Example of C1950's domestic clothingC 1950's - Australian Home Journal Sewing Pattern No. 7828 - Ladies apron with waist tie & back buttoning - 2 pocketsVarious, some instructions, fabric requirements on reversedressmaking, women's clothing

Matron's frock Short or 3/4 sleeves, V-neckline Pleating on bodice and skirt Belted waistHome Journal Sewing Pattern No. 5413 Matron's frock - 34 to 48 ins Bust Short or 3/4 sleeves V-neckline Pleating on Bodice and skirt Belted waistHome Journalhome dressmaking, 1960's

Patch work quilts were made by women to decorate a cot or bed and to use left over material. They were backed to increase the warmth of the bedding. It was a leisurely occupation sometimes done in the home or with a group. These two quilts are of a decorative nature using scrap material and do not have a theme or particular pattern to them. These two quilts were made by women in the Kiewa Valley and were hand stitched.1. Hand-made cotton patchwork of varying colours and shapes of squares and rectangles. Back by a flannel sheet of flowers on beige or blue background. Suitable for a cot. No filling and slightly damaged with a small tear. 2. Handmade cotton patchwork of a square whose sides have been extended with rectangular strips of material. The back is a coarse wool with a greenish tinge and thin colored strips along its length on the sides. Suitable for a cot. No filling.patchwork quilts, home sewing

This chemise 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 chemise is machine sewn by Eliza Towns and she has added pintucks and broderie anglaise lace as a decorative element. A chemise was usually a sleeveless garment made of linen or cotton (so they could be easily washed) and its shape was much like a modern day nightgown. The name comes from the French word for "shirt" or "shift". Women wore chemises next to the skin (under the corset) to keep stains and odors away from the less washable corset and gown.This item is an example of the needlework skills of women in the mid to late 19th century - combining machine stitching with hand embroidery to personlise and embellish an item of clothing. It is also significant as an example of a practical solution to the difficulties of needing to regularly hand wash a bulky outer garment or gown in the Victorian era.A white cotton, short sleeved, knee length chemise. The fabric at the front is gathered on a yoke which is decorated with bands of five pintucks alternating with broderie anglaise lace and embroidered strips lined with pink ribbon. A different broderie anglaise design decorates the sleeve edges, neckline and center broderie anglaise strip. The back of the chemise is gathered on to the neckline. There are two bands of pintucks on each sleeve. The fabric around each armhole has been strengthened with another layer of cotton and a length of cotton has been added (from the left shoulder to the hem) to increase the width of chemise.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, south west victoria, victorian era, victorian era undergarments, chemise, victorian era chemise, undergarments, pintucks, victorian chemise, eliza towns, nhill, wimmera, home sewing, machine sewn, hand made

- Found in local Op Shop! - Tool used by home dressmakersC 1970's - Tool used to mark skirt hems accurately to chosen height - Wooden ruler in inches with adjustable metal marker for inserting pin into hem fabric - Metal tripod standEasy Hem Skirt Marker on wooden ruler Easy Hem Skirt Marker in metal markerdressmaking, home sewing

Woven cane sewing basket with lid attached by a cord. Lined in blue padded silk. Contains many items normally found in home sewing baskets - threads, buttons, hooks. crochet needles.etc.handcrafts, equipment

Home sewing pattern for children's clothingC 1950's Mme Weigel's Pattern No. 1229 - Child's pyjamas pattern - 2- year age group Pattern in paper envelope Two styles, one buttoned, long and short sleevesVarious, some advertising on rearchildren, domestic sewing

A home sewing needle kit. These paper sleeved novelty needle books were available in the late 19th Century. They were often free as a promotional give-away. In the 1900's they were colourful and fun.A vintage Novelty Needle Book made in Japan with 50 needles mounted inside a pop up card. The needles are presented in gold and red strips attached to a coloured card depicting two small children playing on a see-saw with their teddy bear in a garden. Five needles are missing. The back of the card is yellow and shows a girl holding a red rose.'Novelty Needle Book 50 Needles' is printed on the front of the card which shows two children playing on a see-saw with their teddy bear. 'Made in Japan' is printed at the bottom right on the front of the card.sewing equipment, sewing, sewing needles

This "sewing and darning" box was purchased before 1952 (the date that the Clark Brothers merged with J&P Coats). It was in an era where the production and alteration/modification to any household or personal clothing was carried out by a family member/s. This was at the period where self sufficiency in rural and especially remote areas was a requirement and not just a hobby. Clothing modifications and "hand me downs" was a way of life. The long and tiresome journey from home to millinery shops was a great force to ensure that home sewing was carried out in the majority of residential and farm areas.This sewing box was donated by a pioneer family in the Kiewa Valley. Its significance points to an era before the establishment of the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme and the establishment of the Mount Beauty Township. It was a time when the rural industries of the Kiewa Valley was rich in production of beef, dairy products, tobacco leaf and before the mass of alpine adventurers that tourism sparked. It was a time rural enterprises out shone tourism.This wooden sewing box is covered with decorative paper. The lid is fastened to the bottom section with two small hinges each having four screws. Each side is fixed to the other by a mortise groove. At the front of the box is a small clasp for complete closure. The box contains needles, darrning thread, thimble, a glass vial with metal screwtop and a red plastic cylindrical container with a thimble screw on top(contains a small reel with three different cotton thread compartments).On outside lid "FROM A FRIEND. I DO NOT WISH THEE GRANDEUR, NOR YET A STORE OF WEALTH, I WISH THEE RICHER TREASURE, CONTENTMENT, PEACE & HEALTH", On inside lid "USE CLARK & CO ANCHOR COTTONS FOR HAND & MACHINE SEWING ANCHOR MILLS, PAISLEY" Each of the different sewing boxes from the Clark Bros. has a label with different "friend" passages.sewing box, hand stitching, domestic clothes alterations, haberdashery

This machine was owned by Carmel & Fred Cullen (orchardists, Butt Rd Numurkah). Saved from the rubbish tip in the early 2000s The Free Sewing Machine Company, founded in 1870, was the predecessor of the Royal Sewing Machine Company, which was renamed in 1897. The company was known for its mail-order sales and department store distribution, and it produced machines for sale by mail-order companies and department stores. The Free sewing machine company merged with the New Home Sewing Machine Company in 1927 and later with National in the early 1950s. The company was bought out by the Japanese in 1954. Black treadle sewing machine (the upper part of a treadle machine only) with silver/white writing & emblems on the body. Is rusted in some parts. Is placed on a wooden baseThe Freetreadle sewing machine, sewing, free

Singercraft Guides were manufactured and sold between the late 1920s to the early 1950s and resembled long metal rulers with a slit along the length, closer to one edge than to the other. The Singercraft Guide attachments were made by Singer to allow women to sew a larger range of items with their home sewing machine than ever before. With the Guide, they could create anything from pile fabrics to home-made trims, Afghan rugs and even belts. It could also be used to create lacework and trimmings for clothing items. The instructions booklet was produced in 1932 to explain the use and potential of furnishings and trims which could be created.This item is significant because it was popular in the 1930s for women to produce home furnishings and clothing trims and decorations.An attachment designed to be used with Singer sewing machines to make a range of edgings for clothing and rugs. Made from aluminium, it resembled a long metal ruler with a slit along the length and featuring the Singer Logo on the bulb end.On bulb end SINGERCRAFT GUIDE 120987 "THE SIGN OF SINGER SEWING SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD" SINGER SEWING MACHINESsinger sewing machine, sewing machine attachments

These white cotton underpants were made for Mr Geoff Maggs by his mother in 1907 as his first underwear at age 2 years old. The Maggs family were early settlers in the Moorabbin ShireThe 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 that exhibit the skill and craftsmanship of the women in these families. White, cotton underwear for a 2 year old boy. Made at home on a sewing machine with hand feather stitching and factory-made guipure lace on leg-bands. Buttons at waist, and a tuck pleat to let down as child grows.clothing, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dendy henry, dressmakers, market gardners, early settlers, maggs geoff

Land was first selected at Murphy's Flat in 1865. The first Wesleyan church was built in 1866 and from 1869 this was used as State School 149. A purpose built school, No. 1311 opened mid 1876. The areas name was changed to Murphy's Creek in 1915.A blue and white exercise book. Attached within are various subscription receipts in the front and back, including the "Australian Home Journal," "Singer Sewing Machine Company," and an "Annual Audit of Depositors' Pass-books by the State Savings Bank of Australia. Also included in approximately half the book are handwritten record of correspondence notes in blue ink, many regarding sewing from 1949-1956.The Shell Exercise Book. Name: M. Symons (Handwritten Blue Ink). Grade: Murphys Creek. School: Via, Tarnagulla, Victoria (Handwritten Blue Ink). Receipts, Etc.(Handwritten Blue Ink), Approved by the Education Department. Shell Series. On the back is printed Arithmetic Tables and a Multiplication Tableexercise book, receipts, tarnagulla

This jacket was worn by Lynette Wekwerth when she worked as a volunteer in the National Wool Museum shop during the early 2000s. Lynette volunteered at the National Wool Museum for 25 years from 2001 until her passing in 2025, and was a much loved and respected member of the team. "I was born at Coonara Private Hospital at 173 Yarra Street, Geelong, on the 29th of March 1944, the third of five children. My father was in the RAAF when I was born, and on leaving the air force he became a carpenter/joiner. When I was young, we had the bread and milk delivered. There was a special tin for the bread and a big billy for the milk left of the front veranda to collect these items. My mother, elder sister, Wendy and my younger sister Zaidee, all went to “Physical Culture” held downstairs under the old Plaza Theatre building in Ryrie Street. We girls made our own sports clothes to do exercises (rods, dumbbells, and song and dance). It kept us fit, and we all won medals at some stage at the end-of-year concert. I was the only girl of my age in the street where I lived. There were boys my age, so I learned to play cricket and kick a football, all of which I did well. I attended Tate Street and then went on to Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College in 1956. Matthew Flinders was a domestic arts school, where I learnt sewing, cookery, home management, and how to be a ‘good’ housekeeper. I enjoyed all the domestic subjects. Ray and I were engaged in August 1963. We purchased our engagement ring in Melbourne and went to dinner at the Playboy Club in Melbourne to celebrate. In preparation for our wedding, I spent many hours making my own wedding dress (with assistance from my mother). We were married at 11 am on Saturday, the 10th April 1965 at St. Matthew’s, Church of England, Geelong. When Ray retired, he responded to an advertisement for volunteers at the National Wool Museum to be a volunteer. He started in 1998. The year that the ‘Pharaohs exhibition’ started. That was fine by me, as he wouldn’t be getting under my feet. At this time I was playing golf regularly and didn’t want to miss out on this activity. I joined the volunteers in the Wool Museum in March/April 2001. I was allocated to the Museum Shop and thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the shop staff. I then became shop assistant. I enjoyed talking and serving the customers. I was soon asked if I would mind repairing some of the garments that may have pulled a thread or a minor fault. I also enjoyed doing ‘stock taking’ in the shop. (Not many staff enjoyed this job, but I did.) In those early days, the Museum staff wore the red blazer and the black wool cardigan." - Lynette WekwerthRed jacket with two buttons and two pockets at the front, and two decorative buttons on each cuff. Jacket has National Wool Museum logo on the left lapel. printed [label]: SABENA / 14working life, volunteer, national wool museum, clothing, uniform, lynette wekwerth, staff, employment, wool clothing, geelong

This vest was worn by Lynette Wekwerth when she worked as a volunteer in the National Wool Museum shop during the early 2000s. Lynette volunteered at the National Wool Museum for 25 years from 2001 until her passing in 2025, and was a much loved and respected member of the team. "I was born at Coonara Private Hospital at 173 Yarra Street, Geelong, on the 29th of March 1944, the third of five children. My father was in the RAAF when I was born, and on leaving the air force he became a carpenter/joiner. When I was young, we had the bread and milk delivered. There was a special tin for the bread and a big billy for the milk left of the front veranda to collect these items. My mother, elder sister, Wendy and my younger sister Zaidee, all went to “Physical Culture” held downstairs under the old Plaza Theatre building in Ryrie Street. We girls made our own sports clothes to do exercises (rods, dumbbells, and song and dance). It kept us fit, and we all won medals at some stage at the end-of-year concert. I was the only girl of my age in the street where I lived. There were boys my age, so I learned to play cricket and kick a football, all of which I did well. I attended Tate Street and then went on to Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College in 1956. Matthew Flinders was a domestic arts school, where I learnt sewing, cookery, home management, and how to be a ‘good’ housekeeper. I enjoyed all the domestic subjects. Ray and I were engaged in August 1963. We purchased our engagement ring in Melbourne and went to dinner at the Playboy Club in Melbourne to celebrate. In preparation for our wedding, I spent many hours making my own wedding dress (with assistance from my mother). We were married at 11 am on Saturday, the 10th April 1965 at St. Matthew’s, Church of England, Geelong. When Ray retired, he responded to an advertisement for volunteers at the National Wool Museum to be a volunteer. He started in 1998. The year that the ‘Pharaohs exhibition’ started. That was fine by me, as he wouldn’t be getting under my feet. At this time I was playing golf regularly and didn’t want to miss out on this activity. I joined the volunteers in the Wool Museum in March/April 2001. I was allocated to the Museum Shop and thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the shop staff. I then became shop assistant. I enjoyed talking and serving the customers. I was soon asked if I would mind repairing some of the garments that may have pulled a thread or a minor fault. I also enjoyed doing ‘stock taking’ in the shop. (Not many staff enjoyed this job, but I did.) In those early days, the Museum staff wore the red blazer and the black wool cardigan." - Lynette WekwerthBlack woollen vest with four buttons at the front, and two pockets. Vest has National Wool Museum logo on left chest. printed [label]: BELLA / Collection / made in australia / WEKWERTH / TO FIT / SIZE / 12working life, volunteer, national wool museum, clothing, uniform, lynette wekwerth, staff, employment, wool clothing, geelong

Paper patterns have been used by dressmakers and home sewers throughout the 20th century and are still used today. The Butterick Company was established in 1863 and was the first to mass-produce sewing patterns. The company was acquired by the CcCall Pattern Company in 2001. Jessen Dress Materials shop was at 116 Lava Street in the 1970s and 80s and Bargain Box Fabrics took over the shop in the 1990sThis pattern envelope is of minor interest as coming from a local Warrnambool shop. It may be useful for display This is a paper envelope containing the instructions and cut-out material for making a woman's dress (day and evening) The envelope contains four loose items. Butterick 6939 Dress Material. No Exchange, Average Moins facilewarrnambool, butterick patterns, jessen dress materials

Paper patterns have been used by seamstresses and home sewers throughout the 20th century and are still used today. The Simplicity Pattern Company was established in New York City in 1927 by James Shapiro and distributes patterns world-wide. Spotlight is the largest chain store in Australia selling fabrics, craft and interior decorator supplies at 100 stores throughout Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. It is currently situated in Warrnambool at 84 Raglan Parade. This dress pattern is of minor interest as coming from a local Warrnanmbool shop. It may be useful for display. This is a paper envelope containing the instructions and cut-out material for a child’s dress. There are three loose items inside the envelope. ‘Simplicity, 7009, Daisy Kingdom’ ‘No Exchange, Spotlight, Warrnambool’ spotlight store, warrnambool, sewing patterns, warrnambool

This sewing machine was bought by Alex Craig's dad in 1942 for his wife whom he married in 1943. Alex's grandmother used it in 1942 to make button holes.Historical: Type of machine used by S.E.C.V. wives living in Mt Beauty in the 1940's, 1950's and 1960's. Ladies made the family's clothes and sewed for the Annual Church and chook fetes e.g.. children's clothes and dolls clothes. They bought dozens of dolls and made 'fairy' dresses for them using coloured netting.Green & white box containing black & silver metal with 4 parts for attaching to Singer sewing machine for sewing button holes."Singer Buttonhole Attachment" on green 'cloud' top of box. "The Singer manufacturing Company" on green 'cloud' on side of box. "For Light Manufacturing and Home Use" on green 'cloud' on side of box. "Made in Great Britain" on white top half of end of box & teen 'cloud' below end of box is "Singer / Buttonhole Attachment / No. 86662 / For Singer Lock Stitch/ Family Sewing Machines.singer manufacturing co.. clothes. fetes. domestic. sewing.

This sewing machine would have been used by some ladies to mend and make clothes for the family as shops were some distance away and to sew items for Church and School fetes.Used in the Kiewa Valley.Black metal Singer sewing machine with gold decoration and writing on its body and platform. It sits on a wooden tray which is hollow under the body with a separate space on the right hand side. The body of the machine can be lifted by hinges attached at the back. This would enable items to be stored in the hollow part of the box. Similarly the hollow section on the right hand side, which hasn't got a lid. The body has the needle and cotton attachments on the left and a handle for working the machine on the right. There is a metal rod at the top for the cotton reel. The body is attached to the platform at each side forming an arch. The top of the box has metal along its perimeter. At each end of the top of the box there is a plate with a small hollow rectangle in the middle enabling an attachment such as a board to be inserted for an extended bench.Front & back of body: "Singer". and at front on an oval brass plate: "The Singer Manfc. Co." Inside of body on left: "This machine contains / some substitute / parts and accessories" On metal platform on right: "Y3071189" Along top of body: "The Singer Manufacturing Co." On Wood right hand side: "Godfreys Ltd / 57 Gawler Place / Phone 460261 / No. 7063 singer manufacturing co.. sewing. fetes. home duties.

This dress is hand made possibly by a mother for her daughters. It is hand and machine stitched. This style of dress would have been worn for special occasions, eg going to church or special outings.This item is very significant for the following reasons. Historic and social - it shows what little girls wore during the early 1900's of the Kiewa Valley. It also shows fashion of the times and how these styles of dresses were made. All of which is valuable for research on these topics. There are only two of these dresses in the collection of the KVSH, and therefore would be very rare. The condition is good enough to display, therefore it has good interpretive capacity.Brown Cotton Dress. Top and sleeves are lined in calico. Home made, with manual machine stitches and some hand sewing. The dress has a high round neck and long sleeves. There is a band around the waist to which a gathered skirt it attached with hand stitching. Two different shades of brown are used on this dress. Back opens with 8 hooks. Water stains on dresschild, homemade, dress, girl, kiewa-valley

This pin cushion was in use when home spun "fashion" clothing was manufactured or altered. When this item was used it was in a period when distances from haberdashery stores was too far and mail ordered clothing would take weeks to arrive.The ability to make and alter clothing for families within the Kiewa Valley and its regions was a domestic requirement up until the later period(1960's onwards)This pin cushion, although rarely used in the 21st Century, with the availability of "cheap" throw away clothes, was very important to a well run rural household. The emphasis for girls to be able to sew and repair clothing was generated by mothers and continued at high schools. Part of the role of women(in this time frame) within the family was to manufacture children's clothing and adjust the growing waistline of their men folk. This item is very significant to the rural households in the Kiewa Valley because of the relative isolation of the region and the amount of wear and tear that clothes go through in a typical rural environment.This pin cushion is "home" made, circular and covered in a blue floral material, encircled with a light blue ribbon (glued on) for extra adhesion. The material encloses a padded surface(allows pins to be safely inserted for storage(future use).sewing, pin-cushion, haberdashery

Pleated ruffles were a fashionable trimming for ladies’ clothing in the late 19th century - early 20th century. Dressmakers and classy laundries offering “fancy” ironing services both had plenty of use for a pleating machine. Pleating machines were sold for home use too.This item is an example of a machine not commonly used today.Metal and wood pleating machine, still in working order. Handles are carved wood.textile-machinery sewing pleating-machine