Embroidery magazine

Editorial

Until relatively recently any description of hand embroidery would have been confined purely to describing the skill of embellishing fabric with thread. Down the centuries, both professional workshops and keen amateurs have left us a rich legacy, examples of which are preserved in collections such as those belonging to the Embroiderers' Guild and the Royal School of Needlework (see p48 of the magazine). On the domestic front, plain sewing and mending played their part in preserving the craft for new generations as sewing skills were handed down. But it was the latter part of the 20th century that ushered in a new approach to the artistic scope of embroidery. Today the term textile art (or fibre art in the States) is now widely used and accepted. Contemporary makers and artists are no longer restricted to the formalities that previously defined the craft - or to using traditional materials. It's no coincidence that this issue features three stitchers who work with paper and found media as often as fabric and thread. The 2011 graduate showcase (p36) presents our pick of the best new student textile work, some of which reveals an innovative take on materials (rubber bands or beer cans, anyone?). Whilst a new generation continues to explore the possibilities of embroidery, we should remain proud of our heritage and of the skills that many male and female stitchers have preserved down the ages.