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Jane Austen's Sewing Box: Craft Projects & Stories from Jane Austen's Novels
"Jane Austen's Sewing Box opens a window into the lives of Regency women during a beautiful period in arts, crafts and design. Jennifer Forest examines Jane Austen's novels and letters to reveal a world where women are gripped by crazes for painting on glass and for netting purses, economise by trimming an old bonnet, or eagerly turn to their sewing to avoid an uncomfortable conversation. Based on Jane Austen's novels and with illustrated step-by-step instructions for eighteen craft projects, this beautifully presented book will delight Jane Austen fans, lovers of history and literature and craft enthusiasts alike."
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 17, 2016
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOOOOOOVE!! I need to buy this one! If you're a Janeite and love sewing, I highly, highly recommend it! Must have! :D Proper review coming when I have read it all.
October 10, 2020
‘Craft Projects and stories from Jane Austen’s novels’
So, Gentle Reader, you are interested in the crafts practised in Miss Austen’s novels? Perhaps you wondered about all of that stitching that genteel women pursued while discussing life and marriage? How did they do it and what materials were used?
In this beautifully illustrated book, Ms Forest provides a social history of the late 18th century as viewed by Miss Austen and her characters. She includes snippets of the novels relevant to the craft projects described and illustrated.
Which crafts? Mainly fancywork: the type of decorative work undertaken by ladies while visiting. There are eighteen projects in this book: each illustrated and with clear directions so that you, Gentle reader, can also make pieces familiar to Miss Austen and her characters. You can make a muslin cap; a reticule; a workbag and linen pillowcases. You could even make a man’s cravat, and diagrams show the many different ways in which a cravat can be tied.
Perhaps you chose instead not to make any of these projects but instead to enjoy a link with Regency women during what was a beautiful period in arts, craft and design. Many of the projects in this book (particularly the workbag and the huswife) would be useful to women who enjoy similar handcrafts today. These two projects in particular are ones I intend to undertake.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
So, Gentle Reader, you are interested in the crafts practised in Miss Austen’s novels? Perhaps you wondered about all of that stitching that genteel women pursued while discussing life and marriage? How did they do it and what materials were used?
In this beautifully illustrated book, Ms Forest provides a social history of the late 18th century as viewed by Miss Austen and her characters. She includes snippets of the novels relevant to the craft projects described and illustrated.
Which crafts? Mainly fancywork: the type of decorative work undertaken by ladies while visiting. There are eighteen projects in this book: each illustrated and with clear directions so that you, Gentle reader, can also make pieces familiar to Miss Austen and her characters. You can make a muslin cap; a reticule; a workbag and linen pillowcases. You could even make a man’s cravat, and diagrams show the many different ways in which a cravat can be tied.
Perhaps you chose instead not to make any of these projects but instead to enjoy a link with Regency women during what was a beautiful period in arts, craft and design. Many of the projects in this book (particularly the workbag and the huswife) would be useful to women who enjoy similar handcrafts today. These two projects in particular are ones I intend to undertake.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
August 4, 2010
Ok, before we start, full disclosure: My name is Caroline and I am an Austenaholic. I love all things Regency and especially all things Jane Austen. I can quote large chunks of Pride and Prejudice (the novel) and whole scenes of the BBC version from the 90s, as well as scenes and speeches from Emma, Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park. So obsessed am I, I even managed to dedicate a whole chapter of my business-focussed Publishing Studies Masters dissertation to Jane Austen, drawing some tenuous links between her role in popularising the sensationalist novel, forerunner to today's chick lit bestseller and the role of women as consumers...
So, if you're looking for an unbiased review, I recommend you look elsewhere.
If, on the other hand, you share my taste for cute floral sprig prints, embroidery, tapestry, soft furnishings and even costume creation, read on!
This delightful book combines quotes from Austen's novels with historical discussion of fabrics and processes, the industrialisation of fabric production and social history. Not only does it show you how to make, for example, a ladies workbag, but it explains the workbag's meaning as a gift, its role in society, and what it would say about its carrier. It combines such practical projects with delicate embellishments, and amusements with necessities - including ladies bonnets, muffs and tippets and gentlemen's cravats.
If you have an interest in sewing and fashion through time, a taste for social and economic history or simply a yearning to make something removed from the typical, I recommend this book. Beautifully finished and illustrated, it makes a great addition to the bookshelf too!
So, if you're looking for an unbiased review, I recommend you look elsewhere.
If, on the other hand, you share my taste for cute floral sprig prints, embroidery, tapestry, soft furnishings and even costume creation, read on!
This delightful book combines quotes from Austen's novels with historical discussion of fabrics and processes, the industrialisation of fabric production and social history. Not only does it show you how to make, for example, a ladies workbag, but it explains the workbag's meaning as a gift, its role in society, and what it would say about its carrier. It combines such practical projects with delicate embellishments, and amusements with necessities - including ladies bonnets, muffs and tippets and gentlemen's cravats.
If you have an interest in sewing and fashion through time, a taste for social and economic history or simply a yearning to make something removed from the typical, I recommend this book. Beautifully finished and illustrated, it makes a great addition to the bookshelf too!
February 16, 2010
I just LOVED this - being someone who sews AND loves Jane Austen, the descriptions of the projects, the materials used and the history - as well as tying it to quotes from the books and from jane Austen herself, was fabulous.
June 3, 2025
I thought this was a charming idea for a book, and it's quite well executed. Each chapter centres on a particular object or type of craft mentioned in Austen's novels or letters; it quotes the sources, explains what the object or craft is and what was its social significance in Austen's lifetime, and then gives instructions on how to make similar objects today.
The accompanying photographs are beautiful, although I wish more of them were of the craft projects in progress rather than of unrelated period items. The instructions could also be a little clearer in places. Still, I definitely feel that I understand some of the details of the novels better after reading the book
The accompanying photographs are beautiful, although I wish more of them were of the craft projects in progress rather than of unrelated period items. The instructions could also be a little clearer in places. Still, I definitely feel that I understand some of the details of the novels better after reading the book
January 12, 2019
Great book for craft lover who like vintage projects. I'm gonna make a thread case. The instruction is very clear and easy to follow.
November 12, 2019
An interesting read with many neat sewing projects. I was disappointed not to find a reticule pattern and instructions. Oh well...
March 8, 2015
I stumbled across this book quite by accident, and it was a fascinating learning experience. Interspersed between various crafts from the regency era, is information about each type of craft: purses, linens, transparencies (painted glass), mats, reticules, etc. It was great because I had a slight knowledge of some of those items, it afforded me a greater study. Now I really know what it means to net purses or to have a transparency. I didn't take on any of the crafts myself - it was a library book and I would have to return it before even being able to start a project. I do wish it had more pictures during the instructions, step-by-step ones.
November 14, 2009
Contains a good deal of information the crafting done by women in the 18th century, and has some lovely fashion plates, but the directions for some of the crafts should have been better and the projects themselves should have been better photographed. I'm giving it four stars for the historical content alone. I'm glad to have it, but some of the pages seem to be merely decorative filler. I do not think it is worth the price tag, especially as this is an import and copies are difficult to find here in the States.
September 22, 2025
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is probably my favorite novel of all times, the Regency period is my fovorite historical era and I really like history and needlecrafts so this book combines all of those things and was reasonably priced too. Love this book although many of the projects are not that practical for today. Lots of portraits, exerpts from Austen's novels and historical data. One of the few books I've bought new and paid full price.
June 11, 2013
It's OK. But it is somewhat interesting... It's a bit precious in parts, with lots of quotes from the books that support the kind of needle work that she is introducing. The projects are not terribly interesting, but maybe it;s because I am a needleworker already, so the challenge isn't the same.
January 28, 2011
Although this a beautiful book, well laid out with many amazing prints, the projects can easily be found in many other sewing or craft books. They are not really that original. The author uses paragraphs from Jane Austen's books to highlight the projects.
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June 1, 2013Found it at the dream museum: V&A, and although my original intention was to buy a book about the sixties for the love love love project I ended up buying this, I thought I might make better use of it. :D
March 8, 2011
One day I shall net a purse! :)
May 23, 2011
I read this more for information of Jane Austen's time, which it definitely delivers. The layout and pretty pages are inspiring.
October 3, 2011
An absolute delight--great crafts, and a beautifully presented book.
July 31, 2012
We can't wait to get started on this - coming up after 'Austentatious Crochet'!
November 23, 2016
The illustrations are amazing - I wouldn't sew any of the projects but the history of that time using fabric, thread and the purses are beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews