Pulled thread embroidery transforms a piece of ordinary fabric into delicate "lace" by compressing threads of loosely woven background material with tightly pulled stitches. Focusing on this age-old craft, Moyra McNeill's clearly written, profusely illustrated how-to book shows embroiderers what attractive effects can be achieved by using relatively simple techniques. For needlecrafters desiring greater challenges, more complex ideas are presented as well.
Following a brief introductory history of the craft, easy-to-follow instructions are provided for creating dozens of decorative stitches, among then the diagonal cross, open trellis and checker fillings; the ripple, Finnish, cushion, diamond, triangle, and braid stitches; as well as composite stitches displaying a reeded stitch and mosaic filling.
Concluding sections describe procedures for a variety of edgings (simple-faced, hern-stitched picot, and fringed) and for creating inspired designs of your own, while a final chapter exhibits decorative examples of pulled work embroidery from the past.