Library of Needlework Books Online

If you’re like me, you like needlework books. I especially like older needlework books, many of which are out of print, but which are generously made available online by different people involved in different special online textile projects. But, if you’re like me, you can’t necessarily spend lots of time sifting through the books to see which ones you might be interested in…. or, like me, you might spend the time sifting, only to regret it when you have other things to do!

So the purpose of this post, which will be available in the left side bar under “Online Needlework Books” is to help reduce the hours of searching for specific books online. I’m just going to create a casual “catalog” of online books devoted solely to needlework of various types that may be of interest to the hand embroiderer. I’ll include a short description, so that you can see if you’d be interested before you spend too much time browsing.

I’ll update the list as I sort through my links. If you know of any online books that are favorites of yours, feel free to let me know so I can add it to the list!

• The Encyclopedia of Needlework
  by Therese Dillmont
  Made available by Project Gutenberg
  Description: A comprehensive book on needlework, covering a whole range of techniques. You’ll find photos of stitches and techniques, with text describing how they are worked. Some of the topics covered: surface embroidery of all types, crochet, knitting, lace-making, etc. If it’s needlework, you’re bound to find a reference for it in this book!
• Jacobean Embroidery
  by Ada Wentworth Fitzwilliam and A.F. Morris Hands
  Made available by Project Gutenberg
  Description: This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in crewel work, needlepainting, or, of course, Jacobean embroidery. It includes a brief history, followed by plenty of information on techniques and a whole slew of designs that provide inspiration for the embroiderer.
• Beeton’s Book of Needlework
  by Isabella Beeton
  Made available by Project Gutenberg (HTML format) and Antique Pattern Library in PDF form (links below)
  Description: This is another comprehensive needlework book. It contains instructions and pictures of different techniques, as well as patterns and – the part I like best – some very nice monogram alphabets. The Antique Pattern Library supplies the book in PDF format (from Project Gutenberg), in three files: Part I, Part II, Part III. I like the 3rd file best, as it contains very nice coverage of needlelace techniques, including embroidered net (guipure), as well as the extensive index, which will help you find other stuff throughout the complete work. You’ll find the section on monograms in the second file, starting on page 118 of the PDF.
• Art in Needlework
  by Lewis F. Day
  Available on American Libraries Internet Archive
  Description: Another comprehensive resource, this one is made up of a good bit of text, but has some nice illustrations in it. There are some good descriptions of technique, but what I like about it is the dated commentary that runs through the book. “Linen is a worthy ground-stuff…Cotton is hardly worth embroidering.” I like the section on “A Word to the Worker,” starting on page 250 of the PDF. Much of what is said in this short chapter still holds true, and there are some very good tips for the embroiderer.
• The Art of Modern Lacemaking
  Published by Butterick in 1891
  Made available by Project Gutenberg
  Description: People who like to embroidery don’t necessarily like the idea of making lace, admittedly – just because you like the one art doesn’t mean you like the other! – but it’s true that lace making and embroidery cross boundaries once in a while. Browsing through this book, you’ll find some great patterns and some techniques that can be used in surface embroidery as well as lace making. Note the section on darning, for example. In the patterns, you’ll find some really pretty inspirational pieces. The point lace butterfly pattern could be easily adapted to surface embroidery.
• Assisi Embroidery
  by Therese Dillmont
  Made available by the On-Line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics (hereafter, Digital Archive)
  Format: Two PDF Files: Part One & Part Two
  Description: Added at the beginning of August, 2007, this contribution to the digital archive will interest anyone who likes counted thread techniques and historical embroidery. The booklet has numerous magnificent examples, in color. The first part of the work is where you’ll find the technique explained, and the second part is devoted primarily to color plates.
• Church Embroidery and Church Vestments
  by Lucy Vaughn Hayden Mackrille
  Made available by Digital Archives
  Description: This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in ecclesiastical textiles – whether you’re interested in making them yourself, or you just like historical needlework, etc. While some of the terminology and materials are a little outdated, the majority of the book is priceless when it comes to technique, design, etc. It’s an enjoyable book just to flip through, to see some inspiring needlework. The separate lin
  ks to the PDF files are listed in my brief blurb on the book.
• Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving
  by Mrs. Archibald Christie
  Made available by Project Gutenberg
  This is a great book covering embroidery techniques, with plenty of pattern and design ideas. Fun to browse through!

I’ve still got a few more links to add, so check back for updates! And please don’t hesitate to suggest additions!