I started the handwoven dress with a cone of beige cotton weaving yarn: I wove the yarn into fabric, washed it, dyed it and then sewed it into a dress. It was a lot of work but I love how my handwoven dress from scratch turned out! 😀 Continue reading How To Make A Handwoven Dress From Scratch
Because my modern 18th century recycled denim stays turned out so comfy I made another DIY corset top! 😀 This time I used handwoven fabric in blue and white for my corset top. The corset top laces up the back and is closed with hooks and eyes at the center front. It’s constructed using lapped seams and the old German stitch (also known as baseball stitch), and it’s unboned except for the two necessary bones at the back. Continue reading Handwoven Corset Top
All these handsewing stitches are similar but they’re not the same! Overhand stitch, overcast stitch, whip stitch and hem stitch – these four stitches are all slanting handsewing stitches. But do you know the difference? Continue reading Overhand, Overcast, Hem & Whip Stitch – What’s The Difference
After making an Edwardian chemise with crochet yoke, I always wanted to crochet an Edwardian crochet lace yoke from scratch! 😀 To make the yoke I followed a 1910s free crochet pattern. I used unravelled cotton yarn and threaded turquoise silk ribbon through the finished yoke. I love how the Edwardian crochet lace yoke turned out! Continue reading Edwardian Camisole With DIY Crochet Lace Yoke
Learn how to make 34 historical types of seams. For historical costumes and modern clothing!
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
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
Do you need to invisibly join lace trim for your next sewing project? Learn how to sew an invisible lace seam by hand. This method to join lace is from the Edwardian era! Use this invisible lace join instead of a bulky seam for your next historical costuming or heirloom sewing project!
Currently I‘m making an Edwardian lace chemise for which I use lace scraps from my stash. And the Edwardians knew a method to invisibly sew lace together. This invisible seam works particularly well with lace that doesn’t fray badly: like cotton Valenciennes lace which I use here. Continue reading How To Join Lace – Invisible Seam
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
Making an Edwardian leather belt from scratch is really easy and quick: It only takes a few minutes! Continue reading How To Make An Edwardian Leather Belt
Inspired by Edwardian sweaters, I refashioned another modern ill-fitting sweater into an Edwardian-style sweater! Continue reading Edwardian-Style Sweater Refashion – V-Neck & Bishop Sleeves