As women found it increasingly necessary to work for a living, many naturally sought ways to earn money doing more or less "traditional" women's tasks, such as needlework, as well as tasks that could be done from home. For many, being able to work at home was a necessity, as being a "working woman" did not (then or now) free one from the needs of tending a family. Women of all classes found various ways to work at home, from sewing to doing "piece-work" such as making matchboxes and other small items. This section looks at Victorian home and cottage industries, from the individual level to large-scale industries involving entire communities.

Small Manufacturers, by William Gilbert (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1876)

On the plight of home manufacturers (e.g., weavers, lace makers, etc.) in the face of mass production.

Where Can I Dispose of My Needlework? by Dora de Blacquière (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1876)

How to turn one's needlework to profit, including information several institutes for needleworkers.

Art Embroidery as an Employment for Ladies, by Dora de Blacquière (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1877)

Home Trades: Frame-Making, by S.F.A. Caulfeild (Girl's Own Paper, 1881)

Home Trades: Book-Binding, by S.F.A. Caulfeild (Girl's Own Paper, 1881)

Plait and Plaiters, by Eliza Clarke (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1882)

The straw-plaiting industry for the making of straw hats.

The Way Some Folks Live: A Turn Amongst the Spitalfields Weavers, by A.R. Buckland (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1883)

Modeling in Clay as a Remunerative Employment (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1884)

Lace-Making at Home: A Remunerative Employment for Gentlewomen (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1885)

The Spinning Wheel in Use Again (Girl's Own Paper, 1885)

Village Industries: Punnet-Making in Kent (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1885)

A punnet is a type of basket; this article also looks at village life in general.

Wood Engraving as an Employment for Girls, by Richard Taylor (Girl's Own Paper, 1886)

A very detailed overview of how to design and create engravings for printing, and how to turn this skill into lucrative employment.

Revival of Hand Weaving and Spinning in Westmoreland, by Albert Fleming (Century Magazine, 1889A)

The Silk Industry in Ireland and America, by Dora de Blaquière (Girl's Own Paper, 1889)

An overview of the growth of the industry, followed by tips on how this can become a profitable area of work for women.

Lacemaking in Ireland, by Alan S. Cole (English Illustrated Magazine, 1890A)

Match-Box Making at Home, by Clementina Black (English Illustrated Magazine, 1892A)

[Spinning] A Restored Industry (Girl's Own Paper, 1894)

With the Devonshire Lace-Makers, by Edith Long Fox (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1894)

The Jersey Knitters (Girl's Own Paper, 1895)

The Buckinghamshire Lace Industry and Its Revival, by the Countess of Buckinghamshire (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

The Co-operative Movement and its Festivals, by F. Klickmann (Windsor Magazine, 1897B)

"Co-operators maintain that their system of industry 'seeks to give the worker a direct share in the profits of his work and in the management of it. Unable in most cases to supply all the capital to conduct his industry on modern methods, he shares control with those who aid in finding capital and trade.' Once a year a festival of "co-operatives" was held at the Crystal Palace.

Hair-Work as a Highly Remunerative Employment for Girls (Girl's Own Paper, 1900)

The making of switches, coils, frizettes, wigs, etc. - as a home-based business for women. This is basically a how-to article on how to make wigs and switches!

The Revival of Art Needlework and Embroidery, by Florence Sophie Davson (Girl's Own Paper, 1900)

A look at the possibilities of embroidery as a trade for ladies, including schools and instructors in the art.

[Fruit-Growing] A Model Village Industry (Sunday Strand, 1902)

The growth of a local fruit packing industry that became a major manufacturer of jams and preserves.