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Vintage Stitching Treasury

1880–1900

Realistic or naturalistic renderings. Visual puns and symbolic messages common.

“Talking” linens with greetings or jokes. Novelty work done in strong, natural colors. Fine

embroidery used for better quality decorative purposes—eyeletting, padded satin stitch, etc.

Turkey work/redwork a popular trend, where patterns for Kensington stitch (needlepainting)

are done in outlining only, in Turkey Red. First iron-on transfers appear on the market.

Bonanza of easily available flosses, fabrics, and patterns suddenly becomes available.

1900–1910

Arts & Crafts style patterns are a special niche in the kit and pattern market. Simplified natural

forms (flowers and abstract forms) often combine some very curvilinear elements of art

nouveau. Many kits pre-tinted to show elaborate stitching plans. This tinting is often simply

outlined and left to be enjoyed on its own.

1900–1920

Novelty patterns become increasingly professional looking. Novelty motifs continue

to be increasingly realistic. Fine embroidery motifs continue in eyeletting and other

traditional methods.

1920s

Kits for embroidered everything, from clothes to umbrella holders, are available. Incredible

number of patterns published. It’s a golden era for art embroidery. Linens feature unusually

shaped edges and corners, often fitting tightly to motifs. Colonial Lady themes begin

popularity. There is increasing whimsy and stylization in many designs. Black highlights and

accents are common in light pastel color schemes. Tinting becomes increasingly common in

combination with embroidery.

1930s

Patterns are highly professional, standardized. Motifs tend toward lush shapes, colors, or

backgrounds. Boudoir pillows, potholders, and Day of the Week towels become increasingly

popular. Novelty dolls, pajama bags, and other objects combine tinting, sewing, and

embroidery. Styles are influenced by Art Deco—strong shapes and luxurious colors. Black is

used as a background color for a stark, rich effect.

1940s

War-conscious patterns appear, including stuffed soldier dolls and motifs of soldiers with girls,

etc. Patterns take on slightly cartooned features, such as chipmunk cheeks and especially

large eyes, on a consistent basis, similar to other cartoon artwork of the period. Variety of

shapes in linens decreases, leading to less complex hems and finishing. Period details are

commonly used to add life to patterns. Increasingly refined patterns mimic the real world, but

always as a caricature.

1950s

Patterns move from being highly rendered to being occasionally over-rendered (action lines,

etc.) and complicated. Period details are no longer found. There are fewer pattern publishers

to choose from. Elaborately feminine designs feature figures and lines consistent with the

elegant fashions of the times.

Embroidery Styles Through the Years

Here’s a tip-of-the iceberg, seat-of-your-pants synopsis of the basic trends of

art embroidery patterns, almost 100 years in less than 500 words!