Sicilian drawn thread stitch

Sicilian drawn-thread embroidery stitch is one of the earliest and most ancient forms of open work embroidery came from the countries having borders with the Mediterranean Sea. Later this dawn work was introduced into Greece, Italy, Russia, Germany and Spain under the names PUNTO TIRATO (threads drawn one way) and PUNTO TAGLIATO (threads drawn both ways). Towards the end of the 16th century, the art of embroidering on linen was taken up in England by members of the Royal Household, who being clever at lace making, introduced lace stitches intermingled with drawn thread work to enrich their clothes and household linen. Elizabethan portraits show spectacular ruffs decorated with drawn thread work. The embroidery of the 16th Century had such a large number of threads cut and withdrawn that they were strengthened and decorated with darning and needle weaving, and with threads added diagonally and in curves which were held in place with bars. In 19th and early 20th centuries an enormous quantity of drawn thread work was produced on linen and cotton to decorate bed and table linen. This embroidery stitch is used for the decoration of lingerie, handkerchiefs, sheets, tray cloths and tea cloths, towels, nightdress cases and other household fundamentals.