Nelson & His World

You're right, Tony!

A further 'click' on the vandekar link above gives a history of the craft which dates from 'around 1840'. Never believe what you read in the papers!

http://www.vandekar.com/sailors-woolies ... ctures.asp

The link also notes that many examples of embroderies were probably made by retired mariners. 'Ships in bottles' is another pastime that springs to mind, but I think this sort of thing was also done ashore by retired mariners rather than men at sea. I shall explore further.

Anna,

I agree these are all from the nineteenth century. I am not convinced that these embroidered pictures were made in the eighteenth, or at least I have not seen or heard of any.