Mary Thomas's Embroidery Book

by Mary Thomas

In her Preface to this book, celebrated needlecraft authority Mary Thomas declares that, "embroidery, like every other art needs to be understood to be enjoyed. Once the rules of the game are known, there not only comes the urge to create with needle and thread, but a knowledge which enables the better appreciation of the old masterpieces, as well as those produced in our own day." With this ambition in mind, Miss Thomas takes the reader on an encyclopedic tour of the world of needle art. In an effort to develop a full appreciation of embroidery, she explores virtually every technique — indeed, she covers just about everything that can be done to fabric with a needle and thread, including Appliqué, Cutwork, Patchwork, Assisi cross stitch, Filet darning, Quilting, Blackwork, Hardanger embroidery, Smocking, Broderie Anglaise, Jacobean embroidery, and Tapestry.
Over 30 different types of traditional needlework are introduced and explained in this book. Miss Thomas describes each technique, including historical background, then explains how each is worked. For further clarity, over 400 helpful illustrations are provided, including examples of "old masterpieces." The final chapter of the book offers technical hints and advice on materials and equipment.
Experienced and novice needleworkers alike will appreciate Miss Thomas's treatment of the needlecraft arts both as an exploratory survey of their vast range and as a comprehensive reference work.

Genres: Crafts, Sewing, Reference

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1936

Reviews

[Cookie M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

1983 reprint of a book originally published in England in 1936.
Mary Thomas was one of the foremost authorities on needlework in her time.
I was very active in needlework guilds and societies 30 years ago, and often questions asked by us young members were answered by the elderly ladies with, "You will find excellent instructions for that in your Mary Thomas. She explains it so much better than I can." I
They were horrified if we didn't know who Mary Thomas was. I got so sick of hearing about her I refused to buy this book for 10 years. Big mistake.
So many styles and techniques of embroidery are here, surface work, drawn thread work, cut work, pulled threadcwork. She has very nice instructions for working with good and silver laidwork, which I am going to at least attempt before I shuffle off this mortal coil.
It might not be the first book you want in your needlework library, but your shelf is not complete without it.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Besides, there is always infinitely more joy and satisfaction derived from the simplest tray-mat evolved by one's own brain and fingers than from twenty ready-made articles of more elaborate conception" (ix).

"Further, I would urge the habit of signing and dating embroidery, and thus avoid that great tragedy of the past when works of genius were created, and showered upon the world, leaving, alas! so few names to record and venerate" (xii).

"'Sampler,' derived from the Latin 'exemplar,' is defined in the dictionary as 'a pattern of work--an example.' According to this definition, a needleworked sampler should be an 'example of stitches and patterns' recorded as 'samples' for future work, in much the same way as notes are collected in a notebook. The old samplers actually fulfilled this purpose, but the word is perhaps better known as applied to small cross-stitched pictures into which, alas! the old samplers developed, and which depicted by no means a record of stitches or patterns, but merely an example of proficiency.

Specimens of the genuine type are somewhat rare, but a few dating back to Elizabethan days, and possibly earlier, are to be found in museums and private collections. In the heyday of samplers during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, it was the aim of every woman worthy of the name to be skilled in needlecraft; and it was at this period that the rare and precious Italian pattern books were being published which gave zest to the stitch collector. Should these expensive treasures ever fall into her hands as a loan, the first thought was to record some of the most fascinating patterns and stitches which most pleased her, upon a sampler. In this way many interesting and excellent 'samplers' were evolved such as that shown in Fig. 299. Here it will be seen how these stitches and patterns were 'jotted' down, each with some particular meaning and future purpose" (236).

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good reference for techniques.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent summaries of many needlework types.
Read Paula Moore's copy published 1936 by Gramercy Publ Co of New York. No ISBN.

Just discovered that I do own her "Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches"