Elizabethan Needlework
I have always been fascinated by the gorgeous needlework of the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. It is not a subject field in which I am an expert, nor have I devoted the time to becoming one. Many other people have, however, and their works are invaluable for a stitcher who wants to make a replica of an authentic Elizabethan gown, or just to create a lush “old world” feel on a piece of stitching.
One book in my library is What Life Was Like In the Realm of Elizabeth, a Time Life publication. It has a lot of nice overviews covering many aspects of life in England from AD 1533-1603. What is fun about this book from a needlework point-of-view, is that it contains many color images of clothing and sundry, heavily decorated with needlework. Embroidery, beading, blackwork, some lace, and probably more that I’m forgetting.
I’ve put together a list of web sites devoted to stitchery from the Middle Ages, so if you are interested in deeper exploration and some quality scholarly work, be sure to check them out.
katherine kerr of the Hermitage
In Prayse of the Needle
ANG - Blackwork, an introduction
Patterns for Needlework, embroidery, 1859-1913
And if you just want to read about the life of Queen Elizabeth I, then the book below might be of interest.
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POSTED IN: Blackwork, Needlework in History, Surface Embroidery, thoughts
1 opinion for Elizabethan Needlework
lavon
Mar 12, 2008 at 9:23 am
I love black work. I have not completed any latelty but usually works great on the bottom of a skirt or on the sleeve cuff. Something that makes it distintly mine.
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