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.
Related: How To Make Edwardian Lace Applique
How To Make An Edwardian Lace Yoke
You’ll Need:
- lace – I used cotton Maline and Valenciennes lace
- sewing thread
- sewing needle
- scissors
- cardboard or stiff paper
- yoke pattern
1. Cut Pattern Out Of Paper
Make your own pattern for the yoke or use a commercial pattern. Then cut the shape of the yoke out of stiff paper or cardboard.
2. Baste Lace To Paper
Baste the lace trim to the paper yoke with long running stitches and a contrasting thread. Use a strong sewing needle for this step.
Related: How To Join Lace – Invisible Seam
3. Pull Thread To Gather Lace
If the lace trim is very delicate and not very wide, you can just baste it to the paper without gathering it. However, if the lace trim is wider and less pliable, gather the lace at the top edge with tiny running stitches. Or pull one of the threads at the top of the lace trim to gather it.
4. Sew Lace Trims Together
Using a thin sewing needle now, sew the lace trims together with overhand stitches.
Related: How To Make Eyelet Lace By Hand
5. Remove Basting Stitches
Now remove the basting stitches. And you made your own lace fabric!
6. Sew Lace Yoke To Garment
Sew the finished Edwardian lace yoke to the garment. If you used rather stiff lace, like cotton bobbin or needle lace, you can attach the yoke with straight stitches on your sewing machine. But if you used soft, delicate lace, like cotton Maline or Valenciennes lace, better attach the yoke with overhand or running stitches by hand.
You can also use decorative stitches like fagoting or Bermuda fagoting to attach your lace yoke.
My Historical Costumes With DIY Lace Yokes
Click on the links below to see some of my garments that I have made DIY lace yokes for.
In Short: How To Make An Edwardian Lace Yoke – Historical Sewing
1. Cut the shape of the yoke out of paper or cardboard.
2. Baste the lace trims to the paper.
3. Sew the lace trims together with overhand stitches by hand.
4. Remove the basting threads.
5. Sew the lace yoke to the garment.
Please Pin It!
How pretty! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
Thanks, Sherry!
This is very cool. Pinning for future reference in case I ever need it at my community theatre group. Thank you for sharing! I am visiting you from The Charm of Home.
Thanks for stopping by!
I absolutely love your page!! Thank you!!!!
Thank you, Alexis! 😀