Petticoat (in process) c. 20th century

This delicate petticoat, still in process, whispers of a world made by hand. I think about the hours spent, needle in hand, carefully building up these creamy white embroidered forms. You can almost see the artist pausing, considering, maybe even changing their mind as they went. Look how some of the floral motifs are only faintly sketched in, not yet brought to life with thread. It's like witnessing a dance between intention and improvisation. I’m sure the maker had moments of pure flow, but also points where the thread tangled and the design needed rethinking. Embroidery, like painting, is slow labour. Each stitch is a mark, a decision. And when you add all these decisions together, you get something truly special – a physical record of someone's time, care, and creativity. I feel connected to other anonymous makers across time, all responding to the same needs - beauty, creativity, usefulness - and speaking in a language of stitches and gestures.