Monthly Archives: August 2015

Edwardian Muslin And Lace Blouse

Edwardian Sheer Cotton Muslin Blouse With Lace Inserts

I’ve sewn an Edwardian white muslin and lace blouse for challenge 8 ‘Heirlooms & Heritage’ of the Historical Sew Monthly. In the Edwardian era, this kind of blouse was called lingerie waist or blouse. I used sheer, white muslin for the blouse and cotton Maline and Valenciennes lace for the lace yoke and sleeve insertions. Continue reading Edwardian Muslin And Lace Blouse

1920s Pink Art Silk Scarf With Fagoting

1920s silk scarf with fagoting/ fagotting

‘To be really smart a scarf must be more than a strip of silk – it must have some note of interest in the way it is made’ (source).

I made the scarf with scraps leftover from my 1920s pink viscose rayon skirt. The rectangles are joined with fagoting. It’s a great way to use up fabric scraps! 😉 Continue reading 1920s Pink Art Silk Scarf With Fagoting

How To Attach Lace To Gathered Edge – Historical Sewing

How To Attach Lace To Gathered Edge Roll Whip Historical Heirloom Sewing Edwardian Step By Step Tutorial

Learn how to attach lace to a whipped hem. This tutorial to whip lace to fabric is from the Edwardian era. But you can still use it today for heirloom sewing and other fine hand-sewn garments. If you want to attach lace to a gathered edge at the neckline, lace cuffs to puff sleeves or a lace waistband to a skirt: this is the tutorial for you! Continue reading How To Attach Lace To Gathered Edge – Historical Sewing

3 Ways How To Attach Lace To Fabric – Historical Sewing

3 Ways How To Attach Lace To Fabric Historical Sewing Step By Step Tutorial

These three ways to attach lace to fabric are from the Edwardian era. In the 1900s, lace was attached to fabric either by hand or with a straight stitch sewing machine. Zig-zag stitches were never to sew lace to fabric in the Edwardian era. Continue reading 3 Ways How To Attach Lace To Fabric – Historical Sewing

Facial Cleanser And Toner – Victorian And Edwardian Beauty Routine And Recipes

Facial Cleanser And Toner – Victorian And Edwardian Beauty Routine And Recipes

The face should be washed just once a day with water, preferably in the evening before going to bed. To clean the face: Smear cold cream on the face, wash off the cream with Castile soap, then dip a piece of soft cloth in hot water and hold it to the face (If the water is hard, it should be mixed with a water softener.). Continue reading Facial Cleanser And Toner – Victorian And Edwardian Beauty Routine And Recipes

Edwardian ‘Shower’ & The Problem Of Hard Water – Victorian And Edwardian Beauty Routine And Recipes

Edwardian 'Shower' & The Problem Of Hard Water - Victorian And Edwardian Beauty Routine And Recipes

As bathrooms weren’t installed in all Edwardian homes, the usual method to cleanse the body was to dip a washcloth in a basin of water which was resting in a washstand. And even though the Edwardians couldn’t shower every day, they still washed the entire body at least once a day.

‘Cleanliness is the outward sign of inward purity. Cleanliness is health, and health is beauty’ (Manual Of Useful Information, 1893)

Related: 200+ Historical DIY Natural Beauty Products

But hard water was then as now a problem: It’s less cleansing for body and hair, and coarsens the skin. Edwardians advised to always use soft water for the skin or to make hard water soft. Continue reading Edwardian ‘Shower’ & The Problem Of Hard Water – Victorian And Edwardian Beauty Routine And Recipes