Embroidery

Embroidery, a figured design or pattern worked by the needle upon muslin or stuff, the material for the figure being generally gold, silver, or silk thread. Muslin stretched upon a frame is often the groundwork of the embroidery. The art seems to have been invented in the East, and to have passed from the Persians to the Greeks, though the latter attributed its origin to Pallas Athene. The king of Pergamus is said first to have used gold thread, and the women of Sidon were renowned for their skill in the art. A familiar example of it is the sampler of a few generations ago, specimens of which are to be seen in most houses.