers.It was lunched first in Britain.