A table carpet may be a thick, decorative textile placed over a table. Although called a carpet, it needs neither to be made with a pile nor placed on the floor. Such ‘carpets’ were removed or covered with a linen cloth when the table was in use. This type of table covering was popular in Europe from at least the fifteenth century onwards.
Margaret Swain (née Hart) was an English textile historian, who was particularly interested in embroidery and the social/economic factors behind its production and use. She was married to Richard Swain (a bacteriologist), who worked at Edinburgh University.
A single pattern quilt has a pattern based on the repetition of a single block design. GVE
John Ruskin, also known as the Sage of Coniston, was an English artist and art critic, who was involved in various nineteenth century movements, notably the Arts and Crafts Movement headed by William Morris. Ruskin was an art patron, painter, water colourist, as well as an art critic and social commentator. His work influenced many artists and artisans, including embroiderers.
The John Ruskin Prize was first announced in 2012 and is named after the nineteenth century art critic, John Ruskin. It is awarded each year to an artist (professional or amateur), who has produced a work on the theme of “Recording Britain Now: Fresh, contemporary visions of the UK's urban, rural or social environment.“
A basic cross is a geometric design made up of two intersecting lines. In the Christian tradition a cross was used to crucify Jesus Christ, as told in the New Testament. There are many different forms of crosses that used in the Christian Church, depending on its denomination, to commemorate the crucifixion of Christ.
A ribbon is a narrow, flat and flexible woven band that may range in appearance from simple and monochrome to being decorated with multi-coloured and repetitive (embroidered or woven) patterns. Ribbons may also be made out of velvet, satin or some other complex weave. They are usually between 0.3 and 10 cm in width.
In Europe, until the early twentieth century, French terminology for lace and embroidery was very wide-spread.
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A sewing pin (Late Old English: pinn) is a small piece of pointed bone, metal, thorn, wood, etc., used to fasten or hold together parts of a structure. By the medieval period, in Europe, it had become a slender piece of wire (usually brass or iron) with a sharp tapered point and a flattened round head.
According to the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, the verb 'to piece' means: 'to mend, make whole or complete by adding a piece or pieces; to patch.' The verb has also taken on a related meaning in the terms 'piecework' or 'pieced patchwork', which is a form of patchwork that is made by sewing together small, geometric shapes cut out of stiffish paper or card, which are covered in cloth.
Aniline is a chemical compound discovered in mid-nineteenth century Europe, which forms the basis for the modern synthetic dye industry. Aniline dyes are known for their wide range of bright colours that do not fade (unlike many natural dyes).
The term nambu hishi zashi refers to a stitched lozenge pattern that is characteristic for the embroidery from the Nambu district, Japan.