My thoughts on Textile History by Margy Norrish

  • Tambour Work

    Tambour work is a type of embroidery that closely resembles the chain stitch.  While its popularity had waned significantly, it is returning slowly.  Originally, this type of work was done in China, India, Persia and Turkey but became quite the fad in Europe, especially in France, in the 1700’s.  The French were the first to…

  • Amish Buggy Shawls

    “Tis a gift to be simple…”      Shaker Dancing song, Joseph Brackett When I grew up in the Mid-Atlantic there were groups of “Plain People” living in rural communities all around , in nearby Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio.  The Amish, a sect of Mennonite, live a simple lifestyle which shuns pretentiousness and modern affectations.  Although…

  • Amish Buggy Shawls

    “Tis a gift to be simple…”      Shaker Dancing song, Joseph Brackett When I grew up in the Mid-Atlantic there were groups of “Plain People” living in rural communities all around , in nearby Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio.  The Amish, a sect of Mennonite, live a simple lifestyle which shuns pretentiousness and modern affectations.  Although…

  • Needlework Maps and Globes

    Needlework Maps and Globes I have always loved maps.  Not the fold-ups found in gas stations (I have never met one I could actually refold after using it).  I love old maps, antiques maps found in reference atlases in university libraries.  These tell stories of adventure and the perils of travel and exploration.  The cartographers…

  • Needlework Maps and Globes

    Needlework Maps and Globes I have always loved maps.  Not the fold-ups found in gas stations (I have never met one I could actually refold after using it).  I love old maps, antiques maps found in reference atlases in university libraries.  These tell stories of adventure and the perils of travel and exploration.  The cartographers…

  • History of Craft Instruction at Home

    History of Craft Instruction at Home The Wall Street Journal (Thursday, January 3, 2013) featured an article in the Personal Journal column titled “Made By Hand, Learned Online” about online, interactive courses available on many subjects which can be studied at home.  Online learning has been available for some years, but in-home study has been…