Edwardian ladies and 1920s flappers applied face powder with a powder puff. ‘Take up but a small quantity of powder on the puff, and pass lightly over the face.’ (Household Companion: Book Of Etiquette, 1909)
Related: Victorian & Edwardian Face Powder
The powder puff was part of fashionable dressing table sets. The dressing-table ‘must be supplied with all needful accessories–brushes and combs, perfumes, creams and lotions, powder-boxes, powder-puffs, manicure set, etc.’ (Household Companion: Book Of Etiquette, 1909)
Related: Edwardian Interior Design
A powder puff is a quick and easy sewing project even for a sewing beginner. You don’t even need a sewing machine! This vintage powder puff is inspired by antique powder puffs from the Edwardian era and the 1920s.
How To Sew A Vintage Powder Puff
Materials:
- prewashed cotton flannel
- cotton wool
- silk or satin fabric
- optional: lace
- optional: ribbon
- needle and sewing thread
- scissors
Cut a circle out of the cotton flannel fabric, and a long rectangle of the pink satin fabric. The rectangle has to be as long as the circumference and wider than the radius of the circle.
With right sides together, sew the rectangle and circle together with small running stitches and an occasional backstitch. Sew all the way round the circle. Then sew the sides of the rectangle together.
Turn the powder puff inside out. The powder puff has now a cylindric shape.
Stuff the powder puff with cotton wool.
Now gather the pink satin fabric with running stitches.
Draw the gathering thread tight.
And hide the raw fabric edges inside the powder puff. Sew the opening closed with some stitches. This 1920s pink silk powder puff inspired me to use pink satin for my powder puff.
Optional: Add A Ribbon Flower
Some 1920s powder puffs have a ribbon rose as handle: 1920s lace powder puff and 1920s baby blue silk and lace powder puff. So I used pink satin ribbon to sew a ribbon rose handle.
Optional: Add Lace
This 1920s silk and lace powder puff inspired me to sew lace around my powder puff. Sew the lace with overhand stitches around the powder puff exactly where the satin and flannel meet. I used vintage cream-colored cotton Valenciennes lace. Cotton Valenciennes lace was often used in the Edwardian era and the 1920s.
‘Apply the powder with a piece of chamois leather, or, failing, a bit of wadding or fine flannel’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2).
Related: Homemade Edwardian Rice Face Powder
Please Pin It!
You have all sorts of neat ideas here!
Thank you, Allie! 😀
Oh My Goodness, my grandmother had something similar. You just totally made me think of her.
I’m glad it brought back happy memories! 🙂
How cute is that? Oh, how I loved putting powder on when I was younger!! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thank you, Jann! 😀
That is just gorgeous! Mimi xxx
Thanks, Mimi! 😀
You are so creative! Thanks for sharing @Vintage Charm!
Thank you, Cecilia! 🙂
This is so pretty. I remember being little and playing with these. Very nice.
Thanks, Leanna! 🙂
Such a lovely and sweet little powder puff! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by, Catherine! 🙂
Lovely powder puff, I think I am going to try one. Thank you
I’d love to see your finished powder puff! 🙂
This is so pretty!
Thanks, Cathie!
So pretty – I love reading about your vintage ideas.
Thanks, Jenny! 🙂
So pretty! Thank you for sharing at Ravenwould.
Thank you, Kileen! 🙂
I adore the gorgeous vintage things you make Lina
Thanks for your lovely comment, Amber! 🙂
Such a cute idea. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight.
Thanks for stopping by, Theresa! 🙂
I remember my grandmother having powder puffs like this for applying talcum powder after a bath or shower. It’s very pretty! Thank you for linking up at The Blogger’s Pit Stop. I’m sharing your link on social media.
Carol (“Mimi”) from Home with Mimi
Thank you, Carol! 🙂
Soooo pretty, what a beautiful accessory and made from little scraps too. Beautiful and elegant.
Thanks for your lovely comment, Julie! 🙂
Hi Lina, I just wanted to let you know your elegant little powder puff is a feature at this weeks Handmade Monday 🙂
Thanks for featuring me, Julie! 🙂
So pretty and creative. I found a vintage dresser jar this weekend while thrifting a puff like this would be the perfect accessory. Thank you for sharing at Snickerdoodle and I am featuring your powder puff today.
Thanks for featuring me, Sharon! 😀
So beautiful, sweet, and feminine! I love it! Pinned. The satin is wonderful for this. Found you on Snickerdoodle’s feature.
Thanks for pinning, Florence! 🙂
This powder puff is simply gorgeous, and the recipes for the powder are wonderful. One thing though, do you have printable instructions for this powder puff?
Thank you! 🙂 Sorry, I don’t have printable instructions for this powder puff yet.