Emily Leigh Lowes

Emily Leigh Lowes was a writer on lace-making and needlework whose work was active in the early 1900s. She is best known for Chats on Old Lace and Needlework, first published in 1908, a book that looks at the history, techniques, and artistic traditions of lace and embroidery.

Her writing is remembered for making specialist craft knowledge approachable. Rather than treating needlework as a dry subject, she presented it as a living tradition, with attention to both English and Continental styles and to the beauty of handmade work.

Little biographical information appears to be readily available from the sources consulted, so much of her personal life remains unclear. What is clear is that her book has endured as a useful and interesting resource for readers curious about vintage textiles, decorative arts, and the history of needlework.