hood

Summary

Linen hood, cut on the cross in one piece with curved lower edge and top cut and seamed to give shaping for head; border and three bands of openwork embroidery radiating from crown edged in bobbin lace (probably Flemish); embroidered in linen thread in a scrolling stem design in chain stitch outlining leaf and flower shapes, centres very finely worked in cut work with elaborate and varied needlepoint fillings; signs of previous tracing of a different embroidery pattern, which has not been followed; original, unfollowed design is probably based on Richard Shorleyker's Schole-house for the Needle (1624). See plate 56 in Patterns of Fashion 4, linen 1540-1660, Janet Arnold.