This magisterial volume is a stunning labor of research and love by Gail Marsh, textile and knitwear authority and designer extraordinaire. Focusing on pre-World War II tools and techniques, and on the hand-embroiderers who used them--including famous names like Jessie Newbury, Ann Macbeth, Mrs. Foster, and more--Marsh draws extensively from the renowned RBKS Collection at Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire, where she is curator, to compile a meticulous record of the everyday practice and development of the craft. More than a history, this is an essential reference for students, collectors, and crafters interested in traditional embroidery techniques.