Louisa Pesel

Louisa Pesel (1870–1947) was an English embroiderer, educator and textile collector. She was born in Bradford, and studied textile design at the National Art Training School, causing her to become interested in decorative stitchery. She served as the director of the Royal Hellenic School of Needlework and Lace in Athens, Greece, from 1903 to 1907. Pesel served as the first president of the Embroiderers' Guild. Frederic was a textile merchant, stockbroker and magistrate, and Isabella was from an influential Leeds family. After attending Bradford Girls' Grammar School, she studied textile design under Lewis Foreman Day, who was active in the Arts and Crafts Movement, at the National Art Training School. Returning to England to look after her ailing mother, Pesel assisted in setting up the West Riding Needlecraft Association.

In 1910 the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum commissioned Pesel to produce a series of samplers of historic English embroidery stitches, which led to three V&A portfolio publications. During this period, Pesel also lectured on stitching at the V&A, the British Council, the British Association, and elsewhere. and served until 1922.

Winchester life and cathedral commissions

After the death of her father in 1922, Pesel moved from Bradford, eventually settling in Twyford, Hampshire, in 1925, teaching embroidery locally. The Bishop of Winchester, Bishop Woods, requested Pesel make cushions for the chapel attached to his residence, in 1931. She designed cushions and kneelers, which were executed by the Wolvesey Canvas Embroidery Guild. Pesel, who oversaw the entire project, was helped by the artist Sybil Blunt, who designed the medallions of the bench cushions and many stall cushions. Pesel, Blunt, and two assistants taught new volunteers, tested designs and stitches, and completed work left unfinished by the group of stitchers from the area who were helping.

In popular culture Louisa Pesel, in her role at Winchester Cathedral, features in Tracy Chevalier's 2019 novel A Single Thread.

Publications Embroidery: or, The craft of the needle, by W. G. Paulson Townsend, assisted by Louisa F. Pesel. 1907 Stitches from old English embroideries. London, P. Lund, Humphries & Co, Ltd, 1912 Stitches from eastern embroideries from countries bordering on the Mediterranean, from Greece, the Near East and Persia. By Louisa F. Pesel 1913 Practical Canvas Embroidery. London, Batsford, 1929 English embroidery. 1931 Leaves from my embroidery note-books, Pesel, Louisa Frances. London, B.T. Batsford Ltd, 1938 Historical Designs for Embroidery. 1956 (published posthumously) Articles published in Embroidery and The Embroideress magazines