The Praise of the Needle

The Praise of the Needle: John Taylor's Poem of 1631 with Annotations by Kathleen Epstein

Sometime between 1629 and 1631 London waterman and writer John Taylor composed a poem for his printer, James Boler, to be included in a collection of needlework patterns. The book, The Needle's Excellency, was published in 1631. Taylor's poem, "The Praise of the Needle", was rediscovered by 19th-century writers and is today one of the most well-known sources for English needlework terms of the 17th century. This volume is the first fully annotated edition of Taylor's work. Notes accompanying the 1631 edition of the poem clarify 17th-century word meanings. Endnotes supply historical information and offer explanatory glosses from other writings by Taylor as well as contemporary authors. This new edition of "The Praise of the Needle" is a treasure trove of information about not only 17th-century embroidery and costume terms but also about the importance of needlework - sewing and embroidery - in the lives of 17th-century women.

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