CHURCH EMBROIDERY. Ancient and Modern. Originally published in 1867. PREFACE. THE want at the present day of a practical treatise on Church Embroidery is so manifest that it would be super- fluous to make any apology to the public for offering, in the following pages, the result of several years personal experience in the various branches of high-class needle- work. A few books on the subject have been written within the last twenty-five years, but they are to be regarded principally as mere histories of Decorative Needlework, for, although highly and generally interesting to readers, yet they prove utterly worthless as guides to uninitiated workers. It is for the benefit of the latter that I have devoted myself in this undertaking. The beautiful art of Church Embroidery is so mysterious and perplexing to the novice, and so simple and fascinating when understood, that I desire nothing more earnestly than that every reader of these instructions, may become proficient, if only for the lasting delight the knowledge will assuredly confer. Many of the earliest books on weaving, textiles and needlework, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.