Ann Macbeth (1875-1948) trained at the Glasgow School of Art, assisting Jessie Newbery, from 1901, in her embroidery classes. She became head of embroidery in 1908, teaching there until 1928. She designed for, amongst others, Liberty's and the Knox Linen Thread Company. With her staff, she travelled around Scotland and England lecturing and teaching. Decorative stitching was used to emphasize functional elements of items such as hems and seams, which being used recurrently, would automatically form a pattern. The use of inexpensive materials such as cotton and linen was also encouraged and simple appliqué was used particularly for stylised floral designs. Originality was one of the most important principles, any copying or imitation being seen as undesirable in their work.
See "Victorian Embroidery", Barbara Morris, 1962, London
"Textiles of the Arts and Crafts Movement", Linda Parry, 1988, London