author
Grace Christie
1872–1953
A leading voice in embroidery history, she helped turn needlework into a serious subject of study as well as a practical art. Her books joined clear instruction with deep knowledge of medieval English embroidery.
1 Audiobook
Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving
by Grace Christie
About the author
Grace Christie was an English embroiderer, teacher, and writer on needlework history. Born Anna Grace Ida Chadburn in 1872, she became known for bringing together hands-on craft knowledge and careful historical research, and she is remembered as an influential figure in early twentieth-century embroidery studies.
She wrote practical and historical works on embroidery, including Embroidery (1909), and is especially noted for her 1938 book English Medieval Embroidery, a major study of opus anglicanum, the richly worked medieval English embroidery prized across Europe. Sources consulted describe that book as a comprehensive survey of known surviving examples and an authoritative reference for the field.
Christie also taught embroidery and was associated with the Royal College of Art, where she helped encourage a more technically informed approach to the craft. She died in 1953, leaving behind work that still matters to readers interested in textiles, design, and the history of decorative arts.