Church embroidery, ancient and modern

Preface

The want at the present day of a practical treatise on Church Embroidery is so manifest that it would be superfluous to make any apology to the public for offering, in the following pages, the result of several years' personal experience in the various branches of high-class needlework.

A few books on the subject have been written within the last twenty-five years, but they are to be regarded principally as mere histories of Decorative Needlework, for, although highly and generally interesting to readers, yet they prove utterly worthless as guides to uninitiated workers.

It is for the benefit of the latter that I have devoted myself in this undertaking.

The beautiful art of Church Embroidery is so mysterious and perplexing to the novice, and so simple and fascinating when understood, that I desire nothing more earnestly than that every reader of these instructions, may become proficient, if only for the lasting delight the knowledge will assuredly confer.

For the furtherance of my object I have received most

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Preface.

generous assistance from more than one efficient source. First, I have to mention the gracious kindness of Dr. Daniel Rock, to whom, as an archaeological authority, I have made frequent reference.

Secondly, that of Mr. T. J. Burton (whose taste and talent in Church Decoration are not to be exceeded), for having placed at my disposal many of his beautiful designs for the illustration of my book.

And, lastly, I have the gratification to own myself indebted to my husband, but for whose able pencil I might have failed in my efforts to place before the reader and worker my practical ideas on Church Embroidery.

A. D.

Highgate, 1 867.

Embroidery Silks — Directions for Long-Stitch Embroidery —

French Knots, with Practical Illustration 153

XII. Textile Fabrics for Robing the Altar — Correct Church Colours

and Shades 163

CHURCH EMBROIDERY,

HAT the women of England were once celebrated above all others for their skill in needlework, and for that of the Church especially, few writers on the subject have failed to record.

In the early history of the Christian Church in England, frequent reference is made to elaborate needlework vest, ments, altar-coverings, and hangings of various kinds, the cost of any one of which would be no mean dowry in our own day ; so richly were they wrought, not only with the "threaded steel" in gold, and silks of many-coloured and marvellous tints, but interwrought with pearls and precious stones.

In a work professing to be eminently practical it would be out of place to enter at any length into the history of Church Embroidery, particularly as the subject— as we have observed elsewhere — has been so admirably treated by i.