Sewing Collection (#97)

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

Singer Foldaway Model
This Singer model can be folded away so that your visitors will never suspect you make your own clothes (except by looking at the clothes)

Elias Howe / Worlds Inven
ELIAS HOWE American inventor of a sewing machine

Ww1 / Souvenir H-Made Card
Hand-made souvenir card. (View 1 of 2)

Sewing Machine Factory
The Singer sewing machine factory at Elizabethport, New Jersey

Sweatshop / Circa 1870
Women sewing in a sweatshop Date: circa 1870

Glover / 1647 / Broadside
A glover. These tradesman are preachers in the City of London, 1647. A satirical broadside on non- conformist preaching in London

C19 Sampler
A beautiful sampler by Susannah Hephzibah Haydon, depicting the alphabet in both lower and upper case, and bordered with flowers, hearts and animals

Advert / Anchor Thread 1 / 2
Clarks Anchor Thread - balancing (1 of 2)

Girls Sews Doll / Singer
A young lady carries out running repairs on her dolls clothes, without needing to take them off - proof of the versatility of the Singer 66 K6 electric table model

Tailors Workshop
A busy tailors workshop

Sewing Machines / Steam
Steam powered sewing machines

Barthelemy / Sew Machine
French tailor Barthelemy Thimonnier with his machine : he patented the first practical sewing machine in France in 1830

Wife Bought Sew Machine
Her husband stands over her, proud that he has been able to provide his little lady with a Household sewing machine to keep her usefully occupied

Gas Powered Sew Machine
This sewing machine is powered by a gas engine, which draws its gas from a wall socket : probably noisy and smelly, and certainly dangerous - but better than treadling !

Sewing in Switzerland
In Vaud, Switzerland, a young woman wears her traditional dress as she stands using her Singer

Singer Sewing / Georgia
A woman of Georgia uses her Singer machine while her companions use traditional methods and a handsome young man provides a musical accompaniment

French Woman Sews / Singer
A French housewife uses the treadle to provide power for her Singer

Tailor Measuring / 1770
A tailor measures the length of a gentlemans coat with a tape measure while his colleagues sew; the cat is very interested in a plate of fish brought in by a boy

Ladies Soire Early 1850S
Dark red dress: open bodice, basques, pagoda sleeves & 2 bands crossing over a habit shirt. Pink dress: vertical striped fabric worn with black lace fingerless gloves

French Children / Nursery
In the days before television, families would occasionly make their own fun; here, a toy theatre keeps the children happy while Mama does some sewing

Woman Darns Stockings
Her dog watches patiently while she darns a stocking in her underclothes

Sydney / Street / Photo
A street scene in Sydney showing shop signs, pedestrians and horse carriages

Girl in Yellow Dress Sew
A young girl in a yellow dress sits and sews

Ladies Sewing / 1850S
Open bodices with or without revers worn with chemisettes (with buttoned front, broderie Anglaise, volans), pagoda sleeves, various styles of engageantes & lace caps

Children Cleaning Home
Three children hoover, sweep and iron while mother does some sewing on a machine

Sister Minds Baby 19C
Baby is minded by big sister, who does a bit of sewing at the same time

Girl Minds Baby C1880
A little girl minds the baby and does a bit of sewing at the same time, while the dog sleeps at her side

French Bourgeois Family
Papa with his journal, mama with her sewing, the two older girls practising duets, the youngsters playing with the cat - while a log burns cheerfully in the hearth

Sempstress (Series)
La brodeuse - SEMPSTRESS - works at her sewing machine

Child Reads by Stove
A child reads a book in front of the hot stove

Girls Making Dolls 1878
Three little girls sit at a table in a shabby-looking room, making dolls for children better off than themselves

Social / Farmers Door 18C
A charming farmers wife dressed unsuitably in white wears a quilted petticoat & white mob cap. Her children wear loose frocks or a separate bodice, shift & skirt

New World Sewing Machine
A satisfied purchaser stands proudly behind her New World sewing machine

Various Household Tasks
Various household tasks, including washing, ironing, hanging laundry out to dry, spinning and sewing

C19th Lancashire Family
A Lancashire Working-man, who now lives " rent free", in his " own home". An idealised working class scene showing a happy and contented family

Snow White Mother
Snow Whites mother pricks her finger while sewing, and drops of blood fall on the snow- covered windowsill

She Hems a Curtain
She hems a curtain

Sewing Valentine Hearts
A hopeful young lady sews red satin hearts for Valentines Day

C17 Tailor / Woodcut
A pair of tailors at work : one, who wears a wig, stands at a table with shears to cut cloth, while his assistant sits stitching

Sewing Class, Africa
Benevolent colonialism - Mrs Shaws sewing class at Rabai, East Africa

A Weary Seamstress / 1840
A weary seamstress

Mary in Elizabeths Home
Mary in the house of Elizabeth

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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.