Brimming with intricate drawings, color photos of museum-held pieces, and excerpts from 18th-century writings, this fascinating, highly readable book explains how embroiderers embellished the bewitching, sumptuous clothing of the day. Gain insights into the working life of 18th-century embroiderers; and study the tools, equipment, stitches, and threads employed to embroider everything from petticoats to a polonaise robe. And learn techniques as relevant today as they were then, including working with metal thread and spangles, silk embroidery, quilting, tambour, and the forgotten arts of Hollie Point and knotting. A must for students of embroidery, fashion, and textiles; historical costume creators; collectors; and needlework enthusiasts.