Explore the rich history of the age-old art of embroidery with this exquisitely illustrated and spellbinding volume. Embroiderers from Elizabethan times to the present day are brought vividly to life through the use of a wide array of sources, including books, diaries, paintings, and of course embroideries. Inspiration, design, and the changing uses of needlework are discussed in detail. The impact of new tools and materials are described in their social context--from the first truly sharp scissors and needles in Elizabethan times to the sewing machine and photocopier of the twentieth century. Samplers show how successive generations learned their craft, and motifs from their work and from long-lost patterns books are reproduced and adapted for modern usage.