stitched.
The art of embroidery, however, is not merely an affair of stitches;
they are but the means by which ideas can be expressed in intelligible
form, and memories of all kinds of things be pictured on stuffs.

To laboriously train the hand is scarcely worth while unless it is
capable of expressing something that is at least pretty. Nowadays much
embroidery is done with the evident intent of putting into it the
minimum expenditure of both thought and labour, and such work furnishes
but a poor ideal to fire the enthusiasm of the novice; happily, there
still exist many fine examples showing what splendid results may be
achieved; without some knowledge of this work we cannot obtain a just
idea of the possibilities of the art.

It is obvious that much advantage can be gained from studying the
accumulated experience of the past in addition to that current in our
own day. To do this intelligently, the history of embroidery must be
followed in order that the periods richest in the various kinds of work
may be ascertained. Museums afford useful hunting-grounds for the study
of past work; other sources are private collections, churches, costume
in pictures or on engraved brasses, and manuscript inventories such as
those of cathedral treasuries, which sometimes contain interesting
detailed descriptions of their embroidered vestments and hangings.

Blind copying of old work is not of much value; it is not possible or
desirable to imitate XIIIth century work now, but much can be learned
by examining fine examples in an appreciative and analytical spirit. In
what way the design has been built up can be discovered; the most
complicated result may often be resolved into quite elementary lines.
The student must find out wherein lie the attraction and interest, note
good schemes of colour, and learn about stitches and methods of work by
close examination of the embroidery, both front and back.

Every one knows what embroidery is, and a formal definition seems
unnecessary. As a matter of fact, it would be a difficult task to give
one, since weaving, lace-making, and embroidery are but subtle
variations of the same art.

This art may be of the highest or the most homely character, and the
latter is by no means to be despised. Simple unaffected work decorating
the things of every-day use can give a great deal of pleasure in its
way. This should surely be the accomplishment of every woman, for though
she may not have the skill to