At the moment I’m making a DIY tape lace collar for my 1920s rayon chiffon dress. But instead of tape I’m using bobbin lace. This pretty 1920s dress with tape lace yoke and bertha collar and this original 1920s tape lace collar with bobbin lace were my main inspirations. Continue reading DIY Tape Lace Collar
‘In many cases no gift could be so useful as an apron, or nightgown, or petticoat neatly made, with loving thoughts stitched into the long seams and difficult gathers.’ (The American Girl’s Home Book of Work And Play, 1890) Continue reading Victorian & Edwardian Christmas Gifts – Part 2
‘Christmas is coming. […] Such a capering and hiding; stitching, knitting, clipping, cutting, and pasting; red paper and blue paper; spangles of gold and silver; purses, cuffs, lamp-rugs, slippers, and neck-ties; gewgaws, and filigree, and gimcracks; green trees, hung all over with colored balls, little angels, and candy horsemen; wax tapers and bits of looking-glass; such surprises hid in fancy boxes and bags, on the tops of the wardrobes, behind the bureaus, and under the sofas, for Tom, Dick, and Harry; mysterious whisperings, secret conferences, knowing looks, nods, and winks, and sudden hidings away of articles in progress of manufacture but not yet to be seen Continue reading Victorian & Edwardian Christmas Gifts – Part 1
My 18th century jacket is finally finished! Yay! I sewed the last two seams just some minutes before we took the photos! 😉
I wanted to sew woven fabric stockings for a long time, and now I’ve finally sewn a pair of medieval fabric stockings! I like how they turned out. And they’re really comfortable to wear! Continue reading Medieval Stockings
Jersey applique is so beautiful and such an easy project – even for a sewing beginner or for your kids! It just takes some minutes, and it’s a perfect project to use up all those jersey knit scraps. You can choose a simple design for your jersey applique, such as dots, stripes or flowers, or a more complicated pattern.
The jersey is appliqued with running stitches by hand. But even if you hate hand sewing, don’t fear: jersey applique is really easy and fast to sew. Continue reading Jersey Applique Tutorial
Lavender sachets were a popular gift in the Victorian and Edwardian era: ‘A delightful gift that will cost but little in time or money’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2a).
Lace lavender sachets are fast to sew and a great way to use up fabric and lace scraps. I used lace scraps from my Edwardian lingerie blouse and muslin scraps from my Victorian afternoon gown. (UK) Muslin is very sheer – perfect for lavender sachets. Continue reading Edwardian Lace Lavender Sachets – Tutorial
Learn to make drawn thread work by hand! Drawn thread work is a beautiful whitework embroidery! It’s easy to make but it takes time.
‘Drawn-thread work forms a connecting link between embroidery and lace work […] it is very durable, and washes well.’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2)
In this tutorial I’ll show you how to make basic drawn thread work by hand. Drawn thread work is a counted thread embroidery: Warp or weft threads are removed and the remaining threads are grouped together with hemstitches.
Drawn thread work has been popular for a long time. It was already used in the Middle Ages (source), and was still popular in the Victorian and Edwardian era and the 1920s. Continue reading Drawn Thread Work Tutorial
After I refashioned yoga pants into leggings and leggings into knee higs, I now sewed my first pair of leggings using narrow knit tubing. Continue reading DIY Leggings From Knit Tube Fabric
Fabric ornaments are easy to make and a great way to use up fabric scraps or to recycle old clothes. I reused old oven mitts, red knit stockings and a felted wool knit hat. Continue reading Tutorial: Fabric Ornaments – Heart, Star & Tree