Embroidery is one of those traditional feminine skills that I feel isn’t properly valued by society. I found this cross stitched linen table cloth with two others in a free box on the street. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I wanted to shout “Somebody MADE this by hand!” at the deserted block and promptly too them all home.
Embroidery was also embraced by the bohemian/hippie crowd, so it’s appropriate that my mother is exceptionally good at it.
She decorated this pillowcase for me in the early 2000s. I’ve started using it less and less because the thread eventually began to wear away due to regular washing. She has since touched up the worn stitches, and I should probably just frame this and hang it somewhere where it won’t get too much light. I want it to last forever.
Naturally my younger sister and I have been inspired by our mother’s skill. My sister chose this dragon pattern and she and my mother sewed it onto a pair of jeans. The embroidery outlasted the jeans and this dragon is now a patch on a quilt.
My sister then offered to embroider a design for me. I sent her a picture of a scorpion, and she did this elaborate design in satin stitch. I added a beaded quilt border, and it now decorates a knitting project bag.
Soon I was wanting to get in on the embroidery train. A cat-loving friend of mine gave my mother and I permission to embroider this kitty pattern on the back of her favorite jean jacket. I can tell by the quality of the work that my mother did the mama cat, but it good practice and my friend was pleased with the results.
Pretty soon I was looking for other things to decorate. A friend requested that I give her skull and cross bone bag some personality, so I added some free-hand flowers and insects.
I also enjoyed decorating very simple items like these blue fingerless gloves made from felted sweaters with stars made from bullion stitches and French knots.
I also like tracing and elaborating on pattern fabrics, like this vintage flowered fabric which I quilted onto another knitting bag.
My most elaborate embroidery is this lotus flower which is based on a design by William Morris. It started it as a means to practice satin stitch, but it’s final destination was a square in a baby quilt. The variety of colors is kind of wacky, but the change kept me entertained through the sewing process.
