Fancy work, or Victorian embroidery, was a popular pastime for women and young girls for centuries. During the Victorian and Edwardian eras, designs for knitting, netting, crochet, braiding and embroidery were included in many of the women’s fashion periodicals. Most often figures and motifs were provided with directions for working the patterns. A common fancy work pattern was for the corners of handkerchiefs, such as this large letter “M.”

Bring back this lost art and create an unusual gift for a special friend. Find more examples of Victorian Embroidery here.