BLUE: Tatter Textile Library

BLUE: Tatter Textile Library BLUE, a textile library of books and objects, provides an inspiring space for the study of cloth in c

09/08/2026

Whether you don't own a sewing machine or simply prefer the soothing pace of hand-stitching, you've likely noticed that most sewing patterns are written for machine sewing. This may not sound like a problem, but there are so many differences—stitch options, tension, order of construction—that come into play during the process.

For those looking to take their time, hone their hand-skills, and add a more personal touch to their sewing, author and expert hand-sewist Louisa Owen Sonstroem (Louisa Owen Sonstroem) will be teaching Translating Patterns for Hand Sewing on September 26th. She'll cover pattern annotations for clarity, introduce useful stitches for different fabrics and locations, and guide students through adjusting pattern pieces for a smooth process. You'll leave this class with the skills to interpret and reimagine any pattern for hand-stitching, and a new way to see the sewing world!

Details at tatter.org ✂️

"Lippincott's Home Manuals" were once a staple in early 20th century American homes, exemplifying the popularity of home...
09/08/2026

"Lippincott's Home Manuals" were once a staple in early 20th century American homes, exemplifying the popularity of home economics and the resurfacing of domestic arts in the industrial age. The series guided readers through the disciplines of cooking, gardening, sewing, and "housewifery," and included these two courses on the construction of women's clothing.

These particular volumes, printed in 1917 and 1918, guide home sewists through basic constructions, fabric identification, and even essential principles of design. Shown here with a pair of antique shears and a pack of tailor's chalk, one of these copies also holds a surprise: tucked between the time-yellowed pages is a tiny buttonhole sample, preserved like a pressed flower.

If you're a home sewist yourself, and interested in the possibilities of making clothing by hand, our new hand-sewing class with author and artist Louisa Owen Sonstroem (Louisa Owen Sonstroem) might be for you! In Translating Patterns for Hand Sewing, Louisa will teach us the changes, stitches, and processes needed to adapt any pattern to hand-sewn techniques. Join us in the TATTER studio on September 26th, and learn to read patterns a whole new way! Learn more at tatter.org.

09/06/2026

Have you seen a lobster on a sampler before? If so, where was it made?

Read the full article (and more) on our Substack, at tatterblue.substack.com 💙

"Dowries From Kutch: A Women's Folk Art Tradition in India" by Vickie C. Elson. Catalog from a 1979 exhibition at the Fr...
09/01/2026

"Dowries From Kutch: A Women's Folk Art Tradition in India" by Vickie C. Elson. Catalog from a 1979 exhibition at the Frederick S. Wight Art Gallery, UCLA.

The bridal traditions of the Rabari, a semi-nomadic herding culture spread across northwest India, are renowned for their intricacy and beauty. Stitched in electric shades, the embroidery for both wedding ceremonies and dowries are especially ornate in a culture where embroidery is already of great importance. Using appliqué, chain stitching, mirrorwork, and more, it might take a young woman years to accomplish.

When recurring droughts and inflation began to destabilize traditional income, Rabari women began joining the workforce. For some, this meant producing commercial embroidery—for most, however, agricultural labor was more profitable and efficient. The new dual-income arrangement left women with little time to practice traditional embroidery for their families, homes, and dowries. For the Dhebaria, one of many communities within the Rabari, this led women to embroider dowry bags largely by machine and use ready-made trims and appliqué, stitching their dowries between work shifts and more pressing chores. The customary heavy adornment became a growing burden to many. Today, mothers and grandmothers have begun passing their own dowry pieces down to younger generations, ensuring they will have beautiful pieces without the added strain of embroidering them.

Absent from this book is a section on dowry bags. On view in our upcoming exhibition (and the last 2 images) is a large and elaborately decorated 20th century Rabari dowry bag. This kothalo would have been used to transport non-textile dowry items, like cooking implements, into the bride's new home. "Sh**ha, Kantha, and Kachchh: Domestic Embroidery in the TATTER Collection" opens to the public September 8th. Visit tatter.org to plan your visit!

Kothalo dowry bag, India, Gujarat, Kachchh, 20th century. Rabari community. Cotton embroidery, ric-rac on cotton background. TATTER Textile Collection, 2024.9.5.

09/01/2026

Embroidery artist and educator Shahnaz Khan has spent her career championing the use of traditional techniques in the modern era. Recently, she joined us for virtual workshops on Sh**ha and Kachchh (Kutch) embroidery, sharing the history and techniques behind two time-honored practices.

Now, in conjunction with our upcoming exhibition "Sh**ha, Kantha, & Kachchh: South Asian Domestic Embroidery in the TATTER Collection," Shahnaz returns to The Blue Library to teach these beautiful, historical embroidery styles in person. Join us on September 12th for Sh**ha Embroidery and September 20th for Kachchh Embroidery, and view our inaugural exhibition in the process!

Learn more about Shahnaz's classes and the exhibit at tatter.org 💙

08/27/2026

Foundation paper piecing is the solution to so many quilting woes: asymmetrical points, elaborate measurement calculations, pieces that are somehow all different sizes despite being measured the same way. It might take a few tries to perfect, but the applications are endless.

On October 2nd, quilting artist Sarah Nishiura (sarah nishiura) will return to TATTER's Hand Sewn Quilting Series to teach Foundation Paper Piecing. Through this virtual workshop, you'll learn to make crisp, geometric blocks you can use in a thousand configurations, with points that are guaranteed to line up. Wherever you are in your quilting journey, this technique is a total game-changer.

Find out more about the class at tatter.org 📃

08/25/2026

The first known example of English Paper Piecing is a beautiful coverlet made entirely of silk, carefully wrapping its paper template since 1718. With the rarity of paper at the time, many quilts from the 19th century reused personal letters and legal documents to create their shapes.

English Paper Piecing, or EPP, is a simple, satisfying approach to patchwork that guarantees identical measurements on every piece. Complex patterns made easy, endless combinations of color and shape, the satisfaction of a neat overcast stitch—this is an amazing technique to have in your repertoire, for expert and novice quilters alike.

On September 25th, join quilter Tara Faughnan (tara faughnan) for a virtual class on this addictive patchwork style. Together, you'll build a stable foundation for many projects to come.

Read more at tatter.org 🧩

tatterbluelibrary

08/21/2026

Bargello embroidery goes by many names, including the Flame Stitch, the Irish Flame, the Hungarian Point, and the Florentine Stitch. It is a form of canvas work that draws its name from a series of 17th-century chairs found in the Bargello Palace of Florence, Italy. The oldest known examples are vertical wool stitches on canvas, but smaller pieces like samplers or even shoes often display the technique in silk on fine linen. 

The technique was revived in the 1960s, and craft markets saw an influx of pattern books and kits for coasters, cushions, wall decorations, purses, and more. Coming September 10th, this workshop, led by textile artist Elliot Rockart (Elliot Rockart) will introduce participants to the basic stitches, as well as how to read a Bargello pattern. The skills learned in this class can be applied to a variety of projects and designs.

Sign up today at tatter.org to join Bargello Embroidery as well as other classes in TATTER's World Embroidery Series!

We often think of needlepoint, Bargello, and cross-stitch from the perspective of their mid-20th century hobbyist reviva...
08/21/2026

We often think of needlepoint, Bargello, and cross-stitch from the perspective of their mid-20th century hobbyist revival—as the choice craft of our grandmothers, or the eclectic accessories of the 1960s and 70s. In truth, canvaswork as a practice dates back to 1500 BCE in ancient Egypt. In centuries since then, specific stitches and techniques were introduced and popularized. One of the stitches shown here, Bargello, didn't come into widespread fashion until the 17th century, when a pair of embroidered chairs were found in Florence's Bargello Palace, giving the stitch its name.

This particular canvaswork sampler was stitched in Italy in 1807, including cross-stitch, needlepoint, and Bargello stitches in nearly psychedelic patterns and shades. Delightfully, this sampler also includes a tiny cross-stitched nun holding the hands of two children, presumably orphans. This could be a clue about the maker, who might have been a nun herself, or taught by them.

Since the crafting boom of the 1970s, canvaswork has had yet another resurgence in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Did you pick it up?

If you're interested in canvaswork, you might be interested in our upcoming Bargello class with Elliot Rockart (Elliot Rockart), part of our World Embroidery Series, coming September 10th. More details can be found at tatter.org 🔥

Canvaswork sampler, Italy, 1807. Wool on linen canvas. TATTER Textile Collection, 2025.9.8.

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