Two collections on the Powerhouse Museum's website that might be of interest.
Electronic Swatchbook
Swatches or small samples of fabric have been collected and compiled in the form of swatchbooks for at least 300 years. The Powerhouse Museum has several volumes containing thousands of bright, unfaded samples of fashionable fabric designs, braids and laces ranging from the 1830s to the 1920s.
"The patterns on this site are in the public domain in Australia. All images and patterns on this site can be used for any commercial or non-commercial purpose without further permission. "
Also interesting from a "that's the sort of pattern they liked then" perspective.
And a totally different topic: The rags: paraphernalia of menstruation
Electronic Swatchbook
Swatches or small samples of fabric have been collected and compiled in the form of swatchbooks for at least 300 years. The Powerhouse Museum has several volumes containing thousands of bright, unfaded samples of fashionable fabric designs, braids and laces ranging from the 1830s to the 1920s.
"The patterns on this site are in the public domain in Australia. All images and patterns on this site can be used for any commercial or non-commercial purpose without further permission. "
Also interesting from a "that's the sort of pattern they liked then" perspective.
And a totally different topic: The rags: paraphernalia of menstruation
