Stumpwork reached its height of popularity in the 17th century. Stumpwork embroidery creates beautiful raised designs with satin backgrounds, padding, and motifs often embellished with beads. Stumpwork is a showcase for a variety of needle skills. There are many needlelace techniques used in Stumpwork. Cotton, Silk and Metalic threads were commonly used. Designs contained plants, animals and people. Stumpwork coverd the boxes, mirror frames and wall hangings of Stuart Period.

“Stumpwork embroidery is a raised form of embroidery created on one background and transferred to another, ground fabric, and is three-dimensional through the use of padding, beads, wire and/or needle lace stitches. ” – Jeanmarie Bruccia, from Jenny June’s Fancy Work.

From Stumpwork Embroidery : A Collection of Fruits, Flowers and Insects for Contemporary Raised Embroidery by Jane Nicholas.

Stumpwork Links

• Stumpwork and Related Needlework for sale by STEPHEN & CAROL HUBER AMERICA’S FOREMOST SAMPLER DEALERS
• Stumpwork: Old and New
• Antiques Online Late 18th/Early 19th Century Stumpwork
• Caron-Net Designer Spotlight on Karen Buell
• Jean Fletcher’s Stumpwork Cabinet

Stumpwork Bibliography

• The Timeless Art of Embroidery by Helen M. Stevens Hardcover – 144 pages (May 1998) Sterling Publications; ISBN: 0715304348
• Batsford Encyclopedia of Embroidery Techniques, The by Gay Swift. London: B.T. Batsford, 1984.
• Design in Embroidery,Endacott, Violet M. NY: Bonanza Books, 1964.
• Complete guide to Needlework, The, Gostelow, Mary. NY: Chartwell Books, 1982.
• Ecclesiastical Embroidery, Dean, Beryl. London: BT Batsford, 1958.
• Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving, Christie, Grace. New York:
  Taplinger Publishing, 1979.
• English Furniture, Tapestry and Needlework of the XVIth-XIXth Centuries, MacQuoid, Percy. London: BT Batsford,
• Gardening With Silk and Gold : A History of Gardens in Embroidery by Thomansina Beck, Hardcover – 160 pages (May 1998) Sterling Publications; ISBN: 0715304879 ;
• Needlework, Cavallo, Adolph S. NY: Cooper-Hewitt Museum, 1979.
• New Designs in Raised Embroidery by Barbara Hirst, Roy Hirst Hardcover – 80 pages (March 1999) Merehurst Ltd; ISBN: 1853915785
• Pictorial History of Embroidery, A, Schuette, Marie and Muller-Christansen, Sigrid. NY: Frederick A. Praeger, 1964.
• Quilting ,Colby, Averil. London: BT Batsford,
• Quilting, by Moyra McNeill
• Quilting Manual, Hinson, Delores A. NY: Dover Books, 1966.
• Raised Embroidery, Hirst, Barbara and Roy. London: Merchurst Limited, 1993.
• Stumpwork by Muriel Best, London: BT Batsford, 1987.
• Stumpwork : The Art of Raised Embroidery by Muriel Baker
• Stumpwork : Historical and Contemporary Raised Embroidery by Muriel Best
• Stumpwork Embroidery : A Collection of Fruits, Flowers and Insects for Contemporary Raised Embroidery (Milner Craft Series) by Jane Nicholas Hardcover – 189 pages (August 1996) Sally Milner Pub; ISBN: 1863511830 ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.75 x 11.26 x 8.51
• Stumpwork Embroidery Designs and Projects by Jane Nicholas Hardcover – 160 pages (May 1998) Sterling Publications; ISBN: 186351208X
• Trapunto and other Forms of Raised Quilting, by Mary Morgan and Dee MostellerNY: Charles Scribner’s Sons,
• Victoria and Albert Museum Textile Collection, The by Donald King and Santina Levey, NY: Canopy Books, 1993.