Matilda Marian Pullan (1819-1862) made a living by providing lessons in fancywork and needlework, designing patterns, selling supplies, and publishing instructional articles and books. She published several books on needlework and sewing. Her Lady’s Manual of Fancy-Work was an encyclopedia of the art with nearly 250 pages and over 300 illustrations was published in 1859. Mrs. Pullan’s encyclopedic manual contained instructions for every type of fancywork include velvet balls, popular for trimming rigolettes and clothing accessories. Today we would call a velvet ball a pompom. A rigolette was a head covering, similar to a scarf but usually crocheted of knitted.
Read her work here at Internet Archive.