Needlework tools have been a necessity ever since early man fashioned primitive garments, and it is the development of these tools that has proved such a rich and rewarding area of study for researchers and collectors alike. This important book is a comprehensive examination of needlework tools from the seventeenth century to the Edwardian era. The author, an expert with over twenty years' first-hand experience of her subject, has grouped needlework tools into specific periods, linking these to the style of embroidery that was in fashion and the social background of the time. This book answers the many questions posed by collectors of antique needlework tools and is of equal interest to all embroidery and needlework enthusiasts, social historians, dealers and auction houses. It is the indispensable reference on the subject.