The Embroiderer's Story: Needlework from the Renaissance to the Present Day

by Thomasina Beck

Using historical sources, Beck surveys embroiderers and their work from Elizabethan times to the present day. She discusses their sources of inspiration and design, as well as the changing ways in which they used these in dress and furnishings. The book includes sample motifs and stitch layouts.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Fashion, Art, Design, Reference, Crafts

160 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1995

Reviews

[Teresa]

I loved it! Very thorough and authoritative, with lots of colour and b&w drawings, many or which i will trace for my own embroideries.

[Katharine]

Excellent historical overview.

[Jackie Bouvier]

One of the best historical embroidery books of it’s time.

Thomasina has provided a thorough, well researched history of each era, beautifully photographed stitched pieces, embroidery related art work and illustrations.

[Rachel E. Meyer]

A quite brief but interest overview of the history of embroidery. It focuses on England, which is understandable, but I would love to find a book that covers American or even worldwide embroidery history. Well explained and lots of great pictures.

[Felicia]

An interesting book for anybody interesting in how girls and women may have led their lives and the role that needlework played in the lives of girls and women in England.

[Alexandra]

An interesting and informative study of the history of embroidery.

[Andy Plonka]

It's been a long time since I did any needlework and this volume is a bit dated but the history of the subject was interesting