Category Archives: Sewing & Crochet

5 Ways To Attach Ruffles – Historical & Heirloom Sewing

5th April 2022Sewing & Crochetedwardian, hand sewing, sewing, tutorial, underwearLina

In the Edwardian era, there were 5 ways to attach ruffles: with a receiving tuck, flat felled seam, finishing braid, French seam or whipped gathers. The first four can be sewn on a sewing machine, while the last one is sewn by hand. All these techniques have in common that the right and wrong side of your skirt looks tidy: there are no raw edges on the wrong side and the skirt is also much more durable than if you‘d use zigzagged or serged seams to attach ruffles. Continue reading 5 Ways To Attach Ruffles – Historical & Heirloom Sewing →

How To Sew Buttonholes On The Bias

18th February 2022Sewing & Crochetedwardian, sewing, tutorialLina

Sewing buttonholes on the bias grain of fabric is difficult. If you try to sew buttonholes on the true bias the fabric stretches and the bias buttonhole looks distorted. But there’s a trick how you can sew perfect buttonholes on the bias!

In the Edwardian era, buttonholes were often on the bias grain of fabric. Bias buttonholes with silk ribbon threaded through them decorated necklines and hems of Edwardian lingerie. My next sewing project was an Edwardian combination suit with 144 buttonholes on the bias. And because I didn’t want to sew all these 144 bias buttonholes by hand, I had to think of something to sew the bias buttonholes on my sewing machine! Continue reading How To Sew Buttonholes On The Bias →

Modern Edwardian Bra – Historybounding

29th July 20211900s - Edwardian, Sewing & Crochetcorset, edwardian, finished historical costume, historybounding, sewing, underwearLina

My modern Edwardian bra has a button closure, adjustable shoulder straps, elastic lacing at the back and is boned like a corset.

I made another historybounding garment! My modern Edwardian-style bra is inspired by antique Edwardian brassieres. But I’m wearing the bra as everyday bra because my DIY bra turned out so comfortable. Continue reading Modern Edwardian Bra – Historybounding →

How To Join Lace – Invisible Seam

28th July 2021Sewing & Crochetedwardian, hand sewing, lace, lace tutorial, tutorialLina

Do you need to invisibly join lace trim for your next sewing project? Learn how to sew an invisible lace seam by hand. This method to join lace is from the Edwardian era! Use this invisible lace join instead of a bulky seam for your next historical costuming or heirloom sewing project!

Currently I‘m making an Edwardian lace chemise for which I use lace scraps from my stash. And the Edwardians knew a method to invisibly sew lace together. This invisible seam works particularly well with lace that doesn’t fray badly: like cotton Valenciennes lace which I use here. Continue reading How To Join Lace – Invisible Seam →

10 Types Of Corset Boning For Historical Corsetry

29th April 2021Sewing & Crochet, Themes Across Eras18th century, corset, edwardian, sewing, underwear, victorianLina

Flat steel boning, spiral steel boning, German plastic boning (aka synthetic whalebone) – what is best for historical corsets?

Historically, corsets were stiffened with whalebone (baleen), whalebone substitutes – such as horn and featherbone – and later flat steel boning. Continue reading 10 Types Of Corset Boning For Historical Corsetry →

How To Make A 1950s Petticoat

3rd April 2021Sewing & Crochet1950s, sewing, tutorial, underwearLina

A 1950s petticoat has been on my sewing list for years! And now I finally made one. 😀 I like how it turned out but it took way longer than I anticipated: I thought a 1950s petticoat would be a quick sewing project – but it definitely was not! 😉 It took me ages to cut, gather and finish all those long tiers of the petticoat. Continue reading How To Make A 1950s Petticoat →

How To Make Fabric Roses – Edwardian Tutorial

30th March 2021Sewing & Crochetaccessory, DIY, edwardian, fabric flower, flower, hand sewing, pink, rose, sewing, tutorialLina

‘Roses and buds, lilies, daisies, violets, “forget-me-nots,” dahlias, asters, sweet peas, pansies, carnations, sunflowers, in fact, a great many flowers, are possible of charming reproduction from scraps of silk and ribbon.’ (The Art Of Millinery, 1909)

Continue reading How To Make Fabric Roses – Edwardian Tutorial →

How To Make Fabric Soutache

2nd February 2021Sewing & Crochetembroidery, sewing, tutorial, upcyclingLina

Soutache – also know as Russia braid – is used to embellish clothes. Soutache was especially popular in the Victorian and Edwardian era.

But instead of using store-bought soutache you can also make your own soutache with fabric. DIY fabric soutache is really easy to make. And you can use almost any fabric. I like to use rayon or cellulose acetate lining fabrics to make fabric soutache because it’s cheap, shiny, not too thick and made of natural materials. Continue reading How To Make Fabric Soutache →

DIY Felt Easter Bunny – Free Pattern

28th January 2021Sewing & Crochetbunny, DIY, easter, felt, hand sewing, sewing, tutorial, upcyclingLina

Make cute DIY Easter bunny ornaments out of felt! DIY felt Easter bunny ornaments are a simple and fun Easter craft for kids. With free printable pattern.

Inspired by my DIY crochet Easter bunny garland which is in the top 3 of the most popular posts of my blog – yay, thank you all! 😀 – I made cute DIY Easter bunny ornaments with gray felt. Continue reading DIY Felt Easter Bunny – Free Pattern →

How To Sew Scallops By Hand – Quick & Easy Hand Shell Edge

20th July 2020Sewing & Crochetedwardian, hand sewing, sewing, tutorial, underwearLina

A vintage sewing hack how to sew perfect scallops quick and easy by hand! Embellish your dresses and blouses with a perfect scalloped hem.

Scalloped edges were very popular in the Victorian and Edwardian era: dresses, blouses, petticoats, chemises and nightgowns – all were trimmed with hand-stitched scallops. Continue reading How To Sew Scallops By Hand – Quick & Easy Hand Shell Edge →