At Tobolsk , she and her sisters sewed jewels into their clothes . This was because Alexandra , Nicholas and Maria had had their things taken away when they arrived in Ekaterinburg . At Tobolsk , she and her sisters sewed jewels into their clothing in hopes of hiding them from their captors , since Alexandra had written to warn them that she , Nicholas and Maria had been searched upon arriving in Ekaterinburg , and had items confiscated .