7 MAKING THE MOST OF THE VIEW

The stereotype is that needlework was women’s work, but that was not always the case. For some men, such as sailors, sewing was an essential skill. How else would worn uniforms and torn sails be repaired during the long months spent at sea? Many sailors used their needlework skills to keep boredom at bay, embroidering detailed pictures of the ships that they served upon. This stitching of the

Sunbeam by Gunner Baldie is part of the impressive collection of sailors’ wool work pictures held at Compton Verney House in Warwickshire.