You mean there are other Opus types of embroidery? Whaaaaaaat?

If you know me, you know I love words. I love learning new words, especially when they're old words!

Opus Anglicanum (Opus Anglicum) is the one you're probably most familiar with. It's that split-stitch ecclesiastical embroidery that is all too familiar to medieval embroidery enthusiasts.

Have you ever heard of...

Opus Araneum? It is the medieval Latin term for darned netting (Grove Encyclopedia).

Opus Consutum? The medieval Latin term for Applique or "sewn-together" work. Mentioned in 13th century texts. Also known as Intarsia or Inlaid Applique. I've added a link to the term if you'd like to start diving down this rabbit hole.

Opus Filatorium? The medieval Latin term for darned mesh. There seems to be some disagreement among the lace making authors of which term came first, Opus Araneum or Opus Filatorium. I'll let the lace makers hash that one out.

Opus Pectineum? Term for a fabric woven in a hand loom so as to imitate Embroidery; manufactured with the help of an instrument resembling a comb and from this received its name. Hmm....sure sounds like a type of weft faced pattern band weaving to me. I'll probably delve this one further.

Opus Plumarium? The medieval Latin term for Feather Stitch. "Plumage" or Featherwork". We know it as long and short stitch, great for birds.

Opus Pulvinarium? The great great great great great (insert a whole lot more greats here) grandma of modern Cross Stitch. It is the medieval Latin term for Embroidery worked upon canvas materials with silks and worsteds. Also called cushion style, from its being used for kneeling mats and cushions. Middle Eastern personas, I'm looking at you.

Opus Saracenium? The medieval Latin term for Tapestry.

Opus Seissum? One of the medieval Latin names given to Cut Work Embroidery.

Opus Tirarum? The medieval Latin term for Drawn Thread Embroidery. This one appears in a couple slavic sources, both of which are inaccessible on .ru servers, so this dive is going to have to wait I guess.

All the terms above are from The Dictionary of Needlework, by S.F.A. Caulfield (1887). Digitized copies and reprints are available online.