Victorian Embroidery

[LoriAnn]

Possibly interesting if one wanted access to some earlier designs. In the sneak peek, I see some familiarity with Godey's published designs in the 1860s.

It's only $7 on Amazon. (Here's where I buy $60 in other stuff to get FREE SHIPPING for a $7 book.)

Early American Embroidery Designs by Elizabeth M. Townshend

"Though it was common for women of the 18th and 19th centuries to keep personal albums of their own needlework designs, few of these hand-drawn pattern books survive intact. This rare volume, signed and dated 1815 by Elizabeth M. Townshend, appears to be just such a collection — an authentic treasury of embroidery designs dating from the early days of the Republic.
Brimming with nearly 200 timeless, functional designs, this priceless sourcebook ranges from highly stylized repeat patterns, to more realistic floral bouquets, to traditional patterns for cutwork edgings, to large-scale motifs suitable for crewel embroidery."

 

[J. Horace]

Family lore says that Cpt Smith carried his Concordance in this pouch during the Civil War.

 

[LoriAnn]

I finally stitched something from the above mentioned book, Early American Embroidery Designs. Thanks to one Elizabeth M. Townshend, who kept her detailed drawings well organized (and to Dover Publications, for publishing them) I am able access designs that perhaps our CW-era ancestors enjoyed as well.

Being dated 1815, I don't think this is Victorian technically. Maybe pre-Victorian? In any case, after looking through some CW-era Godey's issues, I've noticed that the designs are not that different.

On the left is a copy of Elizabeth's drawing. I copied and traced over it, transferred it to linen, and stitched away. I don't know if Elizabeth would have used the same stitches I chose for this design, but from what I've read, they did use the same stitches in general. I kept it simple, as I'm considering reproducing these for my little shop. I have NO idea if my little French knot roses are supposed to be roses or berries. Era embroidery designers really seemed to like little circles back then! That design feature appears quite often.

 

[AshleyMel]

I kept it simple

But so graceful! What wonderful work! Something pretty to fill my head with sweet dreams before I fall asleep tonight! Glad I checked the site or I would have missed it!

 

[LoriAnn]

But so graceful! What wonderful work! Something pretty to fill my head with sweet dreams before I fall asleep tonight! Glad I checked the site or I would have missed it!

Thank you, Miss AshleyMel.

I'm enjoying hunting around for era examples and patterns. Elizabeth's baskets are my favorite so far, which is a design I see repeated in vintage embroidery.

 

[LoriAnn]

While doing a little research on era patterns, I found this article about a 9 year old girl whose story of being sold away from her mother is told in embroidered letters on a sack:

Slavery-era embroidery excites historians...

"It is a cotton sack with a story so poignant it is drawing in followers from across the country.

Ashley is believed to be a 9-year-old slave girl who received the sack as a goodbye gift from her mother, Rose, in the mid 1800s, when Ashley was being sold away from the South Carolina planter who owned them. The sack's history was embroidered in 1921 by Ashley's granddaughter, Ruth Jones Middleton, a member of black society in Philadelphia."

USAToday

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

While doing a little research on era patterns, I found this article about a 9 year old girl whose story of being sold away from her mother is told in embroidered letters on a sack:

Slavery-era embroidery excites historians...

"It is a cotton sack with a story so poignant it is drawing in followers from across the country.

Ashley is believed to be a 9-year-old slave girl who received the sack as a goodbye gift from her mother, Rose, in the mid 1800s, when Ashley was being sold away from the South Carolina planter who owned them. The sack's history was embroidered in 1921 by Ashley's granddaughter, Ruth Jones Middleton, a member of black society in Philadelphia."

View attachment 147141

USAToday

Would you mind making a thread of this story, please? You know embroidery and the war- maybe give your take on it, too? How on earth hard would it be to do that? I'm pretty good with needles. Never have been able to ' write '.

Godey's is great- have you tried Beeton's? Isabella died very young but her name lived on and grew. Non-illustrated versions of cookery and household guides were illustrated gosh, 40 years later- both can be found, in public access places, no need to buy them.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=gri.ark:/13960/t8jd7h86f;view=1up;seq=7

Also, scrolling down the thread, hate to give you work but um..... maybe one on white work, too? It was such a huge part of Victorian life. I'm horrible at it, for what it's worth. Side ' A ' looks wonderful. Side ' B '? Ha!

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015011371716;view=1up;seq=78

If you're getting into historic works- found this for Mom not long ago. She'd been part of a group re-doing needlepoint for a church, 40 years ago. The internet wasn't around so it was a lot tougher, finding sources. Experts are awfully picky, I know- since you're headed that way, thought I'd dig this up.

 

[RobertP]

These were in our old family Bible when it was given to me. I think they may have been bookmarks but I don't know for sure, and I don't know the age. Maybe someone has an idea. The backing is relatively stiff, the hole pattern finer in the "Love" piece than in the "Sweet Home" piece. Both are attached to ribbon.

Pen for scale

And closeup

 

[AshleyMel]

The backing is relatively stiff, the hole pattern finer in the "Love" piece than in the "Sweet Home" piece.

How lovely! I'm not sure but these might be counted cross stitch. Little "x" stitches made with embroidery thread on Aida cloth. My Aunt Alma taught me how to do this crafts years ago before she passes and it's one of my very fond memories from my childhood. I also remember she used to dip snuff!

 

[RobertP]

How lovely! I'm not sure but these might be counted cross stitch. Little "x" stitches made with embroidery thread on Aida cloth. My Aunt Alma taught me how to do this crafts years ago before she passes and it's one of my very fond memories from my childhood. I also remember she used to dip snuff!

I remember cross stitching was popular in th 1960's and 70's as my mother-in-law was into it bigly. These are a lot older, the cross-stitching I recall was on cloth with a preprinted pattern, but it may have been an early variation.

 

[RobertP]

How lovely! I'm not sure but these might be counted cross stitch. Little "x" stitches made with embroidery thread on Aida cloth. My Aunt Alma taught me how to do this crafts years ago before she passes and it's one of my very fond memories from my childhood. I also remember she used to dip snuff!

AM, I just did a wiki search of early cross-stitching and the first examples were of those beautiful old Samplers young girls would create to demonstrate needlework.

 

[AshleyMel]

I remember cross stitching was popular in th 1960's and 70's as my mother-in-law was into it bigly. These are a lot older, the cross-stitching I recall was on cloth with a preprinted pattern, but it may have been an early variation.

Yes! I think you can still find the preprinted patterns and kits!

 

[LoriAnn]

Would you mind making a thread of this story, please?

Will do!

These were in our old family Bible when it was given to me.

Wow! These are wonderful. I see some pretty shading in there ~ that's something I haven't attempted yet.

 

[RobertP]

How lovely! I'm not sure but these might be counted cross stitch. Little "x" stitches made with embroidery thread on Aida cloth. My Aunt Alma taught me how to do this crafts years ago before she passes and it's one of my very fond memories from my childhood. I also remember she used to dip snuff!

The answer turned up easily. Perforated paper embroidery became popular in the 1820's, reached its zenith around 1870 and died out by 1910. Was an easy, quick craft of that era. Smaller pieces like these apparent bookmarks were earlier, larger works more popular later.

"This material, known as Perforated card-board at the time, first became available in the 1820s as plain sheets used for the creation of bookmarks and small mottoes and sayings, often taken from the Bible. By the 1870s the Victorian craze for this inexpensive and versatile craft material was at its peak. The invention of new printing processes made the pre-printing of mottoes and bookmarks on the perforated paper possible. These items were extremely popular and original examples, in good condition, can still be found today. The Victorian fad of embroidering mottoes on perforated paper died out around 1910 and was virtually lost as a needleart until recently being rediscovered. Perforated paper as we know it today was invented by Justin Ruble of Pennsylvania." Wiki

Here's one very similar to my "Love" one.

And another with ribbon, clearly bookmarks.

 

[AshleyMel]

The answer turned up easily. Perforated paper embroidery became popular in the 1820's, reached its zenith around 1870 and died out by 1910. Was an easy, quick craft of that era. Smaller pieces like these apparent bookmarks were earlier, larger works more popular later.

"This material, known as Perforated card-board at the time, first became available in the 1820s as plain sheets used for the creation of bookmarks and small mottoes and sayings, often taken from the Bible. By the 1870s the Victorian craze for this inexpensive and versatile craft material was at its peak. The invention of new printing processes made the pre-printing of mottoes and bookmarks on the perforated paper possible. These items were extremely popular and original examples, in good condition, can still be found today. The Victorian fad of embroidering mottoes on perforated paper died out around 1910 and was virtually lost as a needleart until recently being rediscovered. Perforated paper as we know it today was invented by Justin Ruble of Pennsylvania." Wiki

Here's one very similar to my "Love" one.

And another with ribbon, clearly bookmarks.

Oh my! Paper embroidery! What a wonderful vintage keepsake you have!
As always I'm learning, learning and learning on this site!

 

[LoriAnn]

The answer turned up easily. Perforated paper embroidery became popular in the 1820's, reached its zenith around 1870 and died out by 1910.

You have hand stitched Victorian bookmarks!!

How old is that Bible?

 

[LoriAnn]

Family lore says that Cpt Smith carried his Concordance in this pouch during the Civil War.

That needlework looks amazing. I couldn't do that with a machine!

 

[RobertP]

You have hand stitched Victorian bookmarks!!

How old is that Bible?

1613 King James, genealogy begins in 1669. It came through a branch of my father's family in Pennsylvania to Mississippi in the 1830-40's when his g-grandfather moved South. The last entry records my gg-grandfather's death in the 1870's. The next to last entry notes one of his sons who "died in the service of his country in the city of Mobile, Feb. 28, 1865". He had been mortally wounded at Nashville 2 months earlier.

 

[LoriAnn]

1613 King James, genealogy begins in 1669. It came through a branch of my father's family in Pennsylvania to Mississippi in the 1830-40's when his g-grandfather moved South. The last entry records my gg-grandfather's death in the 1870's. The next to last entry notes one of his sons who "died in the service of his country in the city of Mobile, Feb. 28, 1865". He had been mortally wounded at Nashville 2 months earlier.

What an incredible heirloom.

 

[LoriAnn]

You know embroidery and the war- maybe give your take on it, too? How on earth hard would it be to do that? I'm pretty good with needles. Never have been able to ' write '.

In addition to finding Ashley's story, I learned a bit more about era embroidery, and why we don't have nearly enough examples from the South. Not surprisingly, one theory is that the war destroyed so much of what could have been available to us.

Writing in embroidery is a pain in the butt for me. I bet stitching out her grandmother's story was a labor of love for Ruth.

Godey's is great- have you tried Beeton's?

I haven't. I appreciate the link!

Also, scrolling down the thread, hate to give you work but um..... maybe one on white work, too? It was such a huge part of Victorian life. I'm horrible at it, for what it's worth. Side ' A ' looks wonderful. Side ' B '? Ha!

Ah, white work. Yes, I've read a bit about it. My eyes hurt just thinking about stitching white on white.