Set of two cotton doilies, possibly hand made in the 1950s for domestic use. Doilies like this were used to protect furniture from scratches and for ornamental use. These doilies are embroidered using the cutwork method.2 cotton doilies (small ornamental mats), cream cotton fabric cut into the shape of a leaf with a small embroidered bunch of grapes.doilies, cutwork embroidery, soft furnishings, table linens

This crochet - work around the edge of this 'table runner', is an example of the skill and craftwork of the early settler women in the Shire of Moorabbin c1900 This crochet - work around the edge of this 'table runner', is an example of the skill and craftwork of the early settler women in the Shire of Moorabbin c1900An embroidered white cotton table runner with hand crocheted edge* tableware, linen, early settlers, moorabbin, cheltenham, bentleigh, dressmaking, craftwork, crochet-work, pioneers, market gardeners, cotton, damasque, silk, satin

This Item is one of four bedroom items hand made in circa 1900 by Amalihe Pierin. Her Son brought the item when he emigrated to Australia and members of the family still reside in the Kiewa Valley. Historically this item represents the requirement by families to manufacture a whole range of bedroom coverings due to the lack of professionally manufactured goods. Isolation from big towns or cities required local seamstress activities and therefore closer social bonding was a necessity. Although this item was transported from Italy to Australia by the son of Amalihine Pierin the significance still remains the sameLinen (white) cut work and hand embroidered central floral scene with decorative cut work above, leaf shapes 2cm border with triangular hand stitching tatting embroidery, handcrafts, bedroom linen, trimmings, cut work

This Item is one of four bedroom items hand made in circa 1900 by Amalihe Pierin. Her Son brought the item when he emigrated to Australia and members of the family still reside in the Kiewa Valley. Historically this item represents the requirement by families to manufacture a whole range of bedroom coverings due to the lack of professionally manufactured goods. Isolation from big towns or cities required local seamstress activities and therefore closer social bonding was a necessity. Although this item was transported from Italy to Australia by the son of Amalihine Pierin the significance still remains the sameLinen (white) cut work and embroidered central floral scene with decorative cut work above leaf shapes 2cm border with triangular hand stitching attine.embroidery, handcrafts, bedroom linen, trimmings, cut work

This Item is one of four bedroom items hand made in circa 1900 by Amalihe Pierin. Her Son brought the item when he emigrated to Australia and members of the family still reside in the Kiewa Valley. Historically this item represents the requirement by families to manufacture a whole range of bedroom coverings due to the lack of professionally manufactured goods. Isolation from big towns or cities required local seamstress activities and therefore closer social bonding was a necessity. Although this item was transported from Italy to Australia by the son of Amalihine Pierin the significance still remains the samelinen white cut work and embroidered central oval shape with matching floral design at either end with leaf leaf shapes above 2cm border with triangular stitching tattine embroidery, handcrafts, bedroom linen, trimmings, cut work

This Item is one of four bedroom items hand made in circa 1900 by Amalihe Pierin. Her Son brought the item when he emigrated to Australia and members of the family still reside in the Kiewa Valley. Historically this item represents the requirement by families to manufacture a whole range of bedroom coverings due to the lack of professionally manufactured goods. Isolation from big towns or cities required local seamstress activities and therefore closer social bonding was a necessity. Although this item was transported from Italy to Australia by the son of Amalihine Pierin the significance still remains the sameLinen (white) cut work and embroidered central design tatting diamond shape with embroidered scrolls either side cut work leaves top and bottom L shaped tatting inner border with triangular tatting 2cm outer bordered hole patternembroidery, handcrafts, bedroom linen, trimmings, cut work

From the trousseau of Lynn, Sam (Mrs). Samuel Lynn (1865-1949) was a farmer and grazier at Jarrahmond. Bred Clydesdales.This item has aesthetic significance as an example of a hand-made item of the early 20th century.Lace worked tea cosy with thick wadding to help preserve heat. White thread on white linen with silk lining.tea-cosy handcrafts lacemaking trousseau lynn-sam

Made by Mrs McKeown (nee Ford) and used in her house.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early to mid 20th century. Embroidery was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value to domestic linen and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes,A small pillow sham, square shaped, made from a coarse weave cream fabric front and a backing of bright yellow fabric. Four sprays of pink & yellow flowers with green leaves are embroidered onto the front. Around the edge is a border of drawn thread work which allows the bright yellow backing to show through.table-linen home-manchester hand-embroidery

This apron is one of several linen and clothing items that were made and belonged to Mrs. Eliza Towns and donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village. Eliza was born Eliza Gould in 1857 in South Melbourne (Emerald Hill) and in 1879 married Charles Towns. In the early 1880's they moved to Nhill in western Victoria and remained there for the rest of their married life. Charles was a jeweller and later became an accountant and for many years was involved with the Shire Council, the local show committee (A & P Society), the Hospital Committee and the Board of the local newspaper (the Nhill Free Press). They had three children and lived a life that would be regarded as comfortably "middle class". Eliza probably had a treadle sewing machine and would have made many of her own clothes - adding her own handmade embroidered or crocheted decorative trim. In March 1915 Eliza travelled to San Francisco to visit her son, James. She went by train to Melbourne ("a pleasant journey on the up express') and the next day caught the express train to Sydney. She noted in her letters home that a " number of young men were going to Sydney to enlist but they had to stop in the corridors most of the way as there was no room for them to sit down". She spent the night on the train and arrived in Sydney the next morning and on the following day she boarded the R.M.S. "Moana" (a steamer which took about twenty-four days to reach San Francisco). She returned from Vancouver about five months later on board the "Manuka". It is very likely Eliza took this "Travelling Apron" with her on her travels. Eliza was travelling by herself and had no one to help her with her dress or her hair. "Travelling Aprons" (also known as Toilet Aprons or Tourist Aprons) were designed with different sized pockets for holding a lady's toiletries - hairbrush, hair pins, comb and sometimes even soap and a powder puff. This allowed the owner, when travelling and getting dressed in small places such as an overnight train compartment or a ship's cabin, to have all her requirements at hand without needing to search for them or have them roll onto the floor. Some of the pockets are finished with buttoned flaps to keep the items in place and when not in use, the apron could be hung up or rolled up and put away. Articles about the "Traveller's Apron" appeared in numerous Women's columns in Australian newspapers in the early 20th century - often with instructions and sometimes a pattern. In the "Age" on Sat 5th October 1907 in a column titled "Feminine Facts and Fancies" the author wrote "No man can appreciate the difficulties of dressing in a "wobbly" train or trying to do one's hair while a ship is weathering a storm". A year earlier (Saturday 24th March 1906) in the same column, the author wrote "... you have to spend nights in a train... forever struggling to dress yourself in a wretched little lavatory. You know how your hairpins and combs jump all over the place ... a train is always at its liveliest when you're trying to do your hair. My travelling apron saved me many a rage."This item is an example of the needlework skills of women in the early 20th century - combining machine stitching with hand embroidery to personalise and embellish a practical domestic object. It is also an excellent (and rare) example of an early 20th century innovation that helped solve the difficulties of privacy and convenience that many women experienced at a time when travel was becoming more accessible to them. A half apron, made of ivory linen with two waist ties and seven pockets. Along the top are two smaller pockets with triangular, buttoned flaps labelled "Hairpins" and "Nailbrush" and one larger unlabelled pocket. Underneath are two larger pockets labelled "Brush & Comb" and "Work" and two unlabelled narrow pockets. The seams are machine stitched and the pockets are outlined with hand embroidered feather stitch. The labels on the pockets are embroidered in stem stitch."Hairpins" / "Nailbrush" / "Brush and Comb" / "Work"flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, nhill, eliza towns, apron, travelling apron, tourist apron, textiles, toilet apron, sewing, embroidery, travel, warrnambool, great ocean road, trains, ships, moana, manuka, feather stitch, stem stitch, fashion, handmade, clothing, charles towns, needlework

An item of Local significance for women in use of decorating their Domestic life in the mid 1920's. Usually these items were constructed with the use of their own handicrafts. The 'Sunday Best' status helped to present a civilised look to the one day of No work and Church in a family's weekly life.A lady's linen, hand embroidered full apron. Orange Flowers(Button hole stitch), green leaves (satin stitch) Featherstitch on pockets and edges of the garment.1 Tie is missing meaning that the apron cannot be worn.embroidery, hand, domestic, linen, silk, crafted, apron, sunday best, stranded, ties

This handmade women’s combination undergarment features hand-worked lace panels and trim, and fine pintucks. It is one of seven handmade items of white cotton underwear, all made with beautiful needlework and embroidery skill. The lingerie once belonged to the donor’s great-grandmother’s family, the Paton family of ‘Trefnant’, Yangery, in southwest Victoria. The design of this combination undergarment, or ‘combination’, includes a chemise attached to a pair of drawers or bloomers. The combination is divided, or bifurcated, from the waist to the crutch for easier urinating. This one-piece type of underwear was worn by females from the 1860s and into the early 1900s. The 19th Century garments had front button closures like this one, and those made in the 1900s more often had back closures. Combination underwear was popular because the all-in-one design had far fewer gathers and bulk, making the other clothing look much smoother. The collection of women’s late-19th-century undergarments is an example of clothing that women would include in their wardrobes. The garments add to the study of the evolution of women's fashions and practicality for the early Australian settlers. The fine linen fabric and the careful needlework in these handmade garments and hand-worked lace trims reflect the maker’s dedication to making even serviceable garments beautiful to look at and wear. Women’s white cotton and lace all-In-one combination undergarment. The handmade underwear is a combined chemise and bloomers. It has a front button closure and is trimmed with hand-worked lace panels on the bodice and lace edging around armholes, the neck, and the bottom of the legs. The left and right sides are divided from the waist to the crutch.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, southwest victoria, victorian era, combination undergarment, all-in-one underwear, combination, ‘combinations’, one-piece underwear, one-piece undergarment, chemise and bloomers, combination chemise and bloomers, divided, bifurcated, split, chemise and drawers, women’s underwear, ladies’ underwear, undergarment, women’s clothing, women’s fashion, lingerie, under-structure, 1900s undergarments, 19th-century undergarment, 20th century, handmade clothing, handmade lace, hand-worked lace, paton family, trefnant, yangery, lady's combinations, ladies combinations

This handmade women’s nightgown features hand-worked Broderie Anglaise yoke and trim. It is one of seven handmade items of white cotton underwear, all made with beautiful needlework and embroidery skill. The lingerie once belonged to the donor’s great-grandmother’s family, the Paton family of ‘Trefnant’, Yangery, in southwest Victoria. This design of nightgown was worn by females in the 19th century and is still worn today.The collection of women’s late-19th-century undergarments is an example of clothing that women would include in their wardrobes. The garments add to the study of the evolution of women's fashions and practicality for the early Australian settlers. The fine linen fabric and the careful needlework in these handmade garments and hand-worked lace trims reflect the maker’s dedication to making even serviceable garments beautiful to look at and wear. Women's long straight nightgown, white cotton, with long sleeves gathered at the cuff, stand-up lace collar, and a small catch closure on the bodice's centre opening. Hand-worked Broderie Anglaise yoke and sleeve tips.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, southwest victoria, victorian era, nightie, nightgown, women’s nightwear, sleepwear, night dress, women’s clothing, women’s fashion, lingerie, 19th century, handmade clothing, broderie anglaise, hand-made broderie anglaise, paton family, trefnant, yangery, nightdress

This handmade women’s camisole features hand-worked lace yoke and trim and a drawstring peplum waist. It is one of seven handmade items of white cotton underwear, all made with beautiful needlework and embroidery skill. The lingerie once belonged to the donor’s great-grandmother’s family, the Paton family of ‘Trefnant’, Yangery, in southwest Victoria. The collection of women’s late-19th-century undergarments is an example of clothing that women would include in their wardrobes. The garments add to the study of the evolution of women's fashions and practicality for the early Australian settlers. The fine linen fabric and the careful needlework in these handmade garments and hand-worked lace trims reflect the maker’s dedication to making even serviceable garments beautiful to look at and wear. Women's camisole, short sleeves and peplum waist. Handmade from white cotton fabric, with hand-worked lace sleeve tips, collar, waist trim and yoke. There are five buttons and two ties down the front.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, southwest victoria, victorian era, women’s underwear, ladies’ underwear, undergarment, under-structure, 1900s undergarments, 19th-century undergarment, women’s clothing, women’s fashion, lingerie, 19th century, handmade clothing, handmade lace, hand-worked lace, camisole, paton family, trefnant, yangery

This handmade women’s camisole features hand-worked lace yoke and trim and a drawstring peplum waist. It is one of seven handmade items of white cotton underwear, all made with beautiful needlework and embroidery skill. The lingerie once belonged to the donor’s great-grandmother’s family, the Paton family of ‘Trefnant’, Yangery, in southwest Victoria. The collection of women’s late-19th-century undergarments is an example of clothing that women would include in their wardrobes. The garments add to the study of the evolution of women's fashions and practicality for the early Australian settlers. The fine linen fabric and the careful needlework in these handmade garments and hand-worked lace trims reflect the maker’s dedication to making even serviceable garments beautiful to look at and wear. Women's camisole, short sleeves and peplum waist. Handmade from white cotton fabric, with hand-worked lace sleeve tips, neck trim and waist trim. Drawstring, tie and button closure.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, southwest victoria, victorian era, women’s underwear, ladies’ underwear, undergarment, under-structure, 1900s undergarments, 19th-century undergarment, women’s clothing, women’s fashion, lingerie, 19th century, handmade clothing, handmade lace, hand-worked lace, camisole, paton family, trefnant, yangery

This handmade women’s camisole features hand-worked lace yoke and trim and a drawstring peplum waist. It is one of seven handmade items of white cotton underwear, all made with beautiful needlework and embroidery skill. The lingerie once belonged to the donor’s great-grandmother’s family, the Paton family of ‘Trefnant’, Yangery, in southwest Victoria. The collection of women’s late-19th-century undergarments is an example of clothing that women would include in their wardrobes. The garments add to the study of the evolution of women's fashions and practicality for the early Australian settlers. The fine linen fabric and the careful needlework in these handmade garments and hand-worked lace trims reflect the maker’s dedication to making even serviceable garments beautiful to look at and wear. Women's camisole, short sleeves and peplum waist. Handmade from white cotton fabric, with hand-worked lace sleeve tips, collar and waist trim. It has button closures down the front.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, southwest victoria, victorian era, women’s underwear, ladies’ underwear, undergarment, under-structure, 1900s undergarments, 19th-century undergarment, women’s clothing, women’s fashion, lingerie, 19th century, handmade clothing, handmade lace, hand-worked lace, camisole, paton family, trefnant, yangery

This handmade women’s pair of bloomers, or drawers, features hand-worked Broderie Anglaise and applique trim and a drawstring rear closure at the waist. It is one of seven handmade items of white cotton underwear, all made with beautiful needlework and embroidery skill. The lingerie once belonged to the donor’s great-grandmother’s family, the Paton family of ‘Trefnant’, Yangery, in southwest Victoria. The collection of women’s late-19th-century undergarments is an example of clothing that women would include in their wardrobes. The garments add to the study of the evolution of women's fashions and practicality for the early Australian settlers. The fine linen fabric and the careful needlework in these handmade garments and hand-worked lace trims reflect the maker’s dedication to making even serviceable garments beautiful to look at and wear. Women's bloomers or drawers, handmade from white cotton fabric, with hand-worked Broderie-Anglaise trim around the bottom of legs with applique motifs. Bloomers have a drawstring, back of waist closure.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, southwest victoria, victorian era, women’s underwear, ladies’ underwear, undergarment, under-structure, 1900s undergarments, 19th-century undergarment, women’s clothing, women’s fashion, lingerie, 19th century, handmade clothing, broderie anglaise, hand-made broderie anglaise, paton family, trefnant, yangery, bloomers, drawers, underpants

This handmade women’s camisole features hand-worked lace yoke and trim and a drawstring peplum waist. It is one of seven handmade items of white cotton underwear, all made with beautiful needlework and embroidery skill. The lingerie once belonged to the donor’s great-grandmother’s family, the Paton family of ‘Trefnant’, Yangery, in southwest Victoria. The collection of women’s late-19th-century undergarments is an example of clothing that women would include in their wardrobes. The garments add to the study of the evolution of women's fashions and practicality for the early Australian settlers. The fine linen fabric and the careful needlework in these handmade garments and hand-worked lace trims reflect the maker’s dedication to making even serviceable garments beautiful to look at and wear. Women's camisole, short sleeves and drawstring peplum waist. Handmade from white cotton fabric, with hand-worked lace sleeve tips, collar and waist trim. Front closure.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, southwest victoria, victorian era, women’s underwear, ladies’ underwear, undergarment, under-structure, 1900s undergarments, 19th-century undergarment, women’s clothing, women’s fashion, lingerie, 19th century, handmade clothing, handmade lace, hand-worked lace, camisole, paton family, trefnant, yangery

This machine was made in Baden, Germany, for the Ward Brothers of Melbourne, who imported machines from various manufacturers and had them branded with their Ward Brothers decals. This machine is most likely dated after 1911, when the Ward Brothers became two separate businesses, as there are only remnants of two portrait decals on the machine bed. There is a fitted embedded ruler in the wood of the base. Many sewing machine manufacturers in Germany produced their machines specifically for export. A company could mass-produce its machines and give the same product several different brand names, according to their overseas buyers. There was a huge market for domestic machines as it enabled tailored clothing to be made in households at a fraction of the retail prices. Ward Brothers began in Australia in the late 1890s and early sewing machines sold by them had the three brothers on their decals. In 1911 the brothers divided into two separate firms, one operating on his own, the other two remaining together, and all still operating in Melbourne and at first still using the name Ward Brothers.This sewing machine is one of two hand-operated Ward Brothers machines in our collection that were made in Baden, Germany, and the only one that has the two Ward Brothers on its decal and that has side to side slide plates. This machine represents the early domestic market for sewing machines, making it possible for the everyday homemaker to produce fashionable garments and linen ware that was affordable. The owner of this machine could work at more than one location as it was portable and did not require a large space to set up. The machine is associated with the well-known Ward Brothers of Melbourne, who sold imported sewing machines that were branded with their own name.Sewing machine with case. The black-painted metal machine is hand-operated and the crank handle is wooden. The machine is on a wooden base and has a box included that contains many machine accessories. Made in Baden, Gemnamy, for Ward Brothers of Melbourne. There is an attached metal plate on the front with rows of groups of numbers on it. The wooden bed has an embedded ruler. The machine had decals with geometric designs and the maker's name.Printed in script: "Specially made in Baden / by Ward Broth Melbourne"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, sewing machine, hand operated, domestic sewing, homemade clothing, fashion, ward brothers, made in germany, baden, front and rear slide plates, post wwi, post 1911

In the 1820s perforated cardboard first became available. Then, with the invention of the printing press, designs such as sentimental or religious mottos were pre-printed on the card and a Victorian craze began as it provided a simpler and cheaper method of embroidering for the masses compared to the previously far more expensive linen embroidery. Over the following decades embroidering of punched-card grew enormously in popularity and a variety of articles from Christmas decorations to birthday cards, and in this case a Neele case to celebrate Queen Victoria's golden Jubilee in 1887. The pioneer settlers and market gardeners of Moorabbin Shire had to be self reliant and made their own clothing and utensils. This is one of many items used to exhibit the skill and craftsmanship of the women in these families. Small cream coloured Punched-Cardboard needle case,with red satin lining and red cross-stitch decoration. The case contains four paper packets each containing sewing needles of a different gauge. Each packet of needles is 3 1/2 cms long and 1 cm wide. The size of the needles In red cot tonCross stitch on one side of the card needle case the word "NEEDLES" is embroidered, and on the other side the word "JUBILEE". Inside the needle case is four packets of different sized needles, by Wm Mattins1887, queen victorias golden jubilee, victorian punched card work, hand embroidery, different packets, different gauge sharp needles, wm shrimpton and sons, william mattins, abel morrals, copestakes, cross stitch

This baby’s pram layette is an example of the dressmaking skills of the women of the pioneer settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in early 20thCEarly settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families.A baby’s pram layette in pale gold satin-type material, with ruching and hand embroideryclothing, brighton, moorabbin, linen, pioneers, haberdashery, market gardeners, dressmakers, craft work

These 4 hand-crocheted doily are examples of the dressmaking skills of the women of the pioneer settlers families in Moorabbin Shire c1900Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families.A set of 4 hand-crocheted white doilybrighton, moorabbin, linen, pioneers, haberdashery, market gardeners, dressmakers, craft work, crochetwork

3 doilies or tray-covers, with hand-made lace, hand embroidery and machine embroidery are an example of the dressmaking skills of the women of the pioneer settlers families in Moorabbin Shire c1900. The family of Carole Pedersen-Green were of Danish origin.Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families. The Danish heritage is an example of the many nationalities that were working and living in Moorabbin Shire3 tray – covers / doilies with hand made lace, machine embroidery and hand embroidery.brighton, moorabbin, linen, pioneers, haberdashery, market gardeners, dressmakers, craft work, green carole, pedersen-green carole

This crocheted nightdress envelope is an example of the dressmaking skills of the women of the pioneer settlers families in Moorabbin Shire c1900Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families A white, hand-crocheted, cotton nightdress ‘envelope’clothing, brighton, moorabbin, linen, pioneers, haberdashery, dendy henry, market gardeners, dressmakers, craft work

These 3 hand-embroidered cotton aprons are an example of the dressmaking and craftwork skills of the women of the pioneer settlers families in Moorabbin Shire early 20th centuryEarly settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families. The Curtis family were early settlers in Moorabbin ShireThese 3 lady’s cotton aprons are hand –embroidered, with bibs and waist ties.clothing, brighton, moorabbin, linen, pioneers, haberdashery, market gardeners, dressmakers, craft work, curtis may

These 3 hand-embroidered linen tea-towels are an example of the dressmaking and craftwork skills of the women of the pioneer settlers families in Moorabbin Shire early 20th century. Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families.The Danish heritage is an example of the many nationalities that lived and worked in Moorabbin Shire3 hand-embroidered linen tea-towelsbrighton, moorabbin, linen, pioneers, haberdashery, market gardeners, dressmakers, craft work, pedersen-green carole, green carole, denmark, scandinavia

These 3 hand-embroidered and crocheted tray-covers are an example of the dressmaking and craftwork skills of the women of the pioneer settlers families in Moorabbin Shire c1900Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families. Danish heritage is an example of the many nationalities that lived and worked in Moorabbin Shire 3 large cotton tray-covers with hand-embroidery and crochet-work.brighton, moorabbin, linen, pioneers, haberdashery, market gardeners, dressmakers, craft work, early settlers, pedersen-green carole, green carole, denmark, scandinavia

This hand-embroidered supper cloth is an example of the dressmaking and craftwork skills of the women of the pioneer settlers families in Moorabbin Shire c1900Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families. Danish heritage is an example of the many nationalities that lived and worked in Moorabbin Shire. A linen supper cloth with hand-embroidered Chinese lanterns and a crocheted edgebrighton, moorabbin, linen, pioneers, haberdashery, market gardeners, dressmakers, craft work, early settlers, pedersen-green carole, green carole, denmark, scandinavian

These 3 hand-embroidered cotton napkins are an example of the dressmaking skills of the women of the pioneer settlers families in Moorabbin Shire early 20thC Early settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families 3 hand-embroidered cotton dinner napkinsclothing, brighton, moorabbin, linen, pioneers, haberdashery, dendy henry, market gardeners, dressmakers, craft work

The blouse was made in Greece about 1945. The method used to create this fine embroidery was to copy a design from a cross stitch embroidery book guided by fine white tapestry threads tacked onto the yolk; when the design was finished, the embroiderer would pull out each fine white tapestry thread until only the embroidery remained around the yolk of the blouse.Throughout the centuries and up until the 1970s-80s, the women of Ithaca spun, wove, embroidered and knitted. Mothers prepared their daughters' 'glory boxes' trousseau (prikia), weaving bedspreads, rag mats (koureloudes) for everyday use, finer wool rugs for formal use, as well as linen sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels and tablecloths. Linen was also woven to make the mattress that the young brides would take to their future homes. Mothers also wove and embroidered the fabric for their daughters' underwear and petticoats, nightgowns, etc. Sewing of the garments was also done by hand. The girls embroidered handicrafts using various stitches, they crocheted lace, netted pillows and even linen carpets. The handicrafts were usually embroidered by hand in cross-stitch using linen and cotton fabric. At the time there were merchants who travelled to the villages to sell machine made goods for the trousseaus, but most of the dowries consisted of the beautifully crafted work of the women. In the 30's the SINGER Company came to Ithaca and taught the girls sewing on the machine. A handwoven silk blouse. Colour - ecru. Hand embroidered, hand sewn, very fine white tapestry was tacked round the yolk; a gusset was sewn under each short puff sleeve at the armpit; two-tone hand made silk thread cords were passed through the hollow border of the sleeves and neckline.

Clothing. Fine white linen fabric. A .8 cm 'tuck' edged at top and bottom with a spoke-stitched border, marks the waistline. Below the waistline is a peplum, split at the centre front with 8 cm deep peaks. These peaks are repeated at the centre back. The peplum tapers to 7 cm deep at side seams. The camisole is trimmed at the top edge with a 4 cm deep band of cotton lace. The top edge of the linen fabric has a double row (off set) of cotton embroidered 'spots' 2 mm in diameter, and three rows of drawn thread work - one cm in width, 3.5 cm wide lace form the shoulder straps. The back opening fastens with six tiny 7cm pearl buttons, and hand-stitched button holes. The lower button fastens with a loop at the waistline 1880-90's. A 'fan' of pintucks, arched from 4 cm long at the ends, to 6 cm long at the centre, fans the midriff at the centre front, above the waistline - 28 tucks in total.costume, female, camisole.