Women embroidered not only garments but also objects in their surroundings. On display in the nearby case is an embroidered cushion cover, depicting the biblical story of Abraham banishing Hagar and Ishmael, that was likely used to decorate a bedchamber. Similarly, M.K. Herbert’s bed curtain worked in crewel—a technique using wool thread for the embroidery—was part of a set probably intended to decorate her sleeping quarters. Though Herbert’s curtains were for personal use, her influences were global. Her hangings imitate East and South Asian textile designs brought to Europe as global trade and colonial expansion developed.