English Medieval Embroidery – 10th to 14th C.
Christie, A.G.I.
Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1938
The definitive book on Opus Anglicanum. Definitely out of print – running $1200-2000. Ask to see it through your Inter library loan program. Christie has examined, photographed and researched various pieces of Opus Anglicanum. Must read if you are interested in this subject. IB
This book covers the history of English Medieval Embroidery with a focus on Opus Anglicanum. Still the best book on this topic even 70+ years after its publication. A must for the serious medieval embroiderer. [Note: currently running $2500-4000] SB
Advanced

English Heraldic Embroidery and Textiles at the Victoria and Albert Museum
Lamb, Clara, Robert M. Collins, Cedric J. Holyoake
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1976
Pamphlet – few pictures, but excellent descriptions. Good for the researcher. SB
Advanced

English Embroideries Belonging to Sir John Carew, Pole, Bart. Pp. 43-66.
Wace, A. J. B.
The Walpole Society, Oxford, 1933
This is an article in the 21st Volume of the Walpole Society publications, and is extremely hard to get. The article is a catalogue of a personal collection with notes on each, pictures of some, and commentary by one of the foremost experts on historic textiles of the time. Many of the items are from the 16th C. A great resource for the researcher. SB
Advanced

English Domestic Needlework of the XVI, XVII, and XVIII Centuries
Reminington, Preston
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1945
Book from an exhibit of items on loan from several famous private and public collections. Pictures in B&W but photographic quality. Commentary and descriptions by the curator with lots of interesting detail. SB
Advanced

Embroidery Masterworks: Classic Patterns and Techniques for Contemporary Application — From the Textile Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago
Bath, Virginia Churchill
Henry Regnery Co., Chicago, 1972
This book shows the actual textile, presents a pattern for transfering the design, and sets out each of the stitches used. The commentary includes details on the original which will help recreate the original. SB
Advanced

Dress in the Age of Elizabeth I
Ashelford, Jane
Batsford, London, 1988
ISBN# 0 7134 5622 1
Fabulous plates of portraits and extant clothing pieces clear enough to see details of the embroidery. Includes a information on embroidery and how it was used. Excellent secondary source material. RB
Advanced

Die Textilen Kunste: Von der Spätantike bis un 1500
Von Wilckens, Leonie
Verlag C.H. Beck, Munich, 1991
ISBN# 3-406-35363-0
This book of textiles, embroideries, and tapestries pre-1500 is entirely in German. The pictures are wonderful and Ms Von Wilkens picks up the Müller-Christensen mantle for detailed descriptions and analysis. SB
Advanced

Common Thread/Common Ground: A Collection of Essays on Early Samplers and Historic Needlework
Van Valin, Marsha, Ed.
The Scarlet Letter, Sullivan WI, 2001
ISBN# 0-9644764-5-2
A wonderfully insightful look into the history and evolution of samplers. While most of the book explores times later than is applicable to the SCA, the roots of samplers date to the 16th C. SB
Advanced

Catalogue of English Domestic Embroidery of the Sixteenth and Seventheenth Centuries
Nevinson, John L.
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1938
Nevinson was the Asst. Keeper in the Department of Textiles and a peer of Digby’s. Plates are in black and white. Wonderfully detailed descriptions including color, thread type, fabric type, stitches used and size of object. Also includes V&A reference numbers which would enable the resourceful person to arrange to see the object should they be fortunate enough to visit the museum. Essential book for the library of the 16th and 17th C. style researcher on embroidery. SB
Advanced

Catalogo de la Seccion de Tejidos, Bordados y Encajes del Museo de Arte Decorativo y Arqueológico
Sanchez, F. , Director
Barcelona, Spain, 1906
Wonderful catalogue with descriptions, one third of which are pre-17th C. embroideries. In Spanish. SB
Advanced