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Embroidery
Found on everything from stockings and nightgowns to wedding dresses and wall hangings, embroidery has been used to decorate textiles for over a thousand years. From cross-stitch to underside couching, our collection includes examples of embroidery techniques from across the world, by skilled professionals and amateurs alike.
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Embroidery designs by William Morris are represented alongside exquisite examples of medieval opus anglicanum, 17th century caskets and modern masterpieces of couture by Cristóbal Balenciaga and Christian Dior.
Collection highlights
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(Back) Waistcoat, 1620 – 25, England -
(Detail) The Flowers of the Fields of France, evening dress, designed by Norman Hartnell, 1957, London, England -
Armchair, about 1725 – 35, France -
(Detail) Hanging, about 1700, Gujarat, India -
Child's shoe, about 1873, Shache, China -
Evening outfit, designed by Cristóbal Balenciaga, made by Lesage, 1967, Paris, France -
(Detail) The Butler Bowdon Cope, 1330 – 45, England -
Pair of shoes, unknown, 1730 – 40, Britain -
(Detail) Pérou evening ensemble, designed by Christian Dior, by Bodin Brossin, 1954, Paris, France -
(Detail) Jacket, 1915, Jinan, China -
Portrait of Charles I, by Wenceslaus Hollar, 1625 – 50, England -
Embroidered casket, made by Martha Edlin, 1671, England
Features
Embroidery styles: an illustrated guide
Don't know your counted thread from your freestyle? Get up to speed with our illustrated guide
Make your own: Mexican-inspired embroidery
Try your hand at some Mexican-inspired embroidery motifs with these free, downloadable patterns
Martha Edlin's Casket
This exquisite example of 17th-century English embroidery was worked by a young girl aged just 11
The prison embroideries of Mary, Queen of Scots
For Elizabeth I's most famous political rival, needlework was both a pastime and a means of resistance
The making of medieval embroidery
See the traditional embroidery techniques used to create masterpieces of opus anglicanum
Mexican embroidery
Discover stunning examples of Mexican embroidery from the V&A's textile collection
Indian embroidery
From plain cotton to iridescent beetle-wing embellishments, explore diverse forms of traditional Indian embroidery
Make your own: embroidered zipped pouch
Make your own embroidered zipped pouch, ideal for carrying cards, coins or makeup, with this free pattern
Balenciaga's sequinned evening coat
Recreating the beautiful hot-pink beading and sequin work of Balenciaga's 1967 evening coat.
The Steeple Aston Cope
Discover how the fabric of this English medieval embroidery has been altered, ensuring its survival over centuries
The Syon Cope
Explore the beautiful imagery of the Syon Cope, embroidered in coloured silk and silver threads
The Tree of Jesse Cope
Explore the richly-worked imagery and intricate design of the Tree of Jesse Cope
Medieval mythologies
Peering out from the stitched designs of English medieval embroideries are lifelike animals, alongside fantastical creatures drawn from mythology and the imagination.
Embroidery – a history of needlework samplers
What do 'practice pieces' tell us about the changing nature of embroidery over time?
An A–Z of Opus Anglicanum
Do you know your cope from your chasuble, your split stitch from your satin stitch?
The Butler-Bowdon Cope
Take a closer look at the elaborate iconography of the Butler-Bowdon Cope
Katerina Jebb / Elizabeth Parker installation
Explore Katerina Jebb's photomontage of Elizabeth Parker's sad yet subversive 19th century embroidered sampler
Header image: Waistcoat with blackwork embroidery, maker unknown, 1620 – 25, England. Museum no. T.4-1935. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London