An article in a 1903 issue of The Craftsman said It is … desirable that the work retain its original, pleasing characteristics of slight irregularity and imperfection, – not to say carelessness, – were it only to avoid the appearance of machine-wrought embroidery. This quote caught my eye because as stitchers we have different opinions about imperfection in needlework. Even more so the professional embroiderers of this period could easily produce perfect work, but instead chose to introduce imperfection in needlework as a virtue, showing it was, indeed, hand-made. I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum myself. I got a model back once that was so perfectly stitched it could have been done by machine. Every stitch had the same tension, every one was untwisted. I knew that here was a perfection I could only wish to attain. On the other hand I’ve seen, and stitched, plenty of sloppy work