Introduction to English embroidery
English embroidery from the early Middle Ages to the 19th century.
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Needlework Development Scheme
The Needlework Development Scheme (NDS) was a collaborative project between art and design education and industry.O…
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Interview with Alice Kettle, embroiderer
Alice Kettle has established a unique area of practice in stitch, consistently and on an unparalleled scale. She is…
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Fukusa
This Fukusa was made in the second half of the 19th century and was part of a Japanese gift cover and tradition.…
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Needlework patterns, home craft & women’s magazines in the 1920s and 1930s
In the interwar period 1918-1939, magazine home craft helped the spread of handcraft and supported women in realisi…
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Samplers, stitches & techniques
Many stitches and techniques were originally used in embroidery samplers to create almost limitless effects, yet fr…
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Designs for embroidered fashion: Lady Middleton's pattern
Most of these designs were bequeathed to the Museum as a group in 1973. Nothing is known of their origin and proven…
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Obituary of Donald King
Donald King (1920–88) was a distinguished medievalist who joined the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1949 as an Assista…
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Embroidery in the Archive of Art & Design
The V&A's Archive of Art and Design holds the working papers of individual designers, as well as the records of com…
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Florence Caulfield and 'The Illustrated Needlework Book'
Florence Caulfield was an embroiderer and a specialist in South African flora. The National Art Library holds a proof copy of her book The Illustrated Needlework Book, conventional and natural designs of South African wild flowers.
Renaissance women at leisure
Women from wealthy Renaissance families had a range of leisure pursuits available to them, including hunting, gaming and needlecraft.
Poems about the V&A: 'Mary's elephant, Elizabeth's spinet' by Ruth Padel
In 2002 the V&A and the Poetry Book Society commissioned five poets to create new works inspired by the British Galleries 1500-1900. The poets were invited to come and explore the galleries at their leisure and select which object might take their fancy. Ruth Padel's poem was inspired by two objects: a spinet probably belonging to Elizabeth I, and an embroidered panel probably made by Mary, Queen of Scots.
Sampler
This embroidery, a confession by a young English woman, is unique in the Museum’s collection in its austerity and poignancy. We describe it as a sampler but the laboriousness of Elizabeth Parker’s sampler reveals much more than just her skill in stitching.
Embroidery links
Links about Embroidery
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Animal Embroidery Notecard Wallet
Animal embroidery notecard wallet containing 10 cards, 5 each in two designs with plain white envelopes.
Buy nowEvent - Early Medieval 11/12
Fri 16 September 2011–Fri 30 March 2012
COURSE: Explore the visual arts of the Medieval period through the V&A’s abundant medieval collections, including architecture and sculpture, metalwork and enamels, silks and embroidery, ivory carving and manuscript illumination, wall painting and mosaic. You can book the full year course, or select individual terms or days. Fridays, 16 September 2011 – 13 July 2012 (over 3 terms)
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