Folk Cross Stitch Design Collected by Emil Sigerus: 195 enchanting patterns in colour with an illustrated introduction to their origin and the role of the medieval Saxon Colonists of Transylvania
Kiewe, Heinz Edgar
Hans Meschendorfer, Munich, 1964
Each design is identified as to source year and country. Kiewe asserts that the designs are done in cross stitch, but it is difficult to confirm his assertions without clear pictures of the original which are rarely included. SB
Intermediate

English Embroidery – II Cross-Stitch: A Handbook with Diagrams, Scale Drawings and Photographs taken from XVIIth Century English Samplers and from Modern Examples
Pesel, Louisa F.
The Manual Press, Peoria IL, 1931
Difficult and expensive to get a hold of, but worth viewing to see how cross stitch was used in samplers and household textiles. She shows examples of long arm cross stitch in addition to other counted thread techniques. SB
Intermediate

English Embroidery- I Double Running or Back Stitch
Pesel, Louisa F.
B. T. Batsford Ltd., London, 1931
Book of patterns taken from samplers in public and private collections. Mostly 17th C. This book is hard to get and expensive, but worth looking at if you can get the chance. SB
Intermediate

Embroideries and Samplers from Islamic Egypt
Ellis, Marianne
Ashmolean Museum/Curious Works Press, Oxford, 2001
ISBN# 1-85444-135-3
Wonderful book of Mamluk embroideries from the 11th -15th C’s. Each is detailed as to to stitch, thread and fabric content and historical derivation of style. SB
Intermediate

DMC Libraries: Assisi Embroideries
Th. de Dillmont, ed.
Societe Anonyme Dollfus-Mieg & Cie, Mulhouse, France,
This pamphlet was produced in honor of St. Francis. The patterns are what was in use during the early part of the 20th C, but many have their roots in the 13th and 14th century embroideries. Patterns, but not charted. A useful pamphlet, but difficult to get. SB
Intermediate

Designs for Holbein Embroidery: 110 New Geometric Patterns
Scheuer, Nikki
Doubleday & Co., New York, 1976
ISBN# 0-385-11001-4
Ignore most of the patterns for projects and concentrate on the filling patterns. She shows or has adapted from many pre-1600 textiles patterns which work in blackwork. Much like a stitcher taking a period pattern book which did not differentiate the use to which the pattern would be put – engraving or needlework, lace or embroidery. SB
Intermediate

Counted Thread Embroidery Projects
Zimmerman, Jane D.
self, Oakland CA, 1978
Contains blackwork, assisi, and pulled thread patterns which are probably pre-1600, just not the projects themselves. SB
Intermediate