Victorian Edgings For Undergarments

Elaborate knitted and crocheted edgings, worked in everything from fine silk to serviceable cotton, were an essential finish to Victorian and Edwardian undergarments. Later, manufactured lace took over, being cheap and ready, so the popularity of feminine trimmings continued, even when women had less time to knit them at home. Today, nylon or other synthetic lace is still the symbol of romantic lingerie.
A collection of eyelet patterns for edgings was a useful thing to have in the nineteenth century, as the basic eyelet design is simple and fast to knit up. Some eyelets form shapes like a daisy, others are more like a veil. Petticoats often had a wide edging of 30 to 40 stitches deep, while the narrow trimmings used on camisoles could be as little as 5 or 6 stitches.
What is the price of hand made lace today? It's value goes on time as much as skill, because not many are prepared to sit for days producing maybe a few inches per hour. Thread arts like bobbin lace have the most fragile appearance, demanding mastery as well as a precious amount of time. The finest lace is almost priceless, as it was in earlier centuries when royalty and the noble gentry wore it. Nevertheless you are free to re-create the most exquisite of these laces, and the time you devote to it will at least bring you immense satisfaction.
I have designed a pair of mid-Victorian drawers (open leg style, also termed crotchless, as was the fashion) that begins with an eleven stitch wide knitted edging. The rest of the garment is in plain stocking stitch using 4ply (baby weight) wool and a set of four needles size 3.25mm. This is an interesting way to try out an easy eyelet edging. The pattern is given in parts to make each section clear and is taken from my weekly column "A Crinoline In The Bush". To go to the drawers pattern click here.

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