Customer Reviews

Embroiderers (Medieval Craftsmen)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're interested in Western Embroidery History (from about the first century to 1600), You NEED this book. It has superb pictures and excellent documentation. I can't praise this book enough. I highly recommend that everyone interested in the history of embroidery buy this book. It also includes directions for a few basic stiches as well as a glossary in the back.

Perfect for Re-inactors especialy those in SCA, HMR, House of the Red Dragon, Adria, Lapis, and the 3 millon other medieval recreation groups. Details EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about how they did embrodry. Not everything was Blackwork, and missing 1 stich didn't ruin the whole project.

This was my first 'inspiration' book and I now can't get enough! Kay Staniland not only shows photo after wonderful photo of many diferent pieces, but there are often detail photos and description of how the technique of each was accomplished and it's subsequent changes during later years.

As a lifelong needleworker, I picked up this slim volume with interest. Ecclesiastical embroidery remains a living tradition in English churches, and historic pattern books can be found, but relatively little has been written about the history of the artists who have created the copes, bands, cushions, mitres, chasubles, and other incredible medieval pieces that can still be seen in various museums in the US and in Europe. Many of the patterns and techniques developed centuries ago continue to be used/adapted today. Embroiderers is a valuable resource for those interested in history, art, or embroidery today. Highly recommended, as are other titles in this Medieval Craftsmen series. (the photo of this book on Amazon is of the back cover.)

I was looking for a history/day to day happenings of embroiderers for historical reenactment, and this book has the history, but it is fairly general and mostly ends in the 1300's, and I was looking for Renaissance times. In addition, I was looking wages, and there doesn't seem to be much of that. It did point out that most embroidery was for religous functions, and had lots of samples of such. It was mostly an overview, and didn't have the details that I was looking for...For what it's worth, I haven't found anything better.