Recently I have been creating a list of free Needlework books online and here is the list I thought many readers would find useful weather they are involved in the stitch along or not as they are all very useful books
Encyclopedia of Needlework by Thérèse de Dillmont is online as part of Project Gutenburg. You can download the whole book from the site for free it is an excellent resource
Handbook of Embroidery by L. Higgin contains standard stitches but also information on goldwork and quite a good section on couching and diaper patterns.
Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving by Grace Christie covers all key areas of Embroidery. It is a classic but also one of the most clearest illustrated stitch books of its time. Don’t miss this one as it is very useful.
Art in Needlework by Lewis F Day and Mary Buckle is a 326 page book published in 1907. This book is free to download from the Internet Archive site. You can download it in PDF format
The Cult of the Needle by Flora Klickmann is a hidden gem I discovered at the Internet archive. It is a 134 pages of styles and types of embroidery including drawn work, hardanger, Berlin work, and Huck darning
Ladies’ Guide in Needlework published by W. A. Leary & Co. in 1850. The 193 pages of this book have been divided into 3 PDF files which can be downloaded from the On-Line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics (the download is found half way down this page)
Beeton’s Book of Needlework is also on the Project Gutenburg site and can be downloaded free. There is a section on embroidery and a section on “Berlin” work which covers many canvas work stitches
The Lady’s Manual of Fancy-Work by Matilda Pullan published in 1859 is also available at the On-Line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics. It contains a mix of needlework arts including beading, Berlin work (canvas stitches)
Also don’t forget I provide a free stitch dictionary here on Pintangle.
Have you seen my Stitchers Templates?
Create your own designs with Sharon’s easy-to-use stitchers templates. Combine shapes to create hundreds of patterns and designs to embroider. It is the ultimate mix-and-match fun for stitchers of all skill levels. I created them to be as versatile as possible. I include four multi-patterned templates in each set. You will find them easy to use, totally clear to help you position them on your work, and they are nice and compact to fit in your sewing box. Each set comes with an e-book filled with patterns and designs that you can create and use as a jumping-off spot for your own designs. They are available now in our shop here!
Happy stitching!
Thanks for the links ,Sharon.It is lovely to be able to read some of these books.
omgosh, i’m grateful for the list! your compilation is wonderful.
Thank you Sharon for these treasures! xxx
thanks a bunch! some greatlinks you’ve posted. and thanks to radstraat too.
neki desu
Welcome back! And, you’ve done it again…thank goodness I’ve finished most of my work for the day since I’ve been drooling for a good hour over these books! Thank you so very much, Sharon, for the time you take to do this! Bestest regards!
Do you know the Dutch website http://www.geheugenvannederland.nl and especially the page: http://www.geheugenvannederland.nl/?/nl/collecties/modetijdschrift_de_gracieuse
It is a magazine with overloaded with fashion and designs for embroidery, crochet, knitting etc.
You are always such a wonderful source of hints, tips and inspiration – thanks for these links – I have an original copy of Therese de Dilmont’s Enclyclopaedia as well as a more recent reprint – I treasure them both and refer to them often.
The Cult of the Needle is such a delightful social history lesson (don’t think I’ll be crocheting edgings for my worn out knickers though) – I hadn’t seen that before!
wow! many thanks! what a treasure trove!