Before the advent of synthetic paints, paints and varnishes were made from natural materials, such as linseed oil, water, milk and resin. Continue reading 50 Ways To Make Homemade Natural Paint & Varnish
Tag Archives: victorian
How To Sew A Tailored Jacket Or Coat – Historical Sewing
Do you want to sew a historical tailored wool jacket or coat? Learn how to sew a tailored jacket like in the Edwardian era.
Over the years, I’ve made various Victorian and Edwardian tailored wool jackets and coats. And I learned it the hard way that modern sewing instructions are often not very useful for historical tailored garments. ๐ If you want to sew a historical garments, it’s easier to follow historical sewing instructions from the start than to try to make an Edwardian tailored wool jacket using modern sewing instructions. ๐ Continue reading How To Sew A Tailored Jacket Or Coat – Historical Sewing
30+ Places Where To Buy Fabric For Historical Sewing
Do you need brush braid for an Edwardian walking skirt, synthetic whalebone boning for a corset or sheer India cotton muslin for a Victorian summer dress? ๐
This is a resource list for fabric & notions for historical costumers. Because it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find good (historical) sewing supplies, I’ve compiled a list of online stores where you can find fabric, corset supplies and other sewing supplies for your next historical sewing project! ๐ Most of the online stores are located in the US, EU & UK and ship worldwide. And if I personally bought something from one of the shops, then there’s a note. Continue reading 30+ Places Where To Buy Fabric For Historical Sewing
My Historical Costumes – Portfolio
This is a selection of my historical costumes that I’ve made over the last few years. Click on links below the images for the detailed posts about my historical costumes.
My current main focus in historical sewing is the Edwardian era: particularly historically accurate early Edwardian corsets, underwear and tailored garments, historical hand-embroidery and how to achieve the extreme early Edwardian silhouette. Continue reading My Historical Costumes – Portfolio
Free Patterns & Primary Sources For Historical Costumers

This is a list of primary sources for historical costumers – like antique books & newspapers – that I’ve found over the past few decades and that I find most helpful when researching a new topic – with a focus on the Edwardian era. And there are also links to free antique sewing patterns for your historical sewing projects! ๐ Continue reading Free Patterns & Primary Sources For Historical Costumers
50 Historical Types Of Whitework Embroidery & Needle Lace
I love making historical lace and whitework embroidery. I often research how different types of lace and embroidery were traditionally called. But over time I forget the names again. ๐ That’s why I put together this list of historical lace and embroidery styles – rather for myself. But maybe you find this list useful too! ๐ Continue reading 50 Historical Types Of Whitework Embroidery & Needle Lace
7 DIY Corset Top Tutorials – Upcycled Jeans, Stretch & Crochet Lace
I love sewing DIY corset tops! ๐ For my DIY corset tops I use sewing techniques inspired by my DIY historical corsets. But corset tops usually have lighter boning than traditional corsets. And you can also use all kinds of fabric for DIY corset tops: like upcycled jeans, upcycled T-shirts, cotton fabrics and lace fabrics. You can even weave your own fabric or make a crochet corset top from scratch! ๐ Below are 7 (video) tutorials for different DIY corset tops. Continue reading 7 DIY Corset Top Tutorials – Upcycled Jeans, Stretch & Crochet Lace
7 DIY Edwardian Sweaters – Refashion, Knit & Crochet
I love late Victorian and Edwardian sweaters! ๐ Over the years I’ve made various Edwardian-style sweaters: some are refashioned from modern sweaters and some are hand-knitted and crocheted. Below are 7 of my historical sweaters including tutorials on how I made the sweaters.
Continue reading 7 DIY Edwardian Sweaters – Refashion, Knit & Crochet
Victorian Stockings With Replaceable Soles

Unlike today, clothing in the past was made to last. So I was intrigued when I found a pattern for knit stockings with replaceable soles from the 1910s! ๐ There are some patterns for socks with replaceable toes and heels. But I couldn’t find a modern knit pattern for socks where the toe, heel and sole are replaceable. So I was eager to try making the historical wool knit stockings with replaceable soles. Continue reading Victorian Stockings With Replaceable Soles
How To: Modern To 1890s Sweater – Refashion Video Tutorial
If you love the look of late Victorian and Edwardian sweaters, but don’t want to knit a whole sweater with those big leg-o’-mutton sleeves: here’s my tutorial on how to turn a modern into an Edwardian-style sweater!
My refashioned 1890s sweater is inspired by the famous 1890s cycling sweater at the MET museum! ๐ I’ve always wanted a sweater like this with those voluminous sleeves without having to knit the whole sweater! Continue reading How To: Modern To 1890s Sweater – Refashion Video Tutorial