Net applique, with cotton bobbinet tulle or cotton Valenciennes lace, was very popular in the Edwardian era. In the 1900s, it was used to embellish clothing, especially underwear.
To make Edwardian net applique, you baste a piece of cotton tulle or lace to fabric, cut the fabric away behind the net and then attach the net with satin or other embroidery stitches. Continue reading How To Make Edwardian Net Applique
Venetian cutwork – not to be confused with Venetian needle lace – is a historical cutwork embroidery imitating Venetian needle lace (aka point de Venise). So Venetian embroidery is cutwork unlike point de Venise which is needle lace. Continue reading How To Make Venetian Cutwork Embroidery
Italian cutwork is a historical whitework embroidery. Italian cutwork is similar to broderie anglaise only with larger cut-out areas connected with bars. Continue reading How To Make Italian Cutwork
Punched work looks like drawn thread work but it’s much quicker to make because you don’t actually have to draw out threads! 😀 Punched work – also called Rhodes embroidery, pierced work or four-sided stitch – is a pulled thread embroidery from the Edwardian era. Continue reading Edwardian Punched Work – Pulled Thread Embroidery
Hedebo embroidery is a historical open work or whitework embroidery which originated in Denmark in the mid-18th century. Hedebo embroidery (hedebo means heathland) can be rather geometric or very floral or a combination of both. There are two basic embroidery stitches used in hedebo lace: buttonhole and overhand stitch. Continue reading How To Make Hedebo Embroidery – Basic Stitches
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
Learn 6 different vintage ways to insert lace and improve your heirloom sewing skills! So if you’re wondering how to add lace trim like in earlier times, read on.
Today, lace is usually inserted with zigzag stitches by machine. But in past, lace was either inserted by hand or with a straight-stitch sewing machine. In this tutorial I’ll show you 6 ways how to insert lace by hand or with straight stitches by machine. Let me know in the comments what’s your favorite way to insert lace! 😀 Continue reading 6 Ways How To Insert Lace – Heirloom Sewing Tutorial
Limerick lace is a floral tulle lace: It is hand-embroidered on machine-made cotton net. In this tutorial I’ll show you the basics of Limerick lace.
Limerick lace was made since 1829 in Limerick, Ireland, hence the name Limerick lace. There are two types of this beautiful, delicate lace: Limerick lace can be either worked as needle-run or tambour lace. In needle-run lace, the net ground is embroidered with a needle and darning stitches. Whereas in tambour lace, the net ground is embroidered with chain stitches and a tambour hook which is similar to a crochet hook. Usually, needle-run lace is more delicate than tambour lace, while some Limerick tulle laces use a combination of needle-run and tambour. Continue reading How To Make Limerick Lace By Hand
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
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