Category Archives: Themes Across Eras

50 Historical Types Of Whitework Embroidery & Needle Lace

50 Historical Types Of Whitework Embroidery And Needle Lace

I love making historical lace and whitework embroidery. I often research how different types of lace and embroidery were traditionally called. But over time I forget the names again. 😉 That’s why I put together this list of historical lace and embroidery styles – rather for myself. But maybe you find this list useful too! 😀 Continue reading 50 Historical Types Of Whitework Embroidery & Needle Lace

7 Things I Like And Don’t Like About Wearing A Corset

Edwardian Unboned Sports Corset
Edwardian Unboned Sports Corset

First of all, I don’t wear corsets regularly in my everyday life. But a while ago I wore historical corsets everyday as an experiment because I wanted to find out how it would feel. And also to learn more about the pros and cons of wearing a corset on a daily basis. This is just my personal opinion, no universal pros and cons of everyday corset wearing! 😉 Continue reading 7 Things I Like And Don’t Like About Wearing A Corset

11 Tips On How To Dress Vintage & Historical Without Looking Too Costumey

11 tips how on to wear vintage and historical clothing in your everyday life without making people thinking you’re crazy or old-fashioned! 😉

How To Dress Vintage And Historical Without Looking Too Costumey

Do you want to wear your beautiful vintage and historical dresses in your everyday life? But you don’t want to look too costumey or old-fashioned? Below I share 11 tips on how to incorporate your vintage and historical clothing into your everyday wardrobe and how to style them to look modern! Continue reading 11 Tips On How To Dress Vintage & Historical Without Looking Too Costumey

50 Edwardian Pompadour Gibson Girl Hairstyles

The favorite hairstyle of Edwardian women was the pompadour hairstyle. They wore it as an everyday hairstyle and for balls and evening soirees. The basic Edwardian pompadour hairstyle is high over the forehead and close at the back with a bun at the top of the head.

50 Edwardian Gibson Girl Hairstyles

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Pompadour hairstyles became popular in the late Victorian and early Edwardian era. Almost all Edwardian women wore a variation of the pompadour coiffure. Continue reading 50 Edwardian Pompadour Gibson Girl Hairstyles

34 Types of Seams – Historical Sewing

Learn how to make 34 historical types of seams. For historical costumes and modern clothing!

34 Types of Seams Historical Sewing

The Victorians had a seam for every purpose! The following 34 historical types of seams have already been used since the Victorian era. While some types of seams are even older and have been used since the Middle Ages. You can use the following 34 historical seam finishes for your Victorian and Edwardian clothing. But of course you can also use them for your modern clothing! Continue reading 34 Types of Seams – Historical Sewing

10 Types Of Corset Boning For Historical Corsetry

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

10 Types Of Corset Boning For Historical Corsetry

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

History Of Candles – Oil Lamps & Fatwood Torches

DIY Stone Oil Lamp With DIY Rush Wick Stone Candle History Of Candles
DIY Stone Oil Lamp With DIY Rush Wick

History Of Candles

‘Artificial light is probably as ancient as the human race or the use of fire; but the means employed to produce it among the savage tribes have scarcely advanced beyond burning branches of trees or splinters of wood.

Torches were probably an improvement upon these; and lamps, even of the simplest kind, display a great advance in refinement, requiring a combination of contrivances, such as the preparation of oil, a vessel to hold it, and a proper substance for the wick. […] Continue reading History Of Candles – Oil Lamps & Fatwood Torches

How To Make Rushlights

Learn how to make rushlights with leftover cooking fat! You can use this DIY bacon fat candle with a DIY natural wick as emergency candle or as eco-friendly alternative to store-bought candles!

How To Make Rushlights DIY Emergency Candle Tutorial With Leftover Cooking Fat DIY Natural Wicks

‘”I have no more influence than a farthing rushlight.” “Well,” was the reply, “a farthing rushlight can do a great deal: it can set a haystack on fire, it can burn down a house; yea, more, it will enable a poor creature to read […] Go your way, friend; let your farthing rushlight’ shine. (The Christian Miscellany, And Family Visiter, 1868)

Rushlights are one of the most ancient forms of lighting: They were already used in the Roman Empire and they were still used in the late Victorian era, especially in working class households. Rushlights were a cheap alternative to candles: They were usually made at home by children, women or older people.

Rushlights are really easy to make: You can still make them today as eco-friendly and cheap emergency candle. Besides, rushlights are a great way to use up leftover cooking grease! All you need to do is to gather rushes in summer or autumn, peel and dry them and then dip them into cooking grease or tallow. Continue reading How To Make Rushlights

How To Make A Straw Hat From Scratch

Learn how to make a straw hat from scratch with straw or grass!

How To Make A Hand Braided 18th Century Straw Bergere Hat From Scratch

In the Victorian era, straw hats were made from scratch: Straw or grass was cut, bleached and then braided. By the way, straw braiding was called straw plaiting or straw platting in the Victorian era. These straw braids were then sewn together to make DIY straw hats. Continue reading How To Make A Straw Hat From Scratch