Sewing Collection (#5)

Sewing machine by Isaac Merritt Singer, 1880 (engraving)
530589 Sewing machine by Isaac Merritt Singer, 1880 (engraving); (add.info.: Sewing machine by Isaac Merritt Singer (1811-1875): Treadle version

8628888

8628885

8628883

8628886

"Threading the Needle" (b/w photo)
8630327 "Threading the Needle" (b/w photo) by Elliot, Nichol (1873-1917); Private Collection; (add.info.: "Threading the Needle." Illustration for Some Memories of a Scottish)

A Novel Raft (b/w photo)
8649196 A Novel Raft (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Novel Raft. Illustration for Things seen in Northern India by T L Pennell (Seeley, Service)

His only pair (colour litho)
8656260 His only pair (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: His only pair. A stitch in time saves embarrassing exposure)

A Hand-Sewing Room (b/w photo)
8652811 A Hand-Sewing Room (b/w photo) by English photographer, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Hand-Sewing Room)

8627021

Skeleton of death aiming a dart at a woman sewing a garment
5893165 Skeleton of death aiming a dart at a woman sewing a garment.; (add.info.: Skeleton of death aiming a dart at a woman sewing a garment. Death and the Seamstress)

Woman spinning. Dynasty Ch'ing or manchu. Chinese art, 18th century. Print
AIS5386904 Woman spinning. Dynasty Ch'ing or manchu. Chinese art, 18th century. Print.; Bernisches Historisches Museum, Bern, Switzerland

Illustration showing a Victorian, English, home worker with a sewing or embroidery bobbin working long hours for low
5310720 Illustration showing a Victorian, English, home worker with a sewing or embroidery bobbin working long hours for low pay.1843; (add.info.: Date: 1843); Universal History Archive/UIG

French countrywomen fascinated by a new sewing machine
5310307 French countrywomen fascinated by a new sewing machine; (add.info.: Engraving depicting French countrywomen fascinated by a new sewing machine)

Sewing machines: The Wanzer, Wright & Mann's, Grover & Baker's knotted stitch machine
2602857 Sewing machines: The Wanzer, Wright & Mann's, Grover & Baker's knotted stitch machine, and the'Florence machine

Woman using a treadle-powered sewing machine, watched by her small son. Engraving, London, 1890
2602839 Woman using a treadle-powered sewing machine, watched by her small son. Engraving, London, 1890.; (add.info.: Woman using a treadle-powered sewing machine, watched by her small son)

Advertisement for the Tom Good sewing machine, 1870
3479114 Advertisement for the Tom Good sewing machine, 1870; (add.info.: Advertisement for the Tom Good sewing machine. Birmingham, dated 15th January 1870.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Singer sewing machine, 1880
3479110 Singer sewing machine, 1880; (add.info.: Singer sewing machine (patented 1851) which made a lock-stitched by means of a needle and a reciprocating shuttle

Small hand-turned sewing machine, 1881
3479106 Small hand-turned sewing machine, 1881; (add.info.: Small hand-turned sewing machine. London, dated 1881.); Universal History Archive/UIG

WG Wilson's sewing machine attachments, 1880
3479104 WG Wilson's sewing machine attachments, 1880; (add.info.: W.G Wilson's sewing machine attachments: the plaiter or tucker)

WG Wilson's sewing machine attachments, 1880
3479100 WG Wilson's sewing machine attachments, 1880; (add.info.: W.G Wilson's sewing machine attachments: the plaiter or tucker)

A man reading poetry while his wife sews, 1891
3479119 A man reading poetry while his wife sews, 1891; (add.info.: Punch illustration 1891, depicting a man reading poetry while his wife sews.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Omnia sewing machine, 1890
3480648 Omnia sewing machine, 1890; (add.info.: Omnia sewing machine; advert, France, 1890.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine, 1880
3479109 Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine, 1880; (add.info.: Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine. New York, dated 1880.); Universal History Archive/UIG

WG Wilson's sewing machine attachments, 1880
3479103 WG Wilson's sewing machine attachments, 1880; (add.info.: W.G Wilson's sewing machine attachments: the plaiter or tucker)

WG Wilson's sewing machine attachments, 1880
3479097 WG Wilson's sewing machine attachments, 1880; (add.info.: W.G Wilson's sewing machine attachments: the plaiter or tucker)

Sewing strips to form hats, 1878
3479096 Sewing strips to form hats, 1878; (add.info.: Sewing strips of plaited straw together by machine to form hats. Luton, England, dated 1878.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Female seated with her sewing case on the table, 1882
3479051 Female seated with her sewing case on the table, 1882; (add.info.: Illustration shows female seated with her sewing case on the table. Dated 13th May 1882.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Female seated with her sewing case on the table, 1882
3479049 Female seated with her sewing case on the table, 1882; (add.info.: Illustration shows female seated with her sewing case on the table. Her husband is stood to the left of the image)

Small girl sewing, while seated, 1893
3479045 Small girl sewing, while seated, 1893; (add.info.: Illustration of a small girl sewing, while seated. Dated 1893, London.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Illustration to the poem Love Story from the book Childhood by Millicent and Githa Sowerby, published 1907
2638407 Illustration to the poem Love Story from the book Childhood by Millicent and Githa Sowerby, published 1907; Private Collection; Photo © Hilary Morgan

Mother's Darling
2602704 Mother's Darling'; (add.info.: Mother's Darling - engraving after the painting by Joseph Clark (1834-1926) published London, 1886. Mother saying goodnight to her child

8628880

Stickerin Und Spinnerin / Embroiderer and Spinner (colour litho)
8666204 Stickerin Und Spinnerin / Embroiderer and Spinner (colour litho) by Christophe (Colomb, Georges) (1856-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Stickerin Und Spinnerin)

Woman sitting and sewing with normal posture (engraving)
8655783 Woman sitting and sewing with normal posture (engraving) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Woman sitting and sewing with normal posture)

The gentle art of embroidery (litho)
8672090 The gentle art of embroidery (litho) by Flower, Clement (1849-1910); Private Collection; (add.info.: The gentle art of embroidery)

Wilson sewing machine, showing belt drive (left) from treadle, oil can (centre foreground)
538086 Wilson sewing machine, showing belt drive (left) from treadle, oil can (centre foreground), and spools for thread (right)

Lockstitch sewing machine, eight inches long x 2 inches wide, weighing only 8 oz, patented Berlin 1881. Engraving
538080 Lockstitch sewing machine, eight inches long x 2 inches wide, weighing only 8 oz, patented Berlin 1881. Engraving; (add.info.: Lockstitch sewing machine, eight inches long x 2 inches wide)

Illustration showing a Victorian pincushion and tape measure, 1879
5311112 Illustration showing a Victorian pincushion and tape measure, 1879; (add.info.: Date: 1879); Universal History Archive/UIG

The American Civil War
5310175 The American Civil War; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the American Civil War. A young woman holds a map of a divided United States. On the table next to her is an early sewing machine)

A young woman sewing
5312172 A young woman sewing; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a young woman sewing: needlework was considered a suitable employment for gentlewomen. Dated 19th century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Wilcox & Gibbs sewing machine, 1880
3479094 Wilcox & Gibbs sewing machine, 1880; (add.info.: Wilcox & Gibbs sewing machine. London, dated 1880.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Hand driven sewing machine, 1887
3479091 Hand driven sewing machine, 1887; (add.info.: Woman using a handle-driven sewing machine. London, dated 1887.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Younger women sewing, 1888
3479047 Younger women sewing, 1888; (add.info.: Illustration shows an older women watching a younger women sew. Dated 1888, London.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Repairing an item of clothing, 1882
3479046 Repairing an item of clothing, 1882; (add.info.: Female shown repairing a piece of clothing with a sewing kit. A female is stood to the left with her arms crossed)

Female seated with her sewing case on the table, 1882
3479031 Female seated with her sewing case on the table, 1882; (add.info.: Illustration shows female seated with her sewing case on the table. Dated 13th May 1882.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Repairing an item of clothing, 1882
3479029 Repairing an item of clothing, 1882; (add.info.: Female shown repairing a piece of clothing with a sewing kit that is placed on the table. Dated 1882.); Universal History Archive/UIG

A Griscom eclectic motor fitted to a sewing machine, 1884
3479118 A Griscom eclectic motor fitted to a sewing machine, 1884; (add.info.: A Griscom eclectic motor fitted to a sewing machine. Dated 1884.); Universal History Archive/UIG

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

"In Love with the Art of Sewing: From Betsy Ross to Margot Fonteyn" Sewing has always been a labor of love, an art form that weaves together history and creativity. Just like Betsy Ross sewing the first American flag, captured beautifully in Henry Mosler's painting, it symbolizes patriotism and craftsmanship. The Singer sewing machine ad from the 1890s reminds us of how this revolutionary invention transformed the way garments were made. The Singer Sewing Machines factory in Clydebank became a hub for innovation and mass production, bringing sewing into every household. In Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennett hopes her handiwork will impress Mr. Bingley - a testament to how sewing was not only practical but also a means of expressing affection. "The Patchwork Quilt" evokes memories of cozy nights spent under handmade blankets stitched with care and love. Muriel Dawson's illustration "Little Miss Natty Fingers" captures the innocence and joy children find in learning this timeless skill. Hand block printing at Crysede Island Works in St Ives transports us to Cornwall in the 1930s when artisans meticulously crafted unique patterns on fabric using traditional techniques. A dressmaker's workshop is where dreams come true as fabrics are transformed into beautiful garments that make people feel confident and stylish, and is here that fashion takes shape through skilled hands guided by imagination. Even prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn knew the importance of attention to detail; she repaired her ballet shoes herself, ensuring perfection down to every stitch. This dedication exemplifies how sewing extends beyond clothing into other realms of artistry. Welsh Lady using a Singer Sewing Machine showcases how these machines brought convenience even to rural areas, empowering individuals with their own creative abilities while connecting communities through shared experiences. Lastly, Wheeler & Wilson industrial sewing machine engraving from c1890 illustrates how technology advanced alongside the art of sewing, enabling faster and more efficient production.