Take a walk through history…

Historical clothing is rich with examples of beautiful embroidery designs, and almost every era has distinct styles and techniques that set it apart. If I were to ask you about 18th-century embroidery, an elaborately embroidered court suit might come to mind fairly quickly. However, what if I asked about the 1600s or the 1850s?

In this course, I walk you through the changing styles and motifs of embroidery on clothing from 1500 to 1950. In each lesson, I will highlight some of the most popular techniques and motifs for each period and illustrate how they change over time. While many of these techniques have roots in earlier styles of needlework, such as gorgeous church embroideries and tapestries, I’ll be focusing specifically on the embroidery used on clothing, to give you a basic foundation for selecting designs appropriate for each era. Each section is illustrated with multiple color photographs and/or museum links so that you can see the styles progress through the centuries.

As I explain the various terms used for embroidery, keep in mind that some names describe styles and others describe techniques or materials. This is similar to fabric, where silk (a fiber) can be woven in many different ways, and satin (a weave) can be woven using different fibers. Sometimes the only significant difference between two types of embroidery are the fiber or color of the thread used.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Historical Terminology

Learn how to describe styles of embroidery based on techniques, colors, and time period.

Embroidery Materials

Learn about the wide range of materials used, such as silk, wool, ribbon, metal, and more.

Transitions in Style

Learn how embroidery styles evolve over time and what sets them apart.