The Development of Embroidery in America

Candace Wheeler, a founding member of the Society of American Artists and a driving force behind the American embroidery revival, offers the first comprehensive history of needlework in the United States. Beginning with the earliest colonial settlers and moving through three centuries of evolving traditions, Wheeler traces how embroidery transformed from a practical household craft into a distinctly American art form. She examines the crewelwork of New England households, the elaborate samplers that served as young girls' education, and the sophisticated quillwork techniques adapted from Native American traditions. Throughout, Wheeler argues that this domestic art represents some of the finest creative work produced by American women, often executed with remarkable skill despite being dismissed by the formal art world. The book captures a pivotal moment in the recognition of crafts as legitimate artistic expression, written by someone who helped transform how Americans valued textile arts.