Wrought with the Needle

Subtitled, Art Treasures of English Domestic Embroidery 1590-1750, this A4 35-page book is beautifully illustrated with examples of stumpwork, band samplers, caskets and more. The colour pictures are absolutely superb, and you feel you could touch the embroideries. A must for the lover of historic embroidery.

I am naturally drawn to this remarkable gallery in Oxfordshire which has the largest collection of historic embroideries in Europe. Rebecca Scott has collected samplers and other early embroideries for many years and is so knowledgeable. Although these soft back, full-colour books are originally designed to support an exhibition held at the gallery, they are amazing works of interest to both the sampler collector and the interested stitcher.