 The exact origins of Hardanger embroidery are not known but it is thought to have its beginnings in ancient Persia and Asia.During the Renaissance, this early form of embroidery spread to Italy where it evolved into Italian Reticella and Venetian lacework.By 1700, variations of this type of embroidery had spread to northern Europe where it developed further into Danish and Dutch Hedebo, Scottish Ayrshire work and Ruskin lacework as well as Norwegian Drawn Work, as it was then called.