Linen and wool cushion cover, embroidered by Jessie Newberry, Scottish, 1899–1900

This cushion cover,designed and made by Jessie Newbery c.1899-1900, is a superb example of Glasgow Style embroidery. It is made of unbleached linen and embroidered with crewel wools with a border of needleweaving. The inscription in the centre is taken from a poem by William Blake and reads 'Under every grief and pine Runs a joy with silken twine'. This is surrounded by an embroidered design of pea pods and flowers. The embroidery uses relatively simple stitches, such as satin stitch, long and short stitch and stem stitch, which could be worked quickly. The aim was to produce a practical, everyday item for the home with a striking stylised design. An illustration of a matching design for a curtain was published in the magazine ‘Studio’, Vol XIX in 1900.

Jessie Newbery established the needlework department at The Glasgow School of Art in 1894 and often used the technique of needleweaving which she first saw used by needleworkers on a visit to Italy in 1882.