Needle and Thread: A Lovely Manual

How beautiful is this 1833 Irish book of needlework instruction, created with great skill and thought. I do wonder about the needlewoman who took the time to create it, providing gorgeous miniature examples as a reference -- perhaps to remind herself of how she constructed something, or perhaps to pass on to others seeking to refine their technique. We are so used to seeing these days pattern books in paper with stamped or charted patterns -- but this old school version in needle and thread, in linen and muslim is just so remarkable and materially faithful to the craft.