Muslin Shawl Reputedly embroidered by Jane Austen.

Like all women of her time and class, Jane Austen learnt to sew in childhood and gained a life-long skill. Sewing was something she was particularly good at. In 1796 Austen wrote in a letter that she was “the neatest worker” of a group making shirts for one of her brothers. Edward Austen-Knight remembered of his aunt that “Her needlework both plain and ornamental was excellent, and might almost have put a sewing machine to shame. She was considered especially great in satin stitch.”

Family history says Jane Austen embroidered this shawl. Without more pieces of Austen’s sewing to compare it is hard to be sure, and the crosses do resemble Indian work on other historic garments. What is clear from the repairs is that this shawl was a valued item of clothing, and its owner took great care of it. The careful, precise sewing on the hems, lace strip, darns and patches, show a highly-skilled needle-woman at work. jane-austens-house-museum