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.

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. Make A Pattern

Make your own pattern for the yoke and standing collar or use a commercial pattern.

2. Cut The Pattern Out Of Cardboard

Cut the shape of the yoke out of stiff paper or cardboard.

3. Baste The Lace To The Cardboard

Baste the lace trim to the cardboard with long running stitches and a contrasting thread. Use a strong sewing needle for this step.

Related: Edwardian Blouse With Lace Yoke

4. Gather The Lace Trim If Necessary

If the lace trim is very delicate and not very wide, you can just baste it to the cardboard without gathering it.

If the lace trim is wider and less pliable, gather the lace at the top edge with tiny running stitches. Or draw one of the threads at the top of the lace trim to gather it.

The Maline lace I used didn’t need gathering, while the wider Valenciennes lace did.

5. Sew The Lace Trims Together

Using a thin sewing needle now, sew the lace trims together with overhand stitches by hand.

Add more lace till the whole pattern piece is covered with lace.

Then make the lace standing collar. I used only Maline lace for the collar.

6. Remove The Basting Threads

Now remove the basting threads. And you’ve made your own lace fabric!

7.  Sew The Lace Yoke To The Garment

Attach the collar to the lace yoke, again with overhand stitches. Then sew the finished Edwardian lace yoke to the garment – either by machine or with overhand or running stitches by hand.

Related: 6 Ways How To Insert Lace – Historical Sewing

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.