The resources below are divided into three sections: General Embroidery Resources, which contains books about all aspects of historical/elizabethan embroidery, Blackwork Embroidery Resources, books specifically about the blackwork embroidery technique so popular during the 16th century, and Online Resources, a listing of websites about 16th century embroidery. Note that many of the books in the General Embroidery Resources section also have pictures of and information on Blackwork Embroidery.
Almost all of the books below have listings at Amazon.com, where you can find out more information about them and order them if you wish.
General Embroidery Resources
Arthur, Liz,
Embroidery 1600-1700: At the Burrell Collection, Pub. 1995
Ashelford, Jane Dress in the Age of Elizabeth Holmes and Meyer Publishers, Inc. 1988
Beck, Thomasina, Gardening with Silk & Gold: A History of Gardens in Embroidery, Sterling Press, 1998
Beck, Thomasina, The Embroiderer's Story: Needlework from the Renaissance to the Present Day, David & Charles UK, 1993.
Benn, Elizabeth ed., Treasures from the Embroiderer's Guild Collection. Pub. Embroiderer's Guild, 1993
Bunt, Cyril, Tudor and Stuart Fabrics (pub. & date unknown)
Campbell, Etta Linen Embroidery London: B.T. Batsford, 1957.
Cunnington, C.Willet. & Phyllis, Handbook of English Costume in the 16th Century. London: Faber and Faber Limited, MCMLIV (1954)
Digby, George Wingfield, Elizabethan Embroidery (pub & date unknown)
Drysdale, Rosemary, Pulled Work on Canvas & Linen. 1978.
Gostelow, Mary, The Complete International Book of Embroidery. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1977.
Guild, Vera P., Good Housekeeping New Complete Book of Needlecraft. New York: Good Housekeeping Books,
Kendrick, A.F., English Needlework. 2nd Edition. London: Adam and Charles Black, 1933, 1967.
King, Donald and Levy, Santina, The Victoria and Albert Museum's Textile Collection: Embroidery in Britain 1200-1750, Abbeville Press, inc. (1993)
Nicholas, Jane, Stumpwork Embroidery: A Collection of fruit, flowers & insects for contemporary raised embroidery, Sally Milner Pub., 1996
Petersen, Grete, Stitches and Decorative Seams. trans. by Carol Schroeder. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1956.
Snook, Barbara, The Creative Art of Embroidery. New York: Hamlyn, 1969.
Swain, Margaret, The Needlework of Mary Queen of Scots. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1973.
d'Averoigne, Ianthe, The New Carolingian Modelbook, Outlaw Press (date unknown).
Drysdale, Rosemary, The Art of Blackwork Embroidery. 1975.
Dye, Daniel Sheets, Chinese Lattice Designs, New York: Dover, 1974. (originally published as A Grammar of Chinese Lattice by Harvard University Press, 1937) this book per se has absolutely nothing to do with needlework, but the lattice patterns can be used to create blackwork diaper patterns, borders, and motifs
Geddes, Elisabeth, and Moyra McNeill, Blackwork Embroidery. New York: Dover Publications, 1985
Gostelow, Mary, Blackwork. London: B.T. Batsford, 1976
Pascoe, Margaret, Blackwork Embroidery, Design and Technique. London: B.T. Batsford, (date unknown)
Online Resources
Leed, Drea & Harris, Karen,
16th and 17th Century Coifs
Marmor, Paula Katherine, The Blackwork Embroidery Archives
Victoriana.com, Elizabethan Applique: Late 16th Century "Slips"
Leed, Drea. An Annotated List of Sources for Elizabethan Costuming