Embroidery

Introduction to English embroidery

English embroidery from the early Middle Ages to the 19th century.

Samplers, stitches & techniques

Many stitches and techniques were originally used in embroidery samplers to create almost limitless effects, yet from the 18th century onwards, more and more reliance has b…

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History of samplers: 14th & 15th century

A history of embroidery samplers in the 14th and 15th century. Samplers began as a practical tool of the embroiderer and over time became a formulaic or occasionally more i…

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History of samplers: 16th century

A history of embroidery samplers from the 16th century. By this time in England samplers had a particular identity – before the introduction and growing availability of pri…

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History of samplers: 17th century

A history of embroidery samplers from the 17th century. By about 1630, a characteristic shape and size of sampler was becoming recognisable, with the ground cut from a loom…

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History of samplers: 18th century

A history of embroidery samplers from the 18th century. Samplers began as a practical tool of the embroiderer and over time became a formulaic or occasionally more individu…

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History of samplers: 19th century

A history of embroidery samplers from the 19th century. Samplers began as a practical tool of the embroiderer and over time became a formulaic or occasionally more individu…

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Gothic embroidery

During the middle ages embroidery was a popular way of decorating luxury textiles. The rich and powerful medieval Church owned huge amounts of embroidered textiles, often d…

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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 laboriousne…

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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, conv…

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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 realising their ideas, values, experiences, and fantasies in uni…

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Needlework Development Scheme

The Needlework Development Scheme (NDS) was a collaborative project between art and design education and industry.Originally established in Scotland in 1934, its aim wasto …

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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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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 provenance, but they appear to have come from the archive of an…

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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 companies and associations involved in all aspects of applie…

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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 currently Research Associate at Manchester Metropolitan …

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The Embroidery from Stoke Edith House

The writer and gardener Anna Pavord discusses the embroidery from Stoke Edith House

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Matching images from Search the Collections

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