Category Archives: Historical Sewing

34 Types of Seams – Historical Sewing

27th April 2022Historical Sewing, Sewing & Crochet18th century, 1920s, article, edwardian, hand sewing, resource, roundup, sewing, tutorial, victorianLina

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

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 →

5 Ways To Attach Ruffles – Historical & Heirloom Sewing

5th April 2022Historical Sewing, Sewing & Crochetedwardian, hand sewing, resource, 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 Join Lace – Invisible Seam

28th July 2021Historical Sewing, Lace & Embroideryedwardian, hand sewing, lace, lace tutorial, resource, 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 2021Historical Sewing, Sewing & Crochet, Themes Across Eras18th century, corset, edwardian, resource, 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 →

6 Ways How To Insert Lace – Heirloom Sewing Tutorial

23rd April 2020Historical Sewing, Lace & Embroideryedwardian, embroidery, hand sewing, lace, lace tutorial, resource, sewing, tutorial, upcycling, victorianLina

Learn 6 different vintage ways to insert lace and improve your heirloom sewing skills! So if you’re wondering how to add lace trim like in earlier times, read on.

Today, lace is usually inserted with zigzag stitches by machine. But in past, lace was either inserted by hand or with a straight-stitch sewing machine. In this tutorial I’ll show you 6 ways how to insert lace by hand or with straight stitches by machine. Let me know in the comments what’s your favorite way to insert lace! 😀 Continue reading 6 Ways How To Insert Lace – Heirloom Sewing Tutorial →

Edwardian & WW1 Tam O’Shanter Hats – Free Knit & Crochet Patterns

10th December 20181900s - Edwardian, Historical Sewingarticle, crochet, edwardian, hat, knit, outerwear, resource, sportswear, tutorialLina

9 free antique knit and crochet patterns for Edwardian & WW1 tam o’shanter hats!

‘It is often difficult to know what Christmas presents to give […] A warm hat is always serviceable.’ (Marin Journal, 1902)

The Edwardian tam o’shanter or tam hat – a soft knitted or crocheted wool hat – was the everday hat of Edwardian girls and sports hat of Edwardian women. ‘A small woollen cap […] which only needs two hairpins to keep it in place, is extremely becoming, and suitable either for summer or winter.’ Continue reading Edwardian & WW1 Tam O’Shanter Hats – Free Knit & Crochet Patterns →

The Edwardian Sweater Girl + 25 Free Edwardian Sweater Patterns

2nd December 20181900s - Edwardian, Historical Sewingarticle, dress, edwardian, outerwear, resource, sportswear, woolLina

Knit and crochet sweaters were an everyday garment for active Edwardian girls and women. Edwardian sweaters are still in style today. So knit, crochet or sew your own Edwardian sweater this winter following one of the 25 free antique Edwardian sweater patterns. Winter is coming! 😉

‘There is a proper and improper time to wear a sweater […] For country wear and sports it is frequently worn as the only outside garment […] For wear in cities and towns a contrary etiquette prevails. Continue reading The Edwardian Sweater Girl + 25 Free Edwardian Sweater Patterns →

How To Attach Lace To Gathered Edge – Historical Sewing

29th August 2015Historical Sewing, Lace & Embroideryedwardian, hand sewing, lace, lace tutorial, resource, sewing, tutorial, upcyclingLina

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

28th August 2015Historical Sewing, Lace & Embroideryedwardian, hand sewing, lace, lace tutorial, resource, sewing, tutorial, upcyclingLina

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 →

How To Make An Edwardian Lace Yoke

23rd August 2015Historical Sewing, Lace & EmbroideryDIY, dress, edwardian, hand sewing, lace, lace tutorial, resource, sewing, tutorial, underwear, upcycling, victorianLina

Edwardian dresses, blouses and underwear often had lace yokes. If you want to learn how lace yokes were made in the 1900s, you’ve come to the right place. Continue reading How To Make An Edwardian Lace Yoke →