English Eyelet Embroidery was very popular in 1889 as a means of decorating
shirt waists, collars, cuffs, etc. The following are steps a Victorian lady
would take to make this beautiful type of embroidery.
After the design was stamped or drawn upon the material, the form was outlined. An incision was made at the center of the form with a sharp pair of scissors, and clipped to the edge of the stamping. The raw edges were turned under with a needle, or, if the form was a large one, the extra linen was cut away to conform with the outline. It was then finished with an Over and Over stitch.
Stitches commonly used in English Eyelet Embroidery are the Over and Over
stitch, the Scallop and Buttonhole stitch, the Over and Over and Satin stitch,
the Oval Shadow Edge Eyelet with Buttonhole stitch, the Satin stitch, and the
Eyelet Stitch. Illustrations of each type of stitch can be seen below.
