The Needlework of Mary Queen of Scots

by Margaret Swain

A significant work in the history of costume and textiles, shedding new light on little known aspects of Mary Queen of Scots' life Although a large body of needlework has always been attributed to Mary Queen of Scots, little attempt was made to authenticate these pieces or to explain how so energetic and impetuous a woman could have found pleasure in the meticulous craft of embroidery. This is the first comprehensive study of the Queen as a needlewoman, describing all the works associated with her. Every piece marked by her cipher or monogram is illustrated in full. A biographical outline provides the framework for understanding her work by setting it in the context of her unsettled and stormy life. It recounts the influence of her formative years in France and her absorption in needlwork during years of imprisonment.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, History, Crafts

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Heather Schafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok this book was tea and mary queen of scots was an embroidery icon; i love the double meanings she put in her workings and i just know we’re missing some scathing burns bc we don’t get the undertones anymore

[Misha Fontenot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and learned a lot about Mary and her embroideries.

[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of how I came to read this book is interesting; I was at the Abbey medieval festival, I was considering making my own costume for next year rather than wearing the Abbey costume for the whole weekend. If I was to make a costume I reasoned, I would like to embroider it. The only form of embroidery that I actually employ is the cross stitch. Thus, it seemed a good idea to find out how far back the cross-stitch is documented. One of the members of the embroidery guild suggested this book which I bought from the stall (online, mainlymedieval.com) and read it.

This book tells the story of Mary queen of Scots through her life as an embroiderer. I am told that she is the earliest documented cross stitcher (though I would be delighted to hear otherwise if anyone reading this knows of earlier). As I had no great knowledge of this period of history I rapidly found myself fascinated by the story of the Queen, and that story eclipsed the embroidery to some extent. I think it is always interesting to step back and look at a portion of history through a single aspect; it brings the events to life in a different way to how a historical overview does. In this narrative I think one gets a very macro perspective of how important, valuable and rare ‘works’ of embroidery were to the period.

Recommended to anyone who would like a different perspective of Mary Queen of Scots, of the Elizabethan era and who also loves embroidery and the hand crafts.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to look at the beautiful alter cloths, lace cuffs, tapestries, and needlepoint Mary Queen of Scots created and remember that while she was creating them, she was sitting in a drafty castle waiting for her cousin Elizabeth to kill her. I'd love to see an updated edition of this book with all-color illustrations. Black and white just doesn't cut it for such fascinating relics. There are weapons in museums that were used by men to change the course of history, but in these feminine artifacts it's possible to see into Mary's mind. Did she drop that stitch in some agitation over her marriage to Lord Darnley? Did filling an endless background of blue sky on an alter piece relax her while she waited for Elizabeth's messenger bearing her death warrant?

I really liked this book.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I acquired this at a needlework shop, but don't remember where or when. Fascinating discussion of Mary Queen of Scots and how needlework was part of her history and life. The book also shows how professional embroiders worked, how canvases were drawn. Mary's own work was fascinating contrasted with how she's usually portrayed. Mary is often seen as silly and impetuous and yet she managed to pick her designs with barbed double meanings that conveyed her frustrations while in captivity. She'd pull designs from emblem books, picking animals, fishes, etc with hidden symbolism and meanings. I would have preferred more color plates to appreciate the details, especially when comparing the emblems and the eventual needlework.