TomD
The thing for which she is knows is embroidery, but I call her a "needlewoman" because she can produce, and in a range of styles. This dress is an example of smocking, all done by hand, and each stitch is a little gather of dress material in a geometric pattern as well as part of a decorative pattern. She produces stuff like this all the time, and has four grand daughters. Of course while they love to open a package, this kind of thing is never as well appreciated as a set of Sponge Bob footie pajamas.

While building my wife's spinning wheel, I became aware of the degree to which women, of all classes, pretty much, were compelled to produce thread, and yarn, by law. This kind of deep tradition still finds expression today, to some extent, and I have known some blistering knitters, tatters, etc...