Victorian Needlework

Victorian Needlework: Techniques and Designs edited by Flora Klickmann

Second to none in their admiration for fine stitchery, the Victorians adorned their homes and wardrobes with lavish displays of needlework and similar handicrafts. Most nineteenth-century women engaged in some form of sewing -- whether for pleasure, economy or both -- and in the absence of a tutor, they turned to handbooks such as this rare and authentic guide to the rich and varied intricacies of needlecraft. Scores of diagrams and photos offer clear illustrations of the step-by-step directions for mastering an array of techniques and patterns. Ranging from a practical lesson in hemstitching to creating doilies with Hungarian embroidery, this vintage volume offers a treasury of what the Victorians termed "fancywork": decorative stitching such as Bulgarian, Catalan, Hungarian and Baro embroidery; netting; Berlin wool-work; Bohemian, Carrickmacross, Innishmacsaint and reticella lace; and a bevy of cousins to the burgeoning family of needlepoint.

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