Category Archives: Historical

Hardanger Table Runner, 1910

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Hannah

I’ve been visiting my grandparents, so I have photos of more treasures to show you! My great-great-great-grandmother made this hardanger table runner in 1910. It’s a hundred years old! Here it is lying flat: I couldn’t get the camera to … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandma, Hardanger, Historical | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

1895 Wedding Handkerchief

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Hannah

All the news this morning seems to be obsessed with the British Royal wedding, so I’m going to continue the theme with photos of my great-great grandmother’s 1895 wedding handkerchief. Isn’t it incredible?

Posted in Grandma, Historical | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

J. F. Ingalls Catalog, 1886

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Hannah

You may know this already, but I thought I’d mention that there’s a free scan of an 1886 embroidery stamping catalog available online. John Governale was kind enough to scan all 255 pages in and release them to the public … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical, patterns and designs | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Tutto Ricamo (Italian)

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Hannah

While looking at Italian embroidery the other day, I discovered Tutto Ricamo, which is an Italian site (available in both English and Italian) with a huge amount of information on Italian embroidery history, types of embroidery,  a number of tutorials … Continue reading →

Posted in Embroidery around the world, Free resources online, Historical, tutorials | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Antique Italian needlecraft magazines

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Hannah

Today I’m just going to point y’all to Italian Needlecrafts, which (in addition to selling Italian needlework supplies) has available free scans of a number of editions of two magazines from the early 1900s: Il Ricamo Illustrato and Il Ricamo. … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Free resources online, Historical | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Portfolio of Designs for Embroidery

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Hannah

The Antique Pattern Library strikes again: This is a free 1929 pamphlet by Joan Drew, which consists of a 1 page introduction and 16 pages of nothing but design outlines. The contents are mostly flowering plants and birds, in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Free resources online, Historical, patterns and designs | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Les Patrons-Modèles “Echo”, Les – Album No. 3 – Travaux de Dames

Posted on December 29, 2010 by Hannah

This is a free book from Paris, 1925. It’s another find in the Antique Pattern Library, and its focus is cutwork. Not that you have to do the designs in cutwork. I haven’t tried cutwork yet, but one of these … Continue reading →

Posted in Cutwork, Free resources online, Historical, patterns and designs | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Enciclopedia de las Señoras

Posted on December 18, 2010 by Hannah

I found a little something in Google Books: “Enciclopedia de las Señoras, que Contiene las Artes y Labores de Utilidad y de Recreo” (Encyclopedia of the Ladies, that contains recreational and useful arts and works) translated from French to Spanish … Continue reading →

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Revised Needle and Hook

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Hannah

Here’s another free book, the full title of which is Revised Needle and Hook: Instructions in Silk Embroidery, Knitting and Crocheting, Illustrated with cuts, half tones and color plates. It’s available online from the Antique Pattern Library, and originally published … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, books, Free resources online, Historical, Needlepainting | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

A treatise on embroidery

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Hannah

I’d like to recommend an amazing book on needlepainting. It is completely free because it was published in 1907 and is therefore public domain: A treatise on embroidery; with twenty color illustrations from original models by Hemingway & Sons Silk … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, books, Free resources online, Historical, Needlepainting | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment