Category Archives: Sewing & Crochet

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

5 Ways To Attach Ruffles – Historical & Heirloom Sewing

5 Ways To Attach Ruffles - Historical Heirloom Sewing

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

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!

How To Sew Buttonholes On The Bias Step By Step Sewing Tutorial True Bias Buttonholes

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 is 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

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

Modern Edwardian Bra - Historybounding

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

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

4 Ways To Make Real Silk Roses

4 Ways To Make Real Silk Roses DIY Tutorial

All these silk roses are made with pure silk fabric and silk ribbon. Making real silk roses from scratch takes some time but it’s so worth the effort! Real silk roses look so luxuriant and almost like real roses! Besides, silk fabric and silk ribbon is perfect for DIY roses because silk is thin enough to be used double, drapes well and has a subtle sheen not unlike real roses. Continue reading 4 Ways To Make Real Silk Roses

How To Make A 1950s Petticoat

How To Make A 1950s Petticoat Tutorial

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

Edwardian DIY Silk Ribbon Rose – How To Make Ribbon Flowers

Edwardian DIY Silk Ribbon Rose - How To Make Ribbon Flowers

This Edwardian real silk ribbon rose looks almost like a real rose! To make this rose you’ll need silk ribbon in two shades of pink, green silk ribbon, wire and sewing thread. The silk ribbon rose takes some time to make but it’s so worth it! Continue reading Edwardian DIY Silk Ribbon Rose – How To Make Ribbon Flowers

How To Make Fabric Roses – Edwardian Tutorial

How To Make Fabric Roses - Edwardian Tutorial

‘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