A "Plain Sewing Sampler" or "Darning Sampler" was intended to showcase the wide range of sewing techniques and skills a girl or woman had. These skills might include hand sewing techniques such as darning, patching, hemming, mending, structural sewing (making pleats, inserting gussets, joining fabric with seams) making buttonholes and embroidery. Samplers could also be intended for practicing a particular technique. There were several articles printed in Australian newspapers around 1889 referring to the "Plain Sewing Movement". In 1889 a Melbourne branch of the "London Institute for the Advancement of Plain Needlework" was formed by a group of ladies led by Lady Loch and Lady Clarke with the purpose of teaching "plain needlework' to women and girls. "Plain Sewing" included fundamental stitches and techniques that were essential for practical clothing construction and maintenance. Several years later in 1891, another meeting was held at Clivedon (the residence of Lady Clarke) to look into the possibility of improving the teaching of sewing in the state schools. This meeting was attended by several school inspectors and the committee of "the Melbourne Institute for the Advancement of Plain Needlework". This "Plain Sewing Sampler" was donated from the estate of Susan Henry nee Vedmore (1944 - 2021). Susan's family (Harold and Gladys Vedmore) immigrated to Australia from Wales in 1955 and settled in Warrnambool. Susan was well known in the Warrnambool community for her work supporting children and families across the district - particular those with disabilities, or those who were homeless, unemployed or isolated. Susan was the founding trustee of the "Vedmore Foundation" - a Warrnambool philanthropic trust set up to support a range of charitable and not-for-profit causes by providing grant assistance. In 2021, she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community. It has not been possible to identify the lady (with the initials L. L.) who made this item in 1897 but it was thought to possibly be a female relation in her maternal (or possibly, paternal) grandmother's family. It has many of the same elements and techniques that were taught by the "Plain Sewing Movement" that originated in England at the end of the nineteenth century.This item is a rare example of the handcraft skills needed by women and girls in the late 1890's to construct and maintain practical clothing for their families.A cream flannel sampler made from three smaller rectangular shapes, displaying a wide variety of plain sewing techniques including hand stitched seams (french, bound and herringboned), darned patches, inserted patches, pleats, buttonholes, buttons, a gusset, pintucks, a placket, cross stitch initials and date (L L and 1897) and decorative embroidery.L.L. / ?? Yr 1897flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, warrnambool, sewing, plain sewing, sewing sampler, plain sewing sampler, darning sampler, hand sewing, textiles, susan henry oam, vedmore foundation, sewing techniques

A "Plain Sewing Sampler" or "Darning Sampler" was intended to showcase the wide range of sewing techniques and skills a girl or woman had. These skills might include hand sewing techniques such as darning, patching, hemming, mending, structural sewing (making pleats, inserting gussets, joining fabric with seams) making buttonholes and embroidery. Samplers could also be intended for practicing a particular technique. There were several articles printed in Australian newspapers around 1889 referring to the "Plain Sewing Movement". In 1889 a Melbourne branch of the "London Institute for the Advancement of Plain Needlework" was formed by a group of ladies led by Lady Loch and Lady Clarke with the purpose of teaching "plain needlework' to women and girls. "Plain Sewing" included fundamental stitches and techniques that were essential for practical clothing construction and maintenance. Several years later in 1891, another meeting was held at Clivedon (the residence of Lady Clarke) to look into the possibility of improving the teaching of sewing in the state schools. This meeting was attended by several school inspectors and the committee of "the Melbourne Institute for the Advancement of Plain Needlework". This "Plain Sewing Sampler" was donated from the estate of Susan Henry OAM nee Vedmore (1944 - 2021). Susan's family (Harold and Gladys Vedmore) immigrated to Australia from Wales in 1955 and settled in Warrnambool. Susan was well known in the Warrnambool community for her work supporting children and families across the district - particular those with disabilities, or those who were homeless, unemployed or isolated. Susan was the founding trustee of the "Vedmore Foundation" - a Warrnambool philanthropic trust set up to support a range of charitable and not-for-profit causes by providing grant assistance. In 2021, she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community. It has not been possible to identify the lady (with the initials L. L.) who made this item in 1897 but it was thought to possibly be a female relation in her maternal (or possibly, paternal) grandmother's family. It has many of the same elements and techniques that were taught by the "Plain Sewing Movement" that originated in England at the end of the nineteenth century.This item is a rare example of the handcraft skills learnt by women and girls in the late 1890's to construct and maintain practical clothing for their families.A cream cotton sampler made from three smaller rectangular shapes, displaying a wide variety of plain sewing techniques including hand stitched seams (french, bound and herringboned), inserted patch, buttonhole, button, gathering, a gusset, frills, pintucks, a placket, cross stitch initials and date (L L and 1897) and decorative embroidery.L L/1897flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, needlework, textiles, plain sewing sampler, darning sampler, handwork, sewing, great ocean road, susan henry oam, vedmore trust, hand sewing, sewing techniques

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain sewing sample child's top knickers with fine sewing on cambric and lace trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain Sewing certificates 1905 - Melbourne Institute for the Advancement of Plain Needlework - Annual examination for scholar's certificate. Elsie Naples 100%embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Childs knickers with fine sewing on cambric and lace trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Childs knickers with fine sewing on cambric and lace trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Childs knickers with fine sewing on cambric and lace trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Childs top with fine sewing on cambric and lace trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Childs knickers with fine sewing on cambric and late trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10. Elsie Brent-Clark was a foundation member of the EGV.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Childs knickers with fine sewing on cambric and lace trimming. embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain sewing sampler, on cambric.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain sewing sampler displaying hems, pleats.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain sewing sampler displaying hems, pleats, attachments.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain sewing sampler, embroidery in yellows and green on open weave fabric.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Plain sewing sampler, darning. Includes Mrs Robertson's Prize Certificate for floral darning repair.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

Mrs Brent Clark (probably)Fine natural linen child's smock open at the back with a drawstring at the neck. The whole is done in the most exquisite plain sewing (as a needlework exercise).embroidery, samplers, garments, plain sewing, 1900-20

It belonged to donor's grandmother and was possibly made by her.Cream night dress in fine cotton entirely hand sewn. Crocheted lace at neck. Name marked inside yoke in black 'Eldridge"embroidery, plain sewing, australia, 1900-20, garments

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Embroidery sampler - egg shell blue embroidery and darning examples.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

These pieces were part of the certificate course. 1972 a Book of Plain Needlework Samplers was added along with the examination certificates. Made by Mrs Brent-Clark when aged 10.Mrs Elsie Brent-Clark (nee Naples), a foundation member of The Embroiderers Guild Vic, at the Melbourne Institute of Plain Needlework from 1905-1908Swedish Huck weaving sampler in green , red and brown threads.embroidery, samplers, plain sewing, 1900-20, australia

This apron was done by a small girl in order to learn different needlework techniques and shows hemming, buttonhole edgings, bars, eyelets, darning, drawn thread and feather stitch. Made by the donor's mother Mrs J.B. Rentoul (nee Floretta Thomas) late of St. Georges Manse, Geelong and St. Andrews, Wagga Wagga, N.S.W. It was worked when she was six, for the Sydney Exhibition and was highly commended.Tiny dolls apron in white cotton with pale blue stitching.embroidery, samplers, dolls clothes, late 19th century, australia, plain sewing

The first Australian Exhibition of Women's Work was a national exhibition held over thirty-nine days in 1907 in Melbourne, and in the seventh year of the country's Federation. The exhibition was a celebration of the creativity and productivity of women in the manual and fine arts. It was visited by over 250,000 people who saw 16,000 exhibits by women from around Australia in competition for prizes, and 3,000 (non-competitive) entries from the rest of the world. It was one of the largest women's exhibitions ever mounted. The exhibition opened on 23 October and closed on 30 November at the Royal Exhibition Building.A prize-winning collection of early 20th century embroideries created by Emily Muriel Grace Davies, the daughter of the Mayor of Richmond. Most of the embroideries were created while Emily was a student of Baldur Grammar in Kew. Baldur Grammar was founded in 1897 and was located at 17-19 Denmark Street. emily davies, baldur grammar school, plain sewing competitions, schools -- materials technology, knitting, australian exhibition of women's work

This item is one of a collection of clothing items that belonged to the Stephenson family who lived at 22 McCracken Street, Kensington, Melbourne. Matthew Stephenson (1861 – 1943) who had grown up on the Bendigo goldfields and shifted to Melbourne in the early 1900’s was a train driver and later, a fireman with the railways. His wife Elizabeth Jane (Betsy) Wigley (1865 – 1953) also grew up on the goldfields around Majorca and Bendigo. They married in 1885 in Bendigo. They had two daughters – Ethel Evelyn Stephenson (1886 – 1956) and Lillian or Lila (1891 – 1977) who were milliners and dressmakers and who continued to live in the family home after the death of their parents. The family are recorded as living at 22 McCracken Street, Kensington, as early as 1914. It is not known who made or owned the clothing that makes up this collection but as it appears to be from the late Victorian and early Edwardian era however the vest was probably made by one of the three ladies of the house, for their husband and father, Matthew Stephenson. During W.W.2, a local Warrnambool couple (Meryl and Tony Everard) boarded with them – Tony was in the airforce training paratroopers to jump into (and survive) enemy territory and his wife Meryl worked in the Methodist baby Home. The Everards developed a close friendship with the Stephensons and were responsible for clearing out the house (and finding this clothing collection) after Lila died in 1977. Although by 1916, men's "ready to wear" clothing were widely available, this waistcoat was handmade (possibly by Matthew's wife or daughters). Men's suits in the early part of the twentieth century were predominantly three piece, consisting of a jacket, vest (or waistcoat) and trousers made from matching fabrics. Some men liked to wear a watch attached to their waistcoat with a fob chain. This item is an example of clothing worn by men on special occasions, in the late 19th and early 20th century.A man's waistcoat with cream cotton weave front pieces and cream cotton lining and back. The left front features five machine worked horizontal buttonholes and one vertical buttonhole (for a fob watch) and two inset pockets. The right hand side has five corresponding stud holes and one inset pocket. The studs or buttons are missing. The lining and back of the waistcoat are made from a plain cream cotton fabric. The back also features a cotton strap with a two pronged metal buckle.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, vest, waistcoat, needlework, sewing, stephenson family, man's waistcoat

This nightgown 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 as well as clothes for her children - adding her own handmade embroidered or crocheted decorative trim. This nightgown is machine sewn by Eliza Towns and she has added a detailed design of pintucks and broderie anglaise lace to the front yoke and cuffs as a decorative element. The 1800's bought a shift in attitude towards modesty as the Victorian era progressed and by the mid to late 1800's it had become more acceptable ladies to wear simple, modest nightgowns. They tended to have a very loose fit and were usually made of linen, cotton or flannel, which had the advantage of providing warmth and also being easy to wash - a necessity for a garment worn next to the skin. Although the basic design of the nightgown was fairly simple, the wearer was free to add various types of trim e.g. lace, crochet, pintucks, embroidery etc.This item is an example of the needlework skills of women in the late 19th century - combining machine stitching with hand embroidery to personalise and embellish a practical item of clothing. It is also significant as an example of a practical solution to the difficulties that women of this era faced with regard to the washing of clothes and household linens.Lady's long, white, cotton nightgown with a V shaped bodice decorated with bands of nine pintucks alternating with strips of broderie anglaise lined with pink ribbon. The opening front placket and neckline are bordered with a simpler broderie anglaise lace. The long sleeves are gathered into cuffs with a matching V shape, pintuck and broderie anglaise design. The front placket fastens with three cream buttons although one is missing. The back of the nightgown has gathered fabric on a plain, narrow V shape yoke. A narrow gusset has been added to the both sides at the bottom of the nightgown.Noneflagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, victorian era clothing, victorian era nightgown, nightgown, nightdress, eliza towns, nhill, wimmera, textiles, clothing, machine sewing, hand sewing, pintucks, broderie anglaise, sewing

In the early 20th century, smocking appears in women’s magazines and sewing manuals on garments, domestic textiles and children’s wear. The 1930s and 1940s were the heyday of patterns and innovative stitch development. Embroidery has always had a great appeal to women, as it needs few tools. Historically the skills were taught within the family or in primary schools. Articles to make or embroider had been available in kits since the 1850s. Fancy work, the opposite of plain sewing, enjoyed great popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries. Companies which manufactured threads often produced instruction guides and patterns. This instruction book has been well-used. A small 30pp book with no cover. It contains instructions for embroidery stitches, including smocking.book-embroidery smocking handcraft needlework

Vintage Australian book for the homemaker c1958. The book is published prior to the granting of equal pay, affirmation of women's rights, acceptance of working mother and career woman as the norm . The book reinforces the socially accepted concept of the married homemaker and mother as perceived at the time, now the idealised concept is questioned. At the time of publication and reprints this book was envisaged to empower women. Whether' a teenager, career woman, a young married or mother' as a 'guide, philosopher, and friend' The editor Alleyne Jukes was born in Warrnambool to Charles and Mary Jukes of the Floral Farm, Warrnambool. She attended Braemar Grammar School and Warrnambool High School. She lived and worked in Melbourne as a journalist and secretary living in St Kilda and Elsternwick 1949, Bentleigh 1954, Oakleigh 1963. In 1961 she gathered together a number of writers and consultants to produce Woman's World, a book designed as the woman's Bible to enable her to have access to expert advice and information about home and outside work fields. The book was hailed at the time as the only work of its type produced entirely for Australian conditions and was an immediate success appealing to a wide range of readers. A similar subject book of smaller size and format has been sighted 'The People's Home Library', 1910 reprinted in 1923 by RC Barnum published by The Oceanic Publishing Company. A Library of three practical books, Medical 478 pp, Home Recipe 238 pp and Home Stock 315pp.This book is a guide for everything from how to answer a telephone correctly to sorting out marital problems. A reference guide for how to be a complete and successful young woman. Courses on Beauty, Fashion, Poise and Personality, Cooking,Every Wise Woman, Love and Marriage, The Home, The Family and Interests and Hobbies. This book has significance for Warrnambool as Alleyne Jukes was born in Warrnambool and has strong family connections to the district.A hardback reference book 'Woman's World' with a cream vinyl binding of flecked fabric outside cover and spine. Gold gilt lettering for the title and a gold gilt rose motif on the front; gold gilt lettering and publisher's name on the spine; plain back cover. The endpapers are repeated of black and white pen ink drawings showing the roles of women on varying splashes of a vairety of mono-coloured backgrounds. A general index on page 602 plus cooking index page 606 and dressmaking and sewing index page 607. The 607 pages are printed on thick, gloss white paper for 64 pages and coarser, white matt paper for the remainder. The table of contents lists a pictorial Introduction and nine chapters (courses) 'that is a 'bible' to the woman 'cares' and is vital to her as her femininity'. The editor has a heading "WOMAN" The Unacknowledged Specialist" and signed with her printed signature...Alleyne Jukes.' No dedication included although a text from Proverbs 31:10-31 (The Capable Wife)alleyne m jukes, woman, self improvement, 'bible', warrnambool

A school sampler from the 1930's, demonstrating a mastery of numerable sewing skills: Buttonholes- both bound;6 bound buttonholes. Button loop fastening 17 rouleau loops. Seams: Plain flat seam, machine stitched-part neatened by hand, and part neatened by machine. An overlapped flat seam-machine stitched. Fasteners: Press-studs (3) Buttons (4) shanked and f;flat. Metal hook-and-eyes (3), one eye hand stitched, all attached in buttonhole stitch. Pockets: (2) Machine stitched. Collar: (1) Rounded ''Peter Pan"" collar, with bound placket opening, one pearl button, and hand stitched loop. Facings (3). One square, one round, one Vshaped. Pintucks: 4 machine stitched pintucks.textiles, domestic, school needlework sampler 1930's

Treadle sewing machine, Singer, with plain wood top and one drawer. Lid missing. Placed on black metal frame. see photosewing, sewing machine, treadle, singer

Chinese made container for sewing needles when needles were expensive.Decorative chinese carved needleholder in era when needles were expensive and items such as these were made in China for sale to European markets Carved in basket weave pattern ivory needle holder in shape of a Chinese umbrella with plain top and bottom band.needleholder, ivory

Pins are essential sewing tool, the second half of the 19th century saw mass production of them and many 'receptacles' to protect and keep them were made. Disc style pin cushions were very popular, this one has been made with elegantly carved ivory making it a status symbol. Era of improving technology for making pins, growing middle class with a taste for luxury needlework toolsSquare double sided ivory pin cushion with floral covering on one leaf, the other plain. Cushion covered in red velvetLow relief flowers with leaves - possibly lilac on decorated side.pin disc, ivvory