I just picked this book up while thrifting because I am starting to get interested in hand stitching like embroidery and cross stitch. Although there is a basic primer to stitching in the back of this book, mostly it is dedicated to showing the history behind decorative hand stitching arts through historic samplers. The samplers are absolutely awesome little snippets of history, both the stithcing styles and the women who stitched them. Now I'm totally excited to try some hand stitching of my own - I just need to find the time!