In the mid-twentieth century, the 'art embroidery' world had a tendency to look down on needlewomen who used the popular iron-on transfer designs which came with women's magazines to embroider practical household linens for pleasure and as a creative outlet (see, for example, Miss Porteous and Miss Moodie in The Village). But we now look at these and see excellent skills and a wide variety of interpretation in, for example, the ubiquitous but often stunning crinoline ladies they stitched.