Cloth with Border of Vegetal Motifs and Insertion with Bird Motifs

Textiles often incorporate multiple needlework techniques within a single piece. One of the techniques in this example of lace is called cutwork. In cutwork, portions of the textile ground, such as a linen or cotton cloth, are cut away and threads are removed to create holes. The edges of the hole are then reinforced with embroidery and a pattern of needle lace can be created within the perimeter. Rather than adding to the cloth to create a design, the craftsperson removes threads to fabricate a pattern.

Credit: Bequest of Louise Tifft Brown