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.
Here’s my tutorial about how to sew an Edwardian lace yoke.
The neckline is finished with a hand-rolled hem …
… before I attached the lace yoke with overhand stitches. Here’s a close-up picture of an Edwardian lace yoke.
The blouse has pintucks at the back; and is closed with buttons, while the lace yoke is closed with snaps.
Here’s my tutorial about how lace insertions were made in the Edwardian era. I used this method for the top of the lace insertion.
For the bottom of the lace insertion I used method 2 of my tutorial ‘How to attach lace the Edwardian way‘ because it’s faster to make and the ‘white shadow’ is hidden behind the Maline lace ruffle.
I attached the lace cuff like here.
Challenge: 8 – Heirlooms & Heritage
Fabric: white 100% cotton UK muslin
Pattern: antique 1900s shirtwaist pattern adapted to make it fuller in front for the pouter-pigeon shape of the earlier Edwardian era
Year: 1903/ 1904
Notions: white cotton Valenciennes and Maline lace
How historically accurate is it? Very accurate
Hours to complete: about six or seven whole days
First worn: today for the photos
Total cost: 66$ / 59€
The lace blouse will later be part of an Edwardian lingerie dress which I’m sewing at the moment. The Edwardian lingerie dress will be worn over a mint green artificial silk corset cover and petticoat underneath – it’s the same fabric which I used for my 1920s afternoon dress. I’ve already finished the corset cover, and another white cotton petticoat because the mint green petticoat didn’t drape well with just two petticoats underneath. The mint green petticoat is partly finished but still without the hem, dust ruffle and flounce. And I haven’t started the muslin and lace skirt yet.
Beautiful work, pattern, and workmanship! Exquisite, actually. I have an old, hand-crocheted, Victorian neckline for a “waist” similar to this one except that is is squarish. It’s just waiting for someone to use fine cotton to finish it. You probably know lots more about Victorian clothing than I do but I have a great photo of my grandmother wearing a waist and wrote a blog post about how her waist and newspapers helped me determine the date of the photo. If you’re interested you can read it at http://nancysfamilyhistoryblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/beautiful-emma-and-her-lovely-waist.html.
Thank you, Nancy! And what a beautiful photo of your grandmother! 🙂
Your lace blouse is gorgeous! Thank you for sharing @Vintage Charm–pinned!
Thanks, Cecilia! 🙂
This is absolutely gorgeous. I love all the details, you work is exquisite. I look forward to seeing the lingerie dress.
Thanks for your lovely comment, Leanna! 🙂
Lina this is absolutely gorgeous, your sewing is beautiful and I love the details
Thank you, Amber! 🙂
Lovely!
What kind of buttons did you use at the back?
I’m trying to sew my own blouse but can’t find info anywhere about which types of buttons were used (size, holes/eyes or not, material etc).
Best Emelie
Thank you, Emelie! 😀 I used 2 hole plastic buttons, and snaps on the lace yoke. In the Edwardian era, blouses were usually closed with snaps, mother of pearl or celluloid buttons.