Purchased by donor for 2/- at a jumble sale. (2 shillings in 1960 or about 20c in decimal currency, in 2026 about $3.70).Fine Ayrshire Embroidery. Robe is typical Ayrshire with triangular bodice and "wings" on skirt.embroidery, embroidery- garments, embroidery- mid 19th century, embroidery - ayrshire, embroidery - whitework

Classical Ayrshire embroidery. Very fine design covering the whole bonnet. Decorative circle at the crown and needlepoint fillings, all different in some of the flowers.embroidery, ayrshire work, scotland, bonnets, early 19th century

Purchased by Guild member from the Misses CochraneAyrshire embroidery on fine cream muslin. Traditional stitchery in floral design.embroidery, caps, ayrshire, scotland, late 19th century

Classical Ayrshire embroidery worked on fine lawn, with decorative "V" shaped bodice, winged and embroidered skirt and finely embroidered, scalloped lawn edge. Sleeves are 4 tiered, embroidered and pleated.embroidery, ayrshire work, christening robe, late 19th century, scotland

Fine white lawn with classical Ayrshire embroidery with small circle at back and delicate sprigged ground with two bands along the edge with draw straings. The double machine-lace frill was probably added later.embroidery, ayrshire work, bonnets, late 19th century, scotland

Found in a collection bag by Miss Thelma Crawford and brought to Guild.Typical fine Ayrshire, high standard with classical flower, fillings and skirt wings.embroidery, ayrshire, christening robe, 1840-60, scotland

Fine muslin with embroidered circle on crown, lace edged There are 5 rows of draw cord for fitting around the face.embroidery, ayrshire, bonnets, late 19th century, scotland

Fine white cotton with floral sprays in a border design. Edge finished in buttonhole scallops. Embroidered in white.Emily (inked)embroidery, ayrshire, scotland, mid 19th century

Fine white cotton with sprays of flowers in the corners. Continuous band of open work, and an edge of scalloped buttonhole with satin stitch dots.embroidery, ayrshire, scotland, mid 19th century

Handkerchief belonged to one of the Strathmore family.Fine white linen in the classical Ayrshire style. Needlepoint lace fillings in a border of satin stitched leaves and flowers. Hem has 2 cm band of drawn thread work, edged with fine lace.embroidery, ayrshire work, scotland, mid 19th century

Classic Ayrshire bonnet which has a lace frill and rosette which were added at a later date when more decorative bonnets were in style.embroidery, ayrshire work, bonnets, mid 19th century, scotland

Fine muslin, white embroidery. Floral sprigs with needlepoint fillings, and a wide border of rows of leaves. Edge is scalloped buttonhole.embroidery, ayrshire work, scotland, late 19th century

Made of fine lawn with excellent workmanship and design for the narrow dainty border of leaves. Satin stitch, needlepoint fillings, eyelet holes and an abundance of fine seeding are included.embroidery, ayrshire work, handkerchief, mid 19th century, scotland

Late Ayrshire work (machined?) Applied machine made motifs with hand embroidered pulled thread. Scolloped border, Machine made.embroidery, ayrshire work, whitework, late 19th century, scotland

Lawn, made in the classical style with a small circle of embroidery on the back of bonnet. The main area has a band with tucks and fine floral embroidery.embroidery, ayrshire work, bonnets, mid 19th century, scotland

Fine white cotton with bold flower displays and decorative pulled bands around the edge. Edged with buttonholed scallops and rounded corners,.An indistinct Indian ink name.embroidery, ayrshire, handkerchief, mid 20th century, scotland

An undersleeve in Ayrshire work. A five pointed frill is drawn into a decorative band which fastens with a button and a loop. Scalloped buttonhole decorates the edges, padded satin stitch is used for the floral decoration on cuff and frill.embroidery, ayrshire work, garments, scotland, mid 19th century

Fine linen Ayrshire Baby's Bonnet, classical style with floral design brim border in padded satin stitch and needle lace filling. The design also includes a great number of small embroidered spots. The back has a decorated circle with a needle lace filled star in the centre surrounded by a buttonhole scallop border.embroidery, bonnets, ayrshire work, late 18th century, scotland

Laundered 30/10/1999Long white Christening robe with Ayrshire embroidery on a vee shaped bodice front coming to a point at the waist with a small opening under the point. If the baby was a boy the point was left showing an if a girl it was tucked into the opening. Tucking across the front panel. Drawstring at neck.lace and pin tucking down front. Drawstring neckcostume, infants'

Traditionally worked using white thread onto a fine white muslin, Ayrshire embroidery is recognisable by stylised floral motifs with areas of filled in cutwork. Developed from Dresden embroidery (a form of pulled work) and tambour embroidery, it uses a range of stitches, including satin stitch, chain stitch, eyelets and buttonhole edging as well as a range of lace filling stitches. The technique became popular in the early nineteenth century, when the previous fashion of elaborate gowns with hooped skirts was replaced by looser, simpler white cotton muslin garments. Although the elegant simplicity was favoured, women also desired some decoration. However, looms of the time could not create complex designs, so women turned to hand stitching.Using cotton muslin woven in Ayrshire, local women and girls would complete the intricate whitework to help supplement their family income. Mainly produced at home, Ayrshire whitework garments would be initially completed by one person. However, as the technique became more popular and the industry developed, to ensure high quality work, a piece would be passed around so that each embroiderer could focus on completing the stitches they specialised in.It is believed that the designs and motifs used in Ayrshire whitework were inspired by lace filling stitches found within an inset in a French Christening robe that was bought to Scotland by Lady Mary Montgomery, who then lent it to Mrs Jamieson of Ayr. She copied the stitches used within the robe and taught them to her outworkers, and she also produced plain muslin that was stamped with a water-soluble blue ink design that made embroidering the designs neater and more efficient. Ayrshire work became popular quite quickly, and it was incorporated into collars, cuffs and caps as well as children’s clothes and bonnets. Pieces were exported across Europe and the British Empire. As the decades progressed, technology advanced, resulting in looms that could incorporate decoration into the weave of the cloth, reducing the need for hand embroidered Ayrshire whitework.A triple frill of Buckingham lace, followed by two bands of fine embroidery - eyelets and satin stitch, and tucking, with small circle at crown.embroidery, whitework, bonnets, mid 19th century, scotland, garments

Very fine white cotton, late Ayrshire with eyelets and lace fillings. Buttonholed, scolloped edges. Two cuffs with cotton binding, collar with linen bindings.embroidery, garments, late 19th century, scotland, ayrshire

Made of lawn with a border of flowers in satin stitch and buttonhole stitch. Fine embroidery in classical style.embroidery, handkerchief, mid 19th century, scotland, ayrshire work

Machine made lace and broderie mounted on net. Wide broderie frill.embroidery, whitework, bonnets, late 19th century, england

Donated by Mrs. J MouldsSheer linen with front band embroidered in a floral design of flowers. Satin stitch, needlepoint fillings and tiny eyelets. Scatterings of flowers on body drawn into a circle also embroidered.embroidery, 19th century, france, white work, bonnets

Said by donor ( (in 1976) to have been warn by 4 generations of her family.Fine white linen with fine sprigs all over. Decorative circle on back, a decorative band around the face in Ayrshire style. Three pin tucks around the face. Nylon ties have been added much later. Machine or handmade?embroidery, whitework, bonnets, late 19th century, ayrshire, scotland

Worn by 4 generations of donor's familyLinen fabric with the background entirely covered in fine design worked in satin stitch and tiny eyelets. Traditional Ayrshire circle at the back with a needlepoint filling. Also edge with detached buttonhole lace edging.embroidery, bonnets, late 19th century, scotland, ayrshire work

Dated by donor as 1800.Muslin with fine powderings on the background, scalloped edge and some tiny sprigs of berries, embroidered in padded satin stitch and eyelet holes.embroidery, collars, early 19th century, scotland, ayrshire work