Sewing Collection (#96)

Rug Seller - Grand Bazaar, Constantinople
Rug shop in the Grand Bazaar, Constantinople, with the proprietor examining a rug

Sewing Class, Darenth Training Colony, Kent
Sewing class at the Darenth Training Colony near Dartford in Kent. The colony, for adult mental defectives, was set up by the Metropolitan Asylums Board in 1904 as an addition to the existing Darenth

Education, girls, needlework
A young girl sits at a Singer sewing machine to hem a skirt during a needlework lesson at school

The New Dress by Lewis Baumer
Advertisement for Clark & Co and J & P Coats, manufacturers of silks and cottons for dressmaking, showing a young woman admiring herself

Emigrants sighting land, 1871
Engraving showing a scene on the deck of an emigrant ship, as the passengers sight land, 1871. In the foreground a lady is sewing and a family with very young children look anxiously towards land

Immigrant Bootmakers at Work, London, 1904
Engraving showing young male immigrants hard at work making shoes; stitching, sewing and hammering at a work table, London, 1904

Measuring Cloth
Photograph showing a woman measuring out enough fabric to make her own nightgown

Entertaining at Home
A scene in a middle class home where the lady of the house entertains a visitor with a hand-picked selection of books to read while she works at her embroidery

Lace-Cleaning & Repair
A photograph showing a woman at work restoring and cleaning lace, a possible occupation a lady could do from home in the early 20th century

Making Frilling
Photograph depicting a woman making a frill, perhaps to trim a hat

EMBROIDERY
Photograph of a young woman sitting working on an embroidery ring

Holiday Amusements
Holiday pastimes - the elder girl has her bike, her brother is off to play tennis, the youngest has a cart to pull - and maman has her sewing

Sewing Underwear
Photograph showing a woman adding trim and finishing touches to underclothes in 1911

Children / Nursery C1870
Three children play in the nursery while mother or nanny sits sewing by the window

Girl Sewing Late 19C
A little girl sewing

Papa Comes Home
While mama gets on with her sewing and the dog barks to be taken for a walk, papa is greeted by his little girl who has picked some wild flowers for him

Crystal Palace Electrical Exhibition
A series of pictures from The Graphic depicting various exhibits at the Crystal Palace Electrical Exhibition in 1882. The main picture at the top shows a domestic drawing-room lit by electricity

Pilgrims Progress 28
Mr Brisk finds Mercy yet again sewing clothes for the poor - What, always at it ?

Pacific / Sewing Machine
Civilisation comes to the Caroline Islands (West Pacific) - natives learn the wonders of the Singer sewing machine Date: circa 1900

Woman Sews Paper Pattern
A woman smiles as she sews. She has paper patterns pinned onto the fabric and wears a thimble to protect her finger

Stitching Mens Shirts
Women stitching gentlemens linen shirts in Ireland

Goethe / Weimar / Circle
JOHANN WOLFGANG von GOETHE German writer with his circle of friends at Weimar

First Fire of the Season
The First Fire of the Season. A contented Victorian family bask in the glow of the fire and their own goodness

Weaving and Spinning
Spinning, weaving, sewing, all in progress in this industrious household

Sewing Machine Girl
A gentleman walking down Londons Regent Street is struck by the sight of a pretty girl operating a sewing machine in a shop window

Boy at Tailors Shop
A young boy in a sailor blouse is measured for a new outfit. His mother, in a fox fur stole, looks on. Tailors sit cross legged on a table while another cuts cloth

Sewing by Oil Lamp Light
Woman using sewing machine lit only by the light of an oil lamp

Stitching Fur Cloaks
Men at tables in a workshop surrounded by pelts stitch fur cloaks. A customer lays down his money & places his order. The fur could possibly be ermine

Empire Day Flags
Women at sewing machines making Union Jack flags for Empire Day, (May 24, Queen Victorias birthday), which was celebrated between 1904 and 1958

American Sewing Circle
An American sewing circle. Ladies chat while they sew and are entertained by a few gentlemen callers

Sewing Machine Dog Power
M Richard, a clothing manufacturer of Paris, uses a large number of these dog- powered motors to run his sewing machines (note the water bowl kindly provided)

Needlewomen / Trayer / Iln
Three industrious needlewomen sit around a table sewing

Soviet Tailor Sewing
A Soviet tailor at work near the front, with his sewing machine set up on a table

Shoemaker 1867 / Gift Book
A Victorian shoemaker/cobbler at work

1940S Women Sewing
An elegant young woman, using her sewing machine

Sewing class in a German Catholic girls school
A sewing class taking place in a German Catholic girls school

SHOEMAKERs SHOP 1875
A shoemaker and shoe repairers shop and workshop, with two well-heeled lady customers admiring a display of shoes and boots

Housemaid sewing (Saturday)
Saturday: The housemaid does some sewing repairs

Intricate embroidery work, India, Asia

The Institute of Suz Hou Embroidery, Suzhou, Jiangsu province, China, Asia

Uros Island, Lake Titicaca, Peru, South America

An arabic women in Dahab on the Red Sea in the Sinai Desert Egypt making goods
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

School for embroidery, Quetta, Pakistan, Asia

Carpet makers, Tripoli, Lebanon, Middle East

Textile worker at his sewing machine, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan state, India, Asia

Nurse, Girl, Cats
A child with a cat in her arms has laid aside her doll to listen to her nurse who sits sewing by the fire, watched by another cat, as she recalls past days now long gone by

Tramp Mending Clothes
Visible mending - a tramp shows a bit of leg as he mends his clothes on a bench in Hyde Park, London, England

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"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.