A Stitcher’s Christmas: Monograms & More!

(1,219) Comments

1. My mother had 4 children close in age. When I was about 9 she sent me to a class where I learned to stitch. We had to draw a picture and then stitch it. I made two pillows, one an undersea scene and one a line of flowers. Let us just say that they were very naïve (I was only 9). While they are long gone, I am still stitching over fifty years later, and I am the only one of the four of us who stitches.

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2. Hi Mary!
   The first thing I ever stitched was a pencil case as a present for my flatmate. She is obsessed with pandas, and I couldn’t find one I liked, so I decided to make one!

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3. I guess my earliest stitching memory would have to be sitting next to my grandmother. Her showing me how. I really don’t remember a time when I didn’t have a little something to push a needle in and out of…

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4. Sounds like a fun bunch in this giveaway! The earliest thing I remember stitching were some preprinted cross stitch napkins. I don’t have the earliest ones anymore but I do still have a set I stitched a couple of years later! I’ve recently embraced the use-the-good-stuff mentality and have enjoyed getting those napkins out!

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5. The first thing I stitched was probably at infants school on Binca, but I can’t remember what it was, probably cross stitch. The first thing I remember is an apron that we made in Brownies (probably I was about 6 or 7), and my Dad wrote my name on it in his beautiful copperplate script and I embroidered it. I’m 60 now and I still have it. My dad died 30 years ago and my mum 28 years ago. Mum machined the waistband on the apron (I blanket stitched the hem). Its a lovely reminder of those times, and something that me, and both parents worked on so a lovely reminder of them as well 🙂

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   1. That’s so beautiful. Shame you can’t post a picture with your comment. What lovely memories to cherish though.

6. Stamped cross stitch pillow cases showing roses embroidered in pink. I was 12 years old (1946) and really felt I had accomplished something ! I keep this treasure previously in my cedar chest for my grands to share when the time comes. Merry Christmas !

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7. My second grade teacher taught us how to cross stitch during down time at school. I loved it. Something that really sticks out in my mind is the day I accidentally sewed my fabric to my shirt.

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8. The first thing I ever stitched, so very long ago, was my dad’s initials onto some handkerchiefs for a Christmas gift. It was a lot harder than I anticipated at the time. He still had one left, though well worn, when I gave him a new set a few years ago.

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9. Hi Mary, my first project was a tea towel in home economics class in elementary school. I must have used pretty good quality linen, as I still use it! A little frayed, but brings back memories.

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10. When I was four, I stitched tulips and butterflies on pillowcases at preschool while the other kids played. I didn’t understand them, and they didn’t understand me.

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11. I can’t recall my first stitching project but I’ve tried it all! I have enjoyed many great project through the years!

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12. My earliest stitching memory is stitching a tapestry kit of a seaside scene. The stitching was awful but luckily over the long and many years since I have improved.

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13. I still have the needlepoint piece I did when I was 3 years old. A simple coloring-book like image of a train on tracks (my mom must have done) and I worked on the sky.

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14. My furst embroidery project was a linen runner with pink floss for my bedroom dresser with lessons from my grandmother, Anna.

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15. The first thing I ever made was an address book covr for my grandmother when I was 17; the next project was a hand smocked an embroidered dress for my then six year old daughter (now 46!). Last November I was in Halifax, Nova Scotia where a booth was set up with ladies demonstrating lace making and embroidery. I swooped right in to watch them work and chat, mentioning that I follow Mary Corbett in the states, and they were all over it. Clearly, I had mentioned Embroidery Royalty. They were, in fact, working on Christmas squares. I wished I lived close by and could have joined their guild!

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16. The first thing I ever stitched was a needlepoint picture for my uncle. Looking back, it was terribly mis-shaped( I stitched it in hand). But I personalized it myself, and was very proud of it. He passed away this weekend, so it is too if mind lately.

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17. 5 or 6 I would spend the weekends with my grandmother and she would teach me o embroidery it was the cutest gray white and black kitten pillow I remember working so hard to get everything right. To my surprise when Christmas arrived and my sister got this cute kitten pillow for Christmas that my mom said grandma made it for her. I still smile when I think about that summer and then Christmas.

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18. First thing I stitched was a Cross Stitched picture of Horses around a Well I love cross stitch and embroidery it was in 80s

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19. My earliest needlework was probably some stitching on coloured Binka at school to make a mat for Mum and Dad for Christmas, loved doing it, not stopped sewing since.

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20. The first thing I stitched was at the knee of my grandmother. It was a preprinted, blue-inked kitchen towel. Grandmother always had her stitching kit with her when she visited and I was in awe of the gorgeous threads and colors. She first recognized my love of embroidery and taught me my first stitches. How I miss her.

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21. My aunt encouraged me to sew a top when I was 18. I have enjoyed sewing every since.

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22. I am so hoping to be lucky enough to win a hand embroidered ornament by Mary herself! And the exquisite book is the best bonus!

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23. The earliest thing I remember is working on a pillow case. It was a stamped cross stitch. Not the best work but I finished it.

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24. I am pretty sure that the first thing that I ever stitched was a Jane Sneed sampler.I think I even have is somewhere. It was never framed, so now I think I’ll have to take a look around and see what I can do about that. It’s interesting that, in the 60’s these samplers where the only kind that we knew about. They were the ones that were pre-printed. My mother stitched samplers, so I wanted to stitch one too. I am lucky enough to have 5 of her samplers hanging in my sewing room that remind me of her.

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25. The first thing I ever stitched was a Crewel Sampler. I’ll bet I was around 9 or 10 years old. I LOVED it. Despite having attended lengthy workshops by stitching artists as an adult, I think it’s the childhood experience that most informed my latest decision to take up stitching again, and see where it can take me.

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26. I am old enough to have learnt to stitch at school, I do remember stitching a grey felt elephant and the blanket stitch going on forever!

    Loving these give always, I wish the monogram book was shipping to Canada

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27. My first stitching was on needle case in 4 H, on gold felt. Still have it.

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28. My grandmother and mother did beautiful needlework and then there was me. I couldn’t sit still when the outside beckoned. There were trees to be climbed, streams to wade in and a myriad other things to do. My mother persisted and I was made to sit to embroider a towel. Sunbonnet Sue was unusual looking when I was finished, but I had managed to learn a stitch and contain my energy enough to make a treasured memory. They would be pleased with my efforts now!

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29. The first piece of stitching I did was a pirate flag of the “Straw hat Pirates” from a japanese cartoon called “One Piece”.

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30. The first thing I stitched was a needlepoint picture of a kitten. I was % years old. My mother would not give me another piece to do until I finished this one!

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31. The very first thing I stitched was a multi-doll sleeping bag!
    I was watching my mom sew, and asked for a piece of leftover fabric. I cut out a big rectangle, and folded it up almost in half, then threaded a giant needle with yarn, and started sewing running stitches up from the bottom in channels!
    I could slide about five Barbies into the channels when I was finished. They had a great time at their slumber parties!

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32. My first stitching memory is from second grade. Miss Megers had us stitch a picture on red gingham of a house. I have it hanging with my samplers.

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33. A little bookmark at summer camp – unfinished. I think my first 2 projects are unfinished. I figured out how to finish projects by the third one (it was planned as a gift).

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34. The very first thing I stitched was a stamped dresser scarf when I was 12 years old. Little did I know what was ahead in the needlework world.

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35. My earliest stitching memory; was making clothes (or attempting to)for my dolls. I tried adding bits and bobs of ribbon, lace and things. Wish I had those now just to look at. Carol bu

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36. Dear Mary,
    Good morning!
    I always enjoy reading your email updates. I know that you really put your heart and soul into your work. It shows and shine brightly.
    Because my schedule is rather hectic and unpredictable, I do not take the time to pursue all the embroidery projects I would like or the hexie projects as well. (Yes, I am a hexie addict, too!)
    This past year I tried the “Work on it 15 minutes a day” plan and it has been a boost to finishing the endless list of UFO’s at a reasonable speed.
    Again, thank you for your art, advice and encouraging words. Have a very blessed day!
    -Kateri

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37. I don’t recall early hand stitching, unless you count darning socks. I did a lot of machine sewing and knitting early on, all practical, functional stuff. For decorative stitching I suspect it was cross stitch in a kit from the craft/hobby shop

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38. I know I was under six years old. I had a plastic doll, a piece of cloth, needle & thread, and a button. I don’t know if I actually created something but I remember being very content sitting in the chair. I must have been born loving doll clothes!

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39. The first thing I stitched was a giraffe with my grandmother teacher me how. It’s nothing special but I had it framed years later

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40. I remember stitching on a piece that was a piece of fabric with a design stamped on it and mounted in a plastic frame. Before that I think I had stitching cards.

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41. My first memory of sewing is sewing with my mother. I worked on threading the needle and knotting it, then in and out on a remnant from Mother’s scrap pile.

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42. I was in early elementary school when I discovered the joy of embroidery. I embroidered preprinted cross-stitch on flour sack dish towels for my mother. She liked having “fancy” dish towels and was thrilled that I lover making them.

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43. My first stitched project was in Junior High Home Economics class. It was a counted cross stitch little girl on aida. I loved doing it and went on to cross stitch many pieces in high school and college and then moved on to learn other techniques when I joined the Embroiderers Guild.

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44. My earliest memory is of stitching a small square of yellow binca with a bunch of cherries in the corner for my grandmas’ birthday which was proudly displayed on her sideboard.

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45. My first stitchery was a birth record for our first born – almost 50 years ago now!

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46. the very first thing that I embroidered was with my Grandmother. She gave me one of those small, navy blue and white wicker sewing baskets as a Christmas present the year we moved into our new home (I was 8 years old). She, herself, always had some handwork to do in the evenings – either knitting or embroidery. So I needed to embroider along with her. I remember our looking through my colouring books to find a suitable design. We found – in my Heidi Colouring book- a wee side drawing of a rabbit hiding in greenery. We transferred the design to a small piece of white cotton fabric and then my Grandmother introduced me to the world of embroidery stitches. Sadly, I do not have that wee piece of embroidery, but I do have many of my Grandmother’s pieces.

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47. The first thing I stitched was a dresser scarf (a long-ish doily) in about 1955, under the loving guidance of my Nana (1890-1962). I still have that piece! It’s vines, leaves, and little birds in rather uncoordinated colors as chosen by my 6 year old self.

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48. I love monograms and anything Christmas. Thanks for the opportunity to win a stitching book.

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49. Hi Mary,
    Happy Christmas.

    I know my first embroidery was on white kitchen drying cloths. But my first real stitching was a cross stitch piece of a cross section of a house. It was the first thing that I was able to frame and it’s something I still have. Thanks for all the information.
    Melinda

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50. My very first experience sewing anything was at a 4H class. After I took the class, I was hooked! I asked my Mom to buy me something (anything!) that I could sew. So, she came home one evening with a stamped cross stitch kit of 2 teddy bears holding hearts. I worked on it everyday and fell completely head over heals with having a needle and thread in my hand. I was 10 years old at the time and have been doing cross stitch, embroidery and quilting ever since!

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51. My earliest stitching memory is my Aunt Marlene showing me how to cross stitch during one of our many visits to her home for summer vacation. I recently saw the very same lime green pattern online with its primary color designs of a house and other really simple motifs. I will always be grateful to her for introducing me to this lifelong hobby.

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52. I just love this site! It is always so fun to see all the creative things Mary does. I just got the petite tree ornament kit and am very excited to start on it!

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53. My earliest memory of stitching was when I was not in school yet, my mother would draw a design on a piece of old sheet and put it in a hoop. My brother, 2 years older, and I would work outline stitches, cross stitches, etc. in the piece. One time, I accidentally caught the leg of my jeans in the stitching. That lead to both of us sewing the embroidery to our jeans. My mother was somewhat less than pleased.

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54. Give-away, Dec 9, 2020
    My daughter is being married on the beach next year. I would love to stitch a seascape monogram in surface embroidery for the top of a ring box for her wedding.
    I first remember stitching with Mrs. Detweiler in home economics class in 7th grade. We stitched cross stitches on gingham to be made into aprons.

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55. My first memory of embroidery I was maybe 8or 9. My mother teaching me to embroider pillowcases for myself and my 3 sisters. We used iron on transfers and she wrote our names for me to stitch over. I loved all the attention but also began a lifetime love of all needlework.

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56. The first piece i ever stitched was a kit with 6 ct herta cloth and yarns to do the stitching. It was a Christmas scene with a church in the country and trees around it. This was back around 1980 and I had the piece finished into a 18″ square Christmas pillow that I still have! I have been working on fine linens for many years now!

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57. The first thing I remembering stitching was embroidering a kitchen towel for a Girl Scout badge. My mom taught us girls and the towel had fruit on it… I remember it had a bunch of purple grapes that we had to chain stitch. I’m hoping to be one of the lucky winners for this very special and generous drawing. Thank you for your wonderful emails & posts.

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58. My first project was a Captain Hook picture for my first Grandson. Had to do it twice to be presentable, but eventually came out fine. Lots of fun.

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59. Well, technically the first thing I stitched was on my Mother’s tablecloths. I learned to stitch as a small child (5 to 7 yrs.?). Mother stitched large, stamped embroidery/cross stitch tablecloths. She would leave her current work sitting on the sofa and I would sneak in and put in a few stitches – until I knotted the thread! Mom did teach me to stitch on stamped kitchen dishtowels. I later stitched the kits available at the .05 & .10 stores, then found stitch shops, EGA and the rest is history – in my sewing room. I still knot threads….

    Best Always,
    Lois

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60. The first thing I remember stitching was a set of Christmas Stocking ornaments with my Grandmother… wish I still had them …?

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61. The first thing I ever stitched was a stamped dresser cloth. It had lazy daisy flowers and chain stitch stems. I was probably 12 years old. My mother and grandmother taught me how to embroider and sew.

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62. What a great way to do this … I love surprises! My first recollection of doing any stitching-wise was on plastic canvas (fifty years or so ago). My pop did a lot of that (along with tin can crafting and wood work and pretty much anything he could get his hands involved with). I still have a number of his crafted Christmas pieces! But I think it was cross stitch that got me started down the path towards embroidery, and I’m pretty sure I crafted little cross stitch ornaments. I really had to think for this response!! 🙂

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63. The first thing I ever stitched was a tea towel. I was about 5 years old and my mother taught me how to do an outline stitch, a lazy daisy stitch and a chain stitch and some cross stitch. She also showed me her method of separating floss into 3 strands and how to make a knot in the thread; how to hold the needle, how to put the cloth into a hoop; how to be very careful about needles. She also scared the daylights out of me by saying that if you step on a needle it could get in your vein and go straight to your heart. She was an immigrant from Poland and actually believed that. So…. I was very careful with needles.

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64. Thank goodness for embroidery at this time , I couldn’t be without it

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65. A little orange felt needlebook. I was 5 years old and we had a lovely teacher who taught us the basics of sewing and knitting. We were each given a pair of scissors, a tiny thimble, and a pair of short, blue, size 8, 4mm knitting needles. I still have all of them! The needle book has a bunny rabbit embroidered on the cover and a piece of pinked blue flannel for the needles.

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66. Doll clothes

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67. The very first thing I ever made was a pincushion and I embroidered my name on it. I still have it! And that means I have had it for over 65 years.

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68. My first piece was a Christmas cross stitch for my mom. I was around seven years old and loved stitching with my Grandmother. I was so excited and my mother loved it. Sigh! They are all gone now — my beloved Grandma Goldie, my beautiful mom and the infamous cross stitch but these beautiful memories last forever! I’ve shared them with my granddaughter to pass on❣️

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69. A cross stitch clown fish! It was definitely not A Sea to Stitch-worthy and the back makes me cringe but it got me addicted

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70. The first thing I ever embroidered was a set of pillowcases for my mom

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71. My earliest memory of stitching is my mom drawing some X’s on pice of fabric and me stitching them (I think it was a table doily for my grandma).

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72. I remember stitching a kit in 6th grade when a friend’s mom taught a cross stitch class. It was of a bear in a pink dress with lots of bags that said, “Shop ’til You Drop.” 😉

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73. My sister and I were given a stamped fabric with “Now I lay me down to sleep” sampler to stitch by our aunt. I was seven and she was nine. We actually finished them and mine is framed and hangs in my guest room.

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74. The very first thing I stitched was a birth record sampler for my oldest son 36 years ago. A co-worker suggested cross stitch was something I would enjoy doing. She was right !

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75. My earliest stitching memory was stitching the words “STRING” on a piece of fabric that my grandmother turn into a string bag. I was so proud ot that bag, I was 3 at the time. I remember my grandmother setting me up at the kitchen table and writing the letters on the fabric and getting me started. That bag was around for years, but I did lose track of it eventually. It took a long time before it dawned on me that Grandma picked out my stitches and re-did them at night. It took about a week to stitch, so she only had me do a bit at a time. I know I was 3, because at the time I had a baby cousin and an aunt who were not doing well in hospital and my grandmother had all the grandchildren at her house while all the other adults were running around between hospitals. She also started me on using her treadle sewing machine, I had to stand up to work the treadle and reach to pass pieces of paper under the needle to learn how to stitch in a straight line, and in spirals, and not run the needle through my fingers. My brother started learning how to play the piano, at that time, and I don’t remember what my cousin did, but we were all kept busy

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76. My earliest memories of stitching are some very simple cross stitch patterns.

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77. My first embroidery project was a picture of a white mouse with a little tuft of hair on his head riding on a turtle. It was an Avon Kit and I still have it. I am planning to have it framed as soon as COVID is done with us.

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78. My earliest stitching memory is doing a garden of flowers on a cushion cover sitting with my grandmother.

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79. I remember it clearly. I was in the Brownies and we stitched a hankerchief. I learned running stitch and lazy daisy. I was 9 or 10. I was hooked from then on.

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80. The first thing I ever stitched was a little “quickie” on burlap in 6th grade art class. My father framed it and it hung in the kitchen for many years. From then, I was hooked! 😀

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81. Super excited about the possibility of winning a copy of A Sea to Stitch!

    I’ve only been stitching since february but the first thing I stitched was an adorable dog team <3

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82. Mother had gone to town, leaving me to watch three siblings…I was 11 at the time, they were all younger. I decided to make a pair of shorts. I really learned how to unstitch that day.. No matter how carefully I planned, I kept stitching a SKIRT not shorts. At some point, I figured it out. I don’t remember anything else EXCEPT how to unstitch…I am still a sewist 65 years later.

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83. The first type of stitching I did was cross-stitch about 1986. There was a program like the pampered chef parties. I bought a kit and was hooked. But when I found embroidery which did not include counting and could be more free spirited, he cross stitch went to the side.

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84. My grandfather gave me a little embroidery kit, similar to a redwork penny square. I think it contained fabric with a printed design, an embroidery hoop, a few colors of floss, needles, and a needle threader. Clearly, enough to get me hooked!

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85. My first memory of stitching is doing cross stitch on gingham. My grandmother taught me to do this as my mom didn’t do any kind of stitching. I made a table cloth in a folding table size and I still have it!

    What a fun give-away! Thank you for continuing to inspire, teach & share your beautiful stitching!

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86. My first embroidery project was adding embellishments to my denim jacket back when I was a ‘tween’, I wish I knew what I did with that!! I remember in particular my “B” initial with a lot of flowers and French knots. I look back on projects from the past with such fond memories – learning so much as I went along. Thanks to my mom for instilling in me the love for so many crafts.

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87. The first thing I ever stitched was a Christmas stocking!

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88. The first thing I embroidered about 65 years ago was a felt needle case in blue and pink (my favourite colours at the time)! On the front of it I stitched my initials in wobbly running stitch and round the edges my first blanket stitch. I still use it today!

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89. This was an easy question for me, because I moved this past summer and came across the first thing I ever stitched, which I thought was lost. I was 9 years old and my grandmother taught me needlepoint. This was one where you purchased the canvas with the design already stitched, and just filled in the background. It’s a toad sitting under a toadstool, badly stitched and with a bit of a water stain, but still here after many many years.

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90. The first things I remember stitching are doll clothes for my troll doll (we are going back to the 60’s here). My sister and I used scraps of cloth and bits of lace and tiny snaps. We made hair ribbons out of mini rickrack. My mother wanted us to learn to sew by hand before we could learn to use the sewing machine. I still have these tiny clothes with their crooked stitches.

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91. Actually, I remember the first thing I really stitched (not the stitch samples)

    It was an image from Alice in Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts, using backstitch and satin stitch. It was my first attempt at redwork and I still love it!

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92. It was a basket of flowers. Age 8? Maybe. Kept me quiet while my grandmother was babysitting me one day. 🙂 Fun memory! Thanks, and Happy Holidays, Mary!

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93. The first thing I remember stitching was an iron on poem about the Revolutionary was. I never got it framed – It might still be around here someplace!

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94. Hi Mary, other than as a child the first thing I stitched was a cross stitch sampler. I was an exchange student in Japan and very lonely for my family. I happened upon a craft store in the town where I was living – Nara – and bought a cross stitch kit. The directions were in Japanese, but I persevered! Have been stitching ever since 🙂

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95. I REMEMBER CROSS STITCHING PRECIOUS MOMENTS PATTERNS IN THE EARLY 80’s!!

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96. The first thing I ever stitched? Hmmm… that is a little tough to recall. However, it’s most likely a tea towel. Back in the day when my grandma had lots of flour-sack tea-towels (oh, how I wish I could find those now – the modern version just isn’t as strong and absorbent!) she used to let me pick which design I wanted to do out of her collection of iron-on embroidery pictures and I usually tended towards those of the kitten variety. I likely embroidered something like that. I do know that I have a picture of an embroidery that I did for her of a kitten asleep in a hammock with a lawnmower beside it. At the bottom of the picture I had embroidered in free-hand very primitive lettering the verse “We water the lawn to make it grow, and when it does we have to mow!” 😉 Perhaps that’s why I’ve never been very fond of large expanses of lawn – our yards have always consisted of very little lawn and lots of flowers, fruit trees, gardens and rock gardens. I guess the futility of the whole process impacted me strongly. Okay… that was a total rabbit trail… and speaking of rabbits… did I mention that what little lawn we do allow to grow is so our bunny can ‘mow’ it for us? All summer long the lawn is food for our hopper! now THAT’s a rabbit trail 😉

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97. The first thing I ever stitched was a traced tray cloth I received as a gift for being a flower girl at an uncle’s wedding when I was 5 years old. I was given the cloth, some skeins of embroidery thread and a needle. I asked my mother to show me how to work some stitches, (lazy daisy and stem stitch mostly, with a somewhat uneven satin stitch). I completed the cloth and gave it as a gift to a favourite aunt. It was the best present I’ve ever received as it set my off on a wonderful, life-long stitching journey.

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98. The first thing I stitched was a primary school. It was a cross stitched book mark on fabric that was about 6 holes to the inch! I remember it very clearly and was so unutterably proud of it!

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99. WOW, Mary, another year of amazing give-aways. You’re AWESOME!!
    I’m pretty sure the first thing I ever embroidered was a pre-stamped dresser scarf. It had lots of stem stitch, lazy daisies, and French knots. I was hooked. I loved the threads, so many beautiful colors. Little did I know what lay ahead …
    Happy Holidays to you and your family, Mary.

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100. The first thing I stitched was either a big orange pumpkin or the girl and the horse. I can’t remember which, but I do know that I was about 7 years old. My grandmother always saved her old sheets and aprons and she would cut them up into various sizes depending on what she was going to do with them. We didn’t have extra money for good fabrics, but she always seem to have needles and threads available. So this was not only my first practice piece, but also a great memento. The girl and horse piece I still have (61 years later) and it is a framed piece that sits on the shelves in my studio. Thank you, Mary.

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101. The first thing I ever stitched was a banner on red cotton which said “World Peace” and depicted a Chinese face, a Caucasian face, and an Afro-American face. I was eight years old and it won first prize in the art show. I still have it!

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102. Oh the first thing I ever stitched was a stamped piece to embroider – I think it was a puppy – I believe I was about 10 years old and I have had some sort of needlework in my hand ever since!!!

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103. I still have the first thing I ever stitched, probably because my family moved only once during my childhood, and that was a move across the street. This means I have all sorts of things from my childhood. When I was a Brownie (5 or 6 years old), I received a stamped embroidery kit of the (Girl Scout) Brownie Promise. It includes cross stitch and stem stitch. I still have it.

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104. Dear Mary,

     It’s such a joy to read your give away posts, and imagine the delight the winners feel when they read their names; Thank You!

     My very first stitching memory is of being a small girl at my grandmother’s house, finding my mother’s tin box of tangled embroidery threads and a bit of fabric, iron on transfers etc.. I remember untangling skeins of COLOR for hours on end, tracing back that color, one by one, and then learning to stitch a lazy daisy onto a pillowcase. It was MAGIC to me :).

     Cathy in PA

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105. The first thing I ever stitched was a pillow case. It was the kind that you ironed the pattern on and then stitched over it. My grandmother was teaching me how to embroider. I still have that pillow case.

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106. The first thing that I stitched was 2 projects at the same time. A prequilted prestamped baby blanket(Noah Ark) that was donated with 2 stuffed Polar bears for the hospitals Christmas employee assistance fund. The second was Bucilla felt Christmas stocking one for each of my 3 kids. I chose to sew the felt pieces on rather than glue them. First time I learned how to add beads and sequins . It was fun.

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107. The 1st thing I ever stitched were doll clothes for my Mitzi/Barbie doll. Very simple of course – hand sewing. And I also made a little quilt top for my dolls with a toy sewing machine that only did the chain stitch as it had no bobbin. Happy memories.

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108. When I was 3 I was given threading cards. I remember using the laces and go around the outside edge of the card instead of up-and-down like stitching. My older sister took the cards from me because she said I would never do it right. Truth was she wanted them for herself. Fun memory actually

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109. My earliest memory of an embroidery project was tea towels with hens doing household chores for each day of the week for my hope chest (do young ladies do these anymore)? Such fond memories….wish I still had them.

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110. My first piece that I remember was a cross stitched cover for a child sized card table. It white on green with a very simple cross stitch pattern, I was about 7 or 8.
     Funny story: it had a diagonal line of stitches. I laid down a long thread and then started making the crossing part of the stitches. Mother was, unsurprisingly, horrified and made me start over. 65 years later, I still laugh at the contrast between the joy stitching gives me now and the tears in that moment.

     110

111. I think I was about 7 years old. I stitched dish towels and pillow cases. I wanted to embroider because I fell in love with the shiny colors of floss at the 5 and 10 store several blocks away that I always had to look at whenever I was in the store. One Christmas I received and embroidery kit and I was hooked!

     111

112. When I was 6 or 7, my grandmother came to visit. She brought my sister and I an embroidery project each. They were printed onto fabric and encased in a plastic frame. I thought it was amazing to be able to stitch the picture. I think they were nursery rhyme pictures. Later she taught me to knit and tried to teach me crochet. Good memories.

     112

113. The first thing I embroidered were pillow cases. Floral with pink flowers.

     113

114. Thanks Mary! What a wonderful gift! I’d so love to win it.
     The first thing I remember stitching was a dead tree. It was a kit with wool thread, but not very nice wool thread, in shades of grey, brown and black. I don’t think I ever finished it. My first project became my first UFO! It was the first and last time I used wool thread………….and it was over 45 years ago. It was several years before I stitched again, and then it was a kit with cotton threads.

     114

115. Grade 8 Home Economics class, I made an apple shaped pin cushion out of red felt. On one side I stitched my initials in black embroidery thread using the outline stitch. This was out first project before we started learning to sew on the sewing machine.

     115

116. I was probably 12-13. My grandmother taught me embroidery on a purchased dresser scarf which I still have

     116

117. I was very young. I must have seen some embroidery and asked my mother to teach me. She gave me a small piece of window screen and some yarn. I had to lick the yard to make a “needle”. I tried to make a picture of my father.

     117

118. This one’s easy. My first nephew was on the way, so I bought a kit for a cross-stitch baby quilt of Bambi and Thumper. It came out great, and was saved for the next generation – and will probably last for another generation.

     118

119. My earliest memories of needlework are from the early 1960’s when I was a very young child. I was always fascinated by my mother’s sewing skills, making my sister and I “mother daughter dresses”, as well as my grandmother and great-grandmother’s sewing skills – teaching me to thread a needle, and make thread loops for adding hooks and eyes to dresses, hemming a dress. My father worked at a school supply company, and we were fortunate to be the frequent recipients of craft kits – I loved every one that involved a needle! I remember some white linen with stamped blue lines and packets of DMC thread or yarn. I immediately graduated to more complex crewel embroidery kits, counted cross stitch, garment sewing and quilting. For close to 60 years, my hands are never far from a needle, thread and a pair of embroidery scissors!

     119

120. First thing ever stitched was “Now I lay me down to sleep ….” I was 7 years old. The pieced was stamped with words and there was a picture of a baby’s head resting on the pillow. I remember using variegated DMC floss and thought it was magical how the thread changed colors and made the words and picture of the baby sleeping look so lovely. It was the start of my love for hand embroidery.

     120

121. My first project ever was a little project called “Home is where the heart is,” and it was on aida cloth. I did one big one after that which was a Scottie dog with a scarf and tam on which I sent to my mother in May for her birthday (meant to be a Christmas present). lol It was also on aida cloth, but after that I went to evenweave or linen. I’d love to win your package. Merry Christmas to you and hope that our 2021 is so much better than this year.

     121

122. My first stitching was cross stitch – on pale pink cotton gingham, with black embroidery floss. This was the late fifties. In a metal oval hoop. It took immense concentration and a bit of hand-eye coordination from the four year old me to find the exact corners on the gingham. I still have it – having found it among the things my mom kept.

     122

123. My paternal grandmother was a stitcher and was in a nursing home due to mini strokes at a young age. My father brought her surface work which often went unfinished and I would finish them. I still have several dish towels “we” did. I was probably 10 or so.

     123

124. The first thing I ever stitched is a little winter scene with a cabin, trees and a sleigh. I have it framed and I put it out every winter. It may sound complicated for a first project but it is very simple.

     124

125. My first stitching memory is trying to put stitches in bright wool on a dish cloth, as instructed by my Nan. I was about 5. After more than 50 years practice, my stitches are much neater and smaller now!

     125

126. The first thing I ever stitched was a sampler in art class that said “Good things come in small packages.” I still have that sampler!

     126

127. Hi Mary, I do not remember the FIRST thing I stitched but I do have a very old little turquoise velvet round box that I had made for my Grandmother at least 50 years ago. There are intricate flowers lovingly stitched by me, on the lid. I did such a nice job covering the box and lid with velvet and my embroidery is very pretty. It is such a sweet thing to have a gift you made so long ago, pass back to you after the person is no longer with us. Thank you for this chance to win. I really really want to win this one because it has an ornament by you. Merry Christmas and a happy end to this 2020 year!

     127

128. My first memory of embroidery is in the early 50’s doing a child’s project my mother gave me. I must have been maybe 5 or 6 and my mother wasn’t happy with my work…she was a perfectionist when it came to embroidery. It was a long time before I took it up again. Now I love it.

     128

129. My earliest memory was sitting on my Grandmother’s lap in her rocking chair while she worked on an embroidered quilt. The first stitches she taught me were a cross stitch and a French knot.

     129

130. The first thing I remember embroidering was my initial on a handkerchief with my bluebird troop when I was in third grade.

     130

131. I have a very early memory of a small silver hoop with a pre printed muslin and I was adding cross stitches in grass green–a very happy memory! Thank you for your inspiring words and insights!

     131

132. I believe it was a small cross stitch printed sampler. Thank you for your generosity!

     132

133. The first thing that I ever stitched was a stamped cross stitch design of daisies on a pillowcase. I remember using all 6 threads of floss. My wonderful grandmother, who was a very talented needleworker, tried to tell me I was using too many threads. I would not listen. I used the pillowcase for many years until the pillowcase was threadbare. And I always thought of my grandmother. She was right, but some things are learned by our mistakes.

     133

134. The first thing that I ever stitched was Hardanger. I had just discovered a local Embroidery store near where I had recently retired. She was having the class that afternoon. I signed up immediately.

     134

135. In my early 20’s I completed a (pre-stamped) cross-stitch baby blanket for my sister-in-law.

     135

136. I hope crochet counts as “stitching”. I think I was still in grade school – 5th or 6th grade – I crocheted a lovely apron for my mother for Christmas. It was – IS -as I still have it, white lace work with square turquoise edelweiss motifs stitched together in a U shape (down, over, and up from the waistband). I got a special satin ribbon for a tie. I was so proud of it and my mother loved it. Handmade gifts were very special in our home.

     136

137. My first needlework was a printed colonial cross stitch sampler, finished in 1972. It is framed and in my guest room.

     137

138. In thinking back, my grandmother started me stitching when I was about 9. It was simple embroidery on a tea towel, although I am not certain of the design. Although I remember having the iron on transfers being pressed onto fabric, so probably one of those te towel transfers from the 1960’s.

     138

139. My Mom taught me to embroider when I was very young, and watching her. I couldn’t have been more than 6 or 7 and “embroidered” (I’m sure it was a mess) a daisy. My first “real” project was embroidering a rainbow and cloud on a hand-me-down pair of my brother’s bluejeans in 4th grade. Waaaaay back then, there were no girls’ bluejeans to be found and wearing your brother’s was a “thing”. Yep, I’m old.

     139

140. Oh my, I have to put my thinking cap on for this one! I do believe my first embroidery project was a little doily. I remember embroidering it with the lazy daisy stitches. Now that was a long time ago!

     140

141. My first project was a hankie that my mother presented me with along with some colorful floss and a needle when I was about seven years old. It had daisies along one corner and tiny leaves, and mastering the lazy daisy stitch that summer was quite a challenge!

     141

142. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!! I look at the book A Sea to Stitch since I first saw it in Inspiration newsletter. I would LOVE to win it!!! I remember very well my first introduction to stitching, cross-stitching in fact. My mother was always craftsy, but more in sewing and knitting. My aunts were avid knitters and petit point stitchers also, but for some reason, I never tried it, even if I learned knitting and sewing at a young age. But I always found needlework so beautiful.

     Fast forward 10-12 years, will I was working on my graduate studies, one of my colleague was from Ukraine and very involved in cross-stitching (she even had en “online store” to help ukranians to import American materials – that’s when internet was making its first steps). She showed me how she was doing it, but it’s not there that I jumped. It was a few months later, while in Lyon (France) for a scientific conference, that I visited a small milliner shop where I bought my first project. It was a small marine scene with children by the sea, very Bretagne-like, by Rue du port. It was on Aida. That was before I learn anything, so I didn’t know you had to separate this skein and keep 2 threads. So, the beginning was a bit backward, but after that, I never looked back and I’m still stitching 20 years later! I still have this first embroiderie. It is on my bathroom wall!

     142

143. I was ten years old when I completed one of my earliest projects. There was a sewing class in the park across the street from my house. My mother bought me some pink print fabric to make a gathered-at-the-waist skirt. I recall painstakingly hand stitching and fitting the waist. I proudly modeled my skirt in the park fashion show later that summer!

     143

144. The first thing I remember stitching was a counted cross stitch Christmas ornament. It was a star, about 4 inches across.

     It was the mi-1980’s and the color choices reflected the times. Purples and blues and lots of tinsel-y type floss.

     I should go check and see if I can find it.

     144

145. The first thing I ever stitched was a handanger doily. I loved doing it and was so proud. Never thought I had it in me.

     145

146. First thing I ever stitched was a mason jar lid cross stitch that said “Grade A Teacher” I was in the 3rd grade and made these for my teachers for Christmas. We filled the jars with candy. It was always so much fun to do this with my mother.

     146

147. I would love, love to win an ornament made by you. I love making ornaments and giving them to others! Christmas is my favorite time of hear and ornaments are particularly sentimental for me. Thanks for this opportunity, Mary!

     147

148. First thing I remember stitching is a birth announcement for my first child.

     148

149. A pillowcase kit from Michael’s. I think it was flowers and leaves

     149

150. The first thing I stitched this time around (not counting when I was 12) was a small alpaca with a colorful blanket on its back. Very adorable.
     I would love to win this to gift to my Mother-in-law for Christmas! She is obsessed with beach-themed stitching, and she is the one who got me into stitching again.

     150

151. One of the first thing I remember stitching was a counted cross stitch design by P Buckley Moss. It was a girl carrying a basket of apples I think. I must admit I did not finish it but moved on to x-stitching replicas of vintage linen samplers using various stitches.

     151

152. My earliest stitching memory is sitting in the kitchen with my grandmother teaching me how to stitch a stenciled dish towel. I know that my stitches were too long but the memory has lasted even longer. She was my mentor, she was my Mama and a person of style and deportment.

     152

153. The first thing I ever embroidered was a prestamped table runner. Prior to this I had practiced a large variety of surface embroidery stitches on an old pillow case.

     153

154. The first thing I recall having stitched was a snowy barn surrounded by trees ☺️ I started it in 1994 and have yet to finish it! Very little left to do but not interested in barns anymore….oh well

     154

155. The 1st thing I stitched was a tea towel with fruit on it; I was 5 years old.

     155

156. I was probably about 7 or 8 years old when I stitched my first printed cross stitch pillow cases!

     156

157. One of the earliest stitching was in Miss Merke’s (mandatory) Home Ec class. As a class, we made cobbler aprons. Always out of gingham fabric. I used embroidery to embellish the bib and border. So cute!

     157

158. The first successful project I completed was three baby nightdresses, pre baby grows. I was 10 years old, my mother instructed me how to make them, and then I decorated them with Dorset Feather stitch, which turns out to be appropriate as I was born in Dorset, and have lived here ever since. They were good enough to give to a friend who had her first baby back in 1963. And that was just the beginning……

     158

159. Who doesn’t like surprises? And lucky people to name you as a friend! They must get the best handmade gifts!

     159

160. My earliest embroidery and memory: I was about 3 or 4 yrs old, sitting on the floor at the feet of my grandmother, great aunt and mother. I was handed a piece of fabric and a needle with floss. I don’t remember if there was a design on it or not. I felt so privileged to sit with the grown-ups as my older sister ran around the house causing mischief. I now know that it was their way of getting some piece and quite as they stitched. I’ve been stitching ever since. My sister, not so much.

     160

161. I can totally remember the first thing i stitched! It was an oyster, because I live on the beautiful Georgia coast. I finally got my nerve to start embroidery when the quarantine came this spring. I made a lot of mistakes on that first piece but framed it anyway. It’s my reminder that I’m creative (a little!) and that I’VE GOT THIS!

     161

162. My great-grandmother taught to me to cross stitch when I was in kindergarten, which was a long time ago now. I can’t quite remember what I stitched (although I vaguely recall a little grey bunny), but I still cherish the memory of sitting next to her, stitching, chatting and watching her “stories” — I still hear the opening piano chords from “The Young and the Restless” in my head when I think of her!

     162

163. Mary… you always provide so much wonderful inspiration! I received my A Sea to Stitch and love it! When and if I get Holiday prep completed….(even though it will certainly be quiet)…we need some bright cheer at this time!
     I do plan to tackle a few of the shells to add to a project and I sure would like to tackle a monogram !!Can’t wait to see what you will be doing !

     163

164. I taught myself to do cross stitch so I could personalize onesies for my first niece who just turned 50! She still has the onesie which she put on her teddy bear when she was young.
     Can you imagine counting fine knit fabric? I started with something difficult.

     164

165. My earliest stitching memories are of the fact that my mom and grandma were always knitting, crocheting, quilting, sewing my clothes, etc.

     165

166. Not sure if this was my first but certainly one of my favourites. A Christmas kit that I stitched, I think, in the early 70’s. It is titled “Christmas is…..” followed by written meaningful things special to
     Christmas and a stitched border of Christmas symbols.

     166

167. My first cross-stitch was for my daughter Debbie who was a freshman at Oregon State University and living in a dorm. It was “DORM SWEET DORM”, put in a hoop and backed with brown paper. She loved it!

     I was hooked on cross stitch after that, especially as there was a cross stitch/embroidery shop in Corvallis where OSU is located.

     167

168. 40 years ago, I embroidered a crewel kit picture, 12″ square. It is heart shaped, entwined with shades of pink ribbon, various flowers (violets, daylilies, etc,) leaves of green, red hearts, and baby breath french knots, with a white dove holding the entwined pink ribbon in its beak at the top “V” of the heart.

     168

169. Reminds me of Mom………She started a stamped cross-stitch sampler…..worked on it off and on…..as we got older she showed my sisters and me how to add stitches for her….a good forty or more years forward and it’s still not done…..My youngest sister currently has it and has recently offered it to me to finish……..

     Thus my start to all sorts of stitchery….favorite being stumpwork…….

     169

170. The first thing I think I ever stitched was a little cross stitch key-ring, which I think my Mother still has. It was an outline of a house, with a tree and I think a rainbow. So the stitch journey began…

     170

171. My first stitching was stamped pillow cases when I was about seven or eight. My mother taught me the stitches as I went along. I did several pairs, then graduated to a quilt top, which I still have. I have been stitching ever since (about 55 years!)

     171

172. I must be getting old! (will be 70 next birthday)
     I remember doing a little alphabet sampler with a drawn-on butterfly
     with my grandmom. I don’t know how old I was, but maybe 8?
     I always wish I could stitch/ sew/ knit/ crochet/ quilt with my grandmothers now.
     They would be so amazed at the beautiful materials and tools we have now for our
     stitching! I learned to” make” things from them.

     172

173. I was at infants school (or maybe very early junior school) and I hated sewing – I was scared to death of the teacher, who also happened to be the headmistress. We each had to sew a pinafore/apron and embroider something on it. (It was so long ago – about 65/66 years – that I can’t remember what it was). I made such a mess of the whole thing that I lost my nerve and stuffed it in a dustbin at school. BUT someone found it and gave it to the headmistress, who confronted me with it. That’s as much as I can remember – I think I must have banished the rest of the happening from my conscious memory!

     173

174. My absolute very 1st entry to stitching: I was 10 years old in 1973 and loved Morris the cat. A t-shirt give-away that depicted Morris was underway. If my memory serves me clearly, contestants sent labels from catfood cans with an entry form. The entry date and winner’s selection came and went. I was sad. I was not chosen. Being a creative kind, my hands began to draw this cool cat with his collar and serving bowl onto a white t-shirt. His eyes were buttons, his whiskers believable, the long, noble paws so life-like. Two days later I was the happiest little girl donning my bright white shirt with the best hand-made improvisation of screen-printing possible in 1973! Since then, my hands and heart creating movement drawings on cloth with colorful floss of many colors
     breathes vibrancy and happiness into my life. Funny how my 1st artful and 10-year old purposeful stitching set a rule for me, to draw from my heart forevermore. I still have this t-shirt today, it’s a part of me.

     174

175. The first thing I remember stitching was a stamped cross stitch cat sampler that my grandmother helped me complete.

     175

176. My earliest stitching memory is of cross stitching a green vine with purple flowers. My moms friend thought it might be something I’d enjoy and she was right! She set me up with everything I needed and that project is stashed away with other childhood mementos. I haven’t thought of her in many years but this makes me think I should look her up and send a Christmas card! 🙂

     176

177. I don’t remember the first thing I ever stitched but I do remember encountering my first cross-stitch project via someone else’s work. My best friends mother had a cross-stitch project laying out that she was working on and I was so curious about this craft that I secretly picked up her project and worked a few stitches based on what I saw. I found out later that it’s important to cross your “x”s the same way every time!! She knew right away someone had been fooling with her project based on my sloppy stitches.

     177

178. The first thing I ever stitched was a sampler for my Mom, I was 16, and self-taught.

     Each row had a different stitch pattern or stitch before and after a poem which was in the middle.

     178

179. My sister taught me to cross stitch on napkins and then to table cloths. She would often take a European vacation during my birthday month and return with a beautiful cross stitch linen for me to do.

     179

180. My first memory of embroidery is of dishtowels, which most girls made for their hope chest.
     I have re-entered the embroidery world two yrs ago. I just finished Trish Burr’s black & white with color Kat. Not bad for an 80 yr old newbie.

     180

181. Hello Mary,
     When I was a child I had my mom, grandmother, and aunts who were always doing some sort of sewing, knitting,quilting, embroidery, crocheting- well you get the idea. I used to use leftover scraps and make clothes for my dolls (with mom’s help). My first ‘project was a bright turquoise paisley bag with white rope looking cord for the shoulder strap (this was the 1960’s). We cannot forget the A- line skirt in 7th grade home economics Gosh, I haven’t thought of that in yearsclass! Lol! Mrs. M, our teacher, used to make us stand up on the large sewing tables so SHE could pin the hem at “a proper length”! Mini skirts were ‘in then, so we would scurry back to our desks and un-pin them and shorten them! I had to stand up on that desk 3 times!!!

     181

182. I remember learning to embroider at an early age. My mom would iron the design to stitch on scraps of leftover muslin (she was an excellent seamstress!). The iron on designs were either from the local five and dime or sometimes from The Work Basket magazine as a bonus content.

     182

183. I have always stitched but the first project I designed and finished was for my first daughter’s newborn gown for our family photo. The design was based on a Croatian outfit that had been handed down by my grandmother who gave it to me. I wore the full hand woven linen apron filled with embroidered flowers over a simple dress for my 70s wedding in a flower garden. Later that baby gown was given to my second daughter for her first born.

     183

184. The first thing I ever stitched was my initial in pink cross stitch on a pillowcase.

     184

185. It can’t possibly be the first thing I stitched, but the furthest back I can remember is needlepointing Gainsborough’s Blue boy for my grandparents when I was a teenager. I vaguely remember a smaller winter cabin landscape too.

     185

186. My earliest sewing memory is of being in a needlework class in the U.K. and the teacher telling us that King George IV had died.I think I was making a pair of pajamas!

     186

187. The first thing I ever stitched was a child-version house, front walk and tree on an old piece of cotton, probably from a sheet. It’s long gone and I wish I still had it.

     Fun giveaway today, thank you!

     187

188. Oh my – this takes me back. The first thing I stitched was a black and white design that my Oma sent in a parcel from Holland. I was about 12 years old.

     188

189. My first embroidery project was one I did with my Mother when I was a child. It was a stamped dressing table runner with flowers on it I still have it and a second one that has a lady on it. Both are treasure memories. My Mother was not a big needlework person but she did teach me how to do it, she loved knitting, she taught me to knit and to do raffia work but I just enjoyed the embroidery most…

     189

190. To paraphrase Dick Emery (UK comedian) this article is a tease, but I like you for it!

     190

191. The first thing I ever stitched was a Crewel kit I purchased at 12 years old. We were driving out to California ( from WV) to see family and I wanted to try have a little project on my own. I had recently been introduced to embroidery in my home economics class at school and was hooked on stitching!

     191

192. My grandparents had a piano, and as a gift for them I bought a piano bench needlepoint kit that had notes and I think some instruments on it, maybe a violin, but very detailed. I was quite young and with no guidance. I think I had the tent stitches going every which way with all kinds of knots and threads going everywhere on the back. It disappeared at some point over the years, but I still think of it occasionally.

     192

193. The very first thing I ever stitched was a stamped pillowcase–remember them?? It probably came from Woolworths or McCrorys — another couple names from the past. I would guess I was around 8-10 at the time. 60 years ago!

     193

194. One of my earliest stitched items ( that I still have ) is a needlebook case that showed off a variety of embroidery stitch types. I remember that I made it in Industrial Arts class in Grade 5.

     194

195. The first thing I remember stitching? That was a long time ago. I remember my mother trying to teach me the basic embroidery stitches- backstitch, stem stitch, lazy daisy, and French knots. But she had learned French knots incorrectly herself, so mine either pulled through the fabric or stood on little stalks above it. I only learned to stitch them correctly about 5 years ago, from watching videos like yours.

     195

196. ahhh….that very FIRST project….over 50 years ago dang Im old lol… But it was an alphabet sampler sort of thing with simple lettering and childlike objects in every color imaginable at the time. My grammy was stitching and I so wanted to learn and be just like her. It took me a long time to stitch it, but I treasure it to this day cuz of the memories I have with and of her time on the planet. Thanks for making me remember. The drawing sounds wonderful Good Luck Everyone! specially me! lol
     TY Mary… I just love your work, ideas, posts…just everything about you as does everyone else Im sure. I might be old but u have taught me tons! ty ty ty

     196

197. Oh my heart be still❤️. I would ❤️ to win this!!! The book is on my wish list. Winning this would mean Santa came early. I see next year’s Christmas gifts being made using this book.

     197

198. It seems as if I’ve always known how to embroider at least the basic stitches, and I must have learned them from my mom, who, of course, taught me many things about many things! I don’t remember my first embroidered piece, but I’ve been at it a really long time, as in decades!

     Thanks, Mary!

     Merry Christmas!

     198

199. My very first needlepoint was done 50 years ago…a stitch patchwork of a cat. It still hangs in my hallway!

     199

200. Very excited with today’s give away. Lots of surprises and especially one of your Christmas ornaments!

     200

201. My earliest memory of stitching is on pillowcases when I was about 12 years old. Mom did all our pillowcases with hand embroidery.

     201

202. The very first thing I stitched was an iron-on motif of a kitten. I was four and my Mother was trying to entertain me now that my brother had started Kindergarten. It worked. I can remember bending over the little embroidery hoop trying hard not to get the thread tangled for many a morning.
     Thank you for the chance to win, Mary!

     202

203. I learned how to needlepoint when I was young, but the first thing that I “made up” & stitched was a drawstring bag to use @ GirlScout camp. I can’t remember the special name they had for it? I used a white cotton print w/multicolored paint brushes arranged like a grid on it. I made the GirlScout emblem about the size of a lunch plate out of green cotton fabric that was stitched on using red DMC floss – buttonhole stitch. My initials were stitched in backstitch. I think this project went towards one of my badges. ☺️ Nice memory, Thank you.

     203

204. I remember exactly, and I still have it! It was on a piece of maybe 10 count aida, perfect for a 10 year old – my grandma taught me how to make little cross-stitch pine trees, probably using all six strands of thread.

     204

205. My first memory of needlework was sitting with our next door neighbor Judy. She didn’t have a daughter so I was the one she shared her joy of stitching with!

     205

206. The first thing I ever stitched was a little cross stitched Christmas ornament that came in a kit from the craft store. It was 2 little bells…that was over 30 years ago now!

     206

207. My first stitch experience was a kit that a dear friend gave me for my 13th birthday. Fifty years later, that crewel pillow still is on display!

     207

208. The first thing that I stitched ( as far as I can remember ) is a case for my savings book which I stitched when I was about 6. I took to the book, in its case, to school each Monday morning to make a deposit from my pocket money. I still have this canvas case and the stitching is all intact so I must have done a good job almost 70 years ago!

     208

209. The first piece of embroidery I did was a small garland of blue flowers in the corner of a handkerchief. That would have been about fifty eight years ago! Took me about another fifty years to start sewing again and now I have definitely contracted the stitching bug.

     209

210. The first thing that I remember sewing is a baby bib that was pre-printed with the design on it. I bought it at a little store by my house. After that I bought a toaster cover, a baby t-shirt and various other small items. I then found kits of crewel work at a local department store from Paragon and Dimensions and continued stitching those for a few years.

     210

211. My first memory is stitching in school at a very young age. We were stitching a circle round a drawn outline in simple, smallish running stitch (I can’t remember why) and my friend next to me kept asking me to help with the corners! Both the teacher and I were getting frustrated because we couldn’t make her understand there were no corners. I can still remember the look on her face when the light dawned, she was so happy 🙂

     211

212. We were taught needlework at school. So my first piece of needlework was on Binco with thick cotton. I was not very good and made slow progress. I still make very slow progress on any stitching. My mum bought me some Binco and thread for my birthday and I did a bit at home but had no books to inspire me. I finally got back to stitching when my oldest was two years old; my husband was away for three weeks and a friend showed me a cross stitch alphabet she was doing. There was a girl with each letter and she was apparently doing a letter a night! I went and bought a Lanarte kit on linen. Needless to say I wasn’t able to do a letter a night. The instructions were in Dutch which didn’t help. Fortunately it didn’t put me off!

     212

213. The first thing that I embroidered was when I was about 12. It was a picture of a girl with a broom. Probably an Aunt Martha Transfer design. I did it mostly in satin stitch.

     I didn’t start embroidering again until my early thirties.

     213

214. Oh I love surprises!!! I’ve got my fingers crossed on this one! To own anything that has come from your hands would be cherished! I love your work! About 10 years ago I bought a kit for a pillow to embroider and stitch, but then my husband became ill and I laid it aside. Afterwards it was hard to find interest in anything but then about 3 or 4 years ago I did pick up that kit and taught myself how to do several of the stitches. (Wish I had known about your site then.) So the pillow was my first creation and I haven’t stopped since. I love embroidery! Even though I’m a great-grandmother I’m still going to say: Pick me, pick me, pick me!

     214

215. First memory is getting in trouble and my mother making me sit on front porch and stitch using supplies from her embroidery scrap bag

     215

216. 61 years ago I began stitching for my hope chest! I embroidered hems of sheets and matching pillow cases. Still remember they were a swirl like design done in two tones of blue. Also did dish towels.

     216

217. I know that I did some doodling stitching with my Mom and Grandmother but I remember sitting on the front steps of our house watching my children play and doing crossstitch on a brown gingham apron. I used that apron for a long time. Diane

     217

218. Intricate embroidery instructions and detailed pictures

     218

219. The first item I remember embroidering was the “Love is” cartoon that was featured in the newspaper. It was during my teens and I always seemed to have a crush on someone. I traced the cartoon onto some fabric. I have no idea what stitches I used but it hung on my bulletin board for years after. The joy is in the stitching.

     219

220. What fun it would be to rott through the box and fins all those lovely surprises! Some would be very useful. Where did my needle minder go? Haven’t seen my favourite threader in some time. It would be a welcome respite from all the doom and gloom around us today

     220

221. I don’t remember my first stitching; my grandmother started me pretty young — I remember leaning on her to look over her shoulder as she showed me simple embroidery and hand-piecing. It was probably something in huck weaving. The first piece I have evidence of finishing was a snail from a series of blackwork kits McCall’s Needlework was offering in the early 1960’s.

     221

222. My earliest sewing memory makes me smile every time. My mother was teaching me to sew on a button. I watched her….then carefully tried on a big button of my own. I came up in a hole in the center of the button and then……went down on the outside of the button. Several times. I still remember my mother laughing as she praised my stitching but then showed me why that button would never button. So I learning sewing and ripping out all at once!

     Kathy

     222

223. Oh my heart be still❤️. I would ❤️ to win this!!! The book is on my wish list. Winning this would mean Santa came early. I see next year’s Christmas gifts being made using this book. My first embroidery was a pillow case with a stamped on design. My grandmother was looking for a way to keep me busy and quiet as I recovered from an illness. I was 10 years old.

     223

224. Merry holidays, Mary!
     I made a seahorse for my first project about one year ago.
     Thank you for the great website, I’ve learned a lot.

     224

225. My Mum taught me petit point when I was 16 years of age. I remember making a Siamese cat. I must have given it away. Can’t remember.

     225

226. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t know how to sew, either by hand or machine. But I do remember learning how to do crewel embroidery – my next-door neighbor taught me and my mother. I’ve been messing with stitches ever since. And I’ve got a cross-stitched table cloth my mother made in those days.

     226

227. Great giveaway – thank for opportunity!

     227

228. I remember stitching on punched cards with my grandmother on the front porch at the lake. I was maybe 7 or 8. She was such a creative woman!

     228

229. This is an easy one! The first thing I learned to stitch was a cross-stitched red tomato on a tea towel when I was 7 years old. I don’t remember what the final project looked like — because that was 63 years ago — but I remember that tomato.

     229

230. I love reading and looking at your colorful posts. I would enjoy winning anything having to do with embroidery and appreciate being able to enter your giveaway.

     230

231. First ever? A little crosstitch bookworm. My father was an avid cross-stitcher, so he bought little kits for my brother and I, and spent a Saturday morning showing us the basics of starting and ending threads and following a chart. I loved the stitching more than the crossing, but it was a fun way to start.

     231

232. I recall making simple togas and halter dresses for my Barbie dolls, with decorative hand stitching on the hems. I thought they were terribly stylish! Decades later, that love of having a needle in my hand has not diminished one bit.

     232

233. My grandmother, who always sewed on a treadle machine, made me a pair or pajamas out of a feed sack. She guided me to decorate the top with a running stitch. I must have been 4-5. At the age of 83, I think of that dear lady when I thread my needle for another day of embroidery joy.

     233

234. The first things I can remember stitching were pillow cases some 53 years ago after I was married. Before that, as a child I would sew scraps of fabric together for my dolls dresses. Very crude attempts at “fashion design”.

     234

235. The first stitching I remember was a small “Home Sweet Home” kit with a little faux gold frame to hang up.

     235

236. The very first thing I ever stitched was a sampler with the prayer, “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.” It was all cross stitch. I don’t believe I finished it!

     236

237. What a lovely assortment of treasures. Especially an ornament by you. I must say that would be wonderful!

     237

238. I do not remember what I stitched, but I do remember that I cried and learned how to take stitches out. I must have been 5 years old, not in school yet back than. My mom was teaching me to embroider and I stitched the hoop and the design onto my skirt on my lap. I cried when I had to remove all my work and redo. Well I learned early how to undo and to be careful with your work from the very firtst stitch.

     238

239. I was pregnant with my Rainbow baby and decided to make a gown. I had no machine, so I hand stitched it. Every seam and hem. It had tatting around the neck. Embroidery on the sleeves. I still remember how calming it was to sew on that gown! I was hooked. Lol

     239

240. My mother taught me to embroider when I was about 10, starting with flour sack towels for the kitchen. And I still enjoy stitching kitchen and bath hand towels.

     240

241. My first project was when I was 12. I cross stitched the words merry Christmas in arts and craft at school. Unfortunately the teacher did not have enough hoops so I had work on it without one. Thankfully it did not deter me from continuing on my needlework journey.

     241

242. I believe my earliest stitching was making yo-yos to sew together for a doll blanket! Aah! The versatile yo-yo! I still love them to this day! The make great edging on projects, too! A great way to use up bits and bobs of fabric. Not sure if I ever finished that doll blanket, but the making of it lingers!

     242

243. Winning would certainly cheer me!

     243

244. The first thing I remember working on was a border on simple gathered skirt in blue huck towel fabric with gold thread. I was probably about 11 or 12. I don’t remember where I got the idea but I do remember that my Mother and a visiting aunt were both intrigued with the project and worked on it too

     244

245. The first thing I ever stitched was a pair of pajamas for my Tiny Tears doll. They were brown/beige in color & all hand stitched. I was about 6 or 7!

     245

246. Dear Mary,

     We all deserve Pajama days, so we enjoy those when they present themselves to us as an unexpected gift. You are giving away some pieces you have made, WoW!

     246

247. The very first thing I stitched was probably a children’s beginner embroidery kit. I don’t remember at all what is was. After a few years I picked up needle and thread again and started what was my most memorable first project. It was the 70’s and I loved the rock group Chicago, so I found some embroidery floss in my Mom’s basket, grabbed my broken in jeans and embroidered the “Chicago” logo on the back pocket. It turned out so well I removed the pocket on the other side and embroidered the lyrics to Color My World. Every single one of them. I wish I kept those jeans, I was so proud of them!

     247

248. I remember learning to embroidery with my grandmother making lazy daisies on doll clothes – I was 9. My godmother gave me a needlepoint kit when I was about 10 or 12. My first cross stitch was in my early 20’s when I learned at our Quilting & Stitchery Guild. It was a “stitching witch”. At the time it was very hard to do! But then I discovered aran style needlepoint stitches and I was off and running, designing my own project after that.

     248

249. Hi Mary,

     My first stitching memory, I was around 10 years old and one of my older sisters was teaching me to embroider a dresser scarf. There were flowers and leaves on each end and it all in a cross stitch. This was sometime around 1964.
     Thank you.
     Jean B
     Kent WA

     249

250. The first piece I ever stitched was the design of a little girl. What I remember most: all the chain and stem-stitches, throughout. It’s been quite some time! I wish I had kept it.

     250

251. I still have the first thing I’ve ever stitched. It is a little kitty tea towel with embroidery and cross stitching. The design is stamped–I must have been about 3 as my stitches are very large and don’t cover the lines very well. I love stitching–all types!
     Your monogram gifts sound lovely! I’m excited about your upcoming negative monogram patterns!

     251

252. Haha, what a fun question! In second grade (about 1979), I did two yarn-on-burlap projects: a posy of flowers, and a swimming duck. My mom hung them in the hall, so I remember them very well.

     252

253. baby crib for my Nephew and Niece, born 1968

     253

254. The first thing I embroidered was a little monogram on a piece of scrap fabric that I kept in my wallet for years!

     254

255. The first thing I remember doing was a towel with a design printed on it my grandmother had prepared. I don’t remember the design but I remember sitting with my grandmother and watching her hands as she demonstrated how to make the stitches.

     255

256. The first thing I ever stitched? Oh, my. It was a stamped pattern of a shepherdess, partly cross-stitch and partly outline stem. My mother assigned it to me when I was a five-year-old tomboy, and I hated the thing. Seem to remember that I lost it on purpose.

     256

257. A Christmas ornament

     257

258. I actually remember that the first thing I ever stitched ( other than odd stitches at my mother’s knee that I cannot remember in detail) was a cross stitch needle book on binca (herta) canvas in yellow, purple and green floche type thread. It was at primary school in England when I was about 6 years old, at a time when there was a program that ALL children learned to stitch and knit at primary school. Wonderful! I had the needle book for years until it just disappeared. I have no idea what happened to it.

     258

259. The first thing I ever stitched was some flowers in the corners of a tablecloth that Mom and I worked on. So long ago!

     259

260. The first thing I ever stitched was a rooster my mother transferred onto an old bed sheet. I did it all in outline stitch, still my favorite stitch. I never finished the embroidery into a finished object, although I still have it somewhere in my collection. I am thinking of having it framed. The last time I saw it, I was pleasantly surprised at how well it was done.

     260

261. The first thing I remembered that I stitched was the outline of a sleepy kitty. It was all in straight/running stitch. It was just a piece of muslin and I think the cat might have been one of Aunt Martha’s transfers, that’s just a guess. My mother made it up as kind of a potholder that was never used.

     261

262. Growing up in Colorado, I was plagued with ear infections all winter long. When I was about 7 years old I had a particularly bad one and needed to stay home from school for a number of days. My mother in her attempt to distract me and keep me busy gave me a tea towel, thread and an embroidery hoop. She drew a little christmas tree on the tea towel and taught me a few easy stitches. I worked on that tree for days! My grandmother took over the lessons and I have been stitching ever since.

     262

263. Oh dear…I used the same answer for the last contest…it was a lemon tree on burlap , the design from a woman’ s magazine and done in split tapestry wool ( no crewel wool available) on a coarse burlap. The leaves and fruit were in a multiple of stitches learned from the same pamphlet. I was about 20 then.

     263

264. I’m one who can’t remember what my first project was but my guess would be an embroidered dishtowel. The only craft my mother did and the only one she taught me! I still do them today for myself, family and friends.

     264

265. The first thing I remember stitching is doll clothes when I was very young. Particularly Barbie clothes.

     265

266. My first stitching memory is when I was about 4 or 5 – there is a photo in evidence. It was a piece of cardboard with holes in it, and a needle with wool and you backstitched around the outlines of various designs. I’ve never looked back. 🙂

     266

267. The first hand stitching I ever did was a chicken scratch apron on yellow gingham and when it was done a plastic hoop was inserted so it clipped around my waist. A babysitter taught me needle and thread, and I have always loved it.

     267

268. I had just moved to Massachusetts and to avoid being lonely I found a great place called Threadneedle St. on Newbury St in Boston..they offered beginner needlework classes and I did a sampler of 12 stitches….I don’t know where it ended up..but it got me going on my stitching.
     Thx

     268

269. To put it bluntly, I’m domestically- & artistically- challenged. So, in the early-to-mid 80’s, I saw something in Wal-Mart that looked like something I could actually do! Of course, it was counted cross stitch. I purchased a mother fox & kits kit (I think that was first), worked on it some, bought a Kount On Kappie booklet of small Christmas ornaments, made a bunch of them, and I was off and running! I don’t know what happened to the fox project, but I still have a few of the the ornaments. I still remember fondly the coppers & mahoganies used on the foxes — gorgeous colors!

     269

270. The first thing I remember stitching, I was 9, and embroidered a pillow case for my grandma, in the most violent shade of purple. Grandma, being the wonderful person she was, always had that pillow case on display when I visited.

     270

271. The first thing I remember stitching were 2 Christmas ornaments. One was a Christmas Goose and the other was a wreath.

     271

272. The first thing I ever stitched was a stamped floral embroidery piece on a pillow case when I was eight years old – for my “hope” chest. I’m not that old to really have needed a hope chest and I’m pretty sure that when it was completed it was used for my bed linens. I then picked up sewing on a sewing machine and didn’t embroider again until I was in my 20’s.

     272

273. My earliest recollection is being shown by my babysitter various stitches on Aida, creating a couple of dressing table mats.

     273

274. That’s not a giveaway. That’s heaven! The first thing I ever stitched was a stamped cross stitch doily for an end table. I was 4 years old, still at home while the older siblings were in school. My mother was trying to keep me occupied so she could get things done! She bribed me by saying that my Dad (and I was definitely Daddy’s girl!) wanted one for his table. I still have to this day and little did we know that stitching would become a lifelong passion and something that always feeds my soul.

     274

275. The first thing I ever stitched was a new felt shirt for my Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animal. He was my absolute favorite and his original shirt was in tatters. My mom helped me with the stitching, I did a chain stitched “Pooh” on a new felt shirt that my mom made. It ended up being on an angle sloping downward. I was about 6. I still have it and treasure it for so many reasons.

     275

276. The first thing I ever stitched was a pillowcase! I had been watching my mom stitch for years and told her I wanted to try it so she took me up to the local dime store which still had an embroidery section and I got to pick out a pillowcase set. I was approximately 8 years old at the time and I’ve been hooked ever since.

     276

277. Another great giveaway Mary – thank you for the dream of winning! To answer your question….I know the exact first thing I ever stitched. My maternal grandmother made me a little doll-sized quilt when I was little and I decided I wanted to learn to sew just like her so I ‘liberated’ some yarn from my mother and did a very crude form of whip stitch over my grandmother’s stitches on the back of the quilt. I have the quilt still and my stitching masterpiece is still there.

     277

278. This was not my first experience with embroidery, but it is one I remember with joy. I was 11 and my best friend and I made small felt dolls with their clothing. The dolls were about 10 cm high, and we made all sorts of tiny clothing and furniture for them, and we embroidered on them. My friend’s mum was a seamstress, so we had access to a box of fabric remnants, felt and threads. I thought my friend was so lucky to have such a box, and I felt so grateful that she would share it with me.

     278

279. The first thing I remember stitching is the face of a little stuffed doll we made in Girl Scouts. It was a two sided doll, with one face sleeping and the other face awake and smiling. I still have her.

     279

280. I love this question…because I love to think about my grandmother, who would be 119 if she were alive. She set me up with my very first embroidery, a little line drawing of an elephant on a small blue square of cotton. I was perhaps 8? Not sure. She also tried to teach me needle tatting. Unfortunately that proved too frustrating and I never tried again, though I still have a nice collection of tatted hankies, doilies and pillowcases to enjoy–and I still have my little elephant. I love embroidery, and I still love my grandma! Thanks, Mary.
     Linda

     280

281. The first thing I stitch was an apron. I was about 11 years old and I’m now 62. I still use the apron.

     281

282. It was a pink gingham apron that had a cross stitch border on the pockets and hem.

     282

283. Mary,
     Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! Also, a wonderful New Year.

     I am enjoying reading about your Christmas gifts….

     Sally S

     283

284. A tray cloth at primary school when I was 10 years old. It had a large pink flower and daisies on it. I still have it!

     284

285. I don’t remember the project but remember sitting next to my grandmother and trying to hold the needle just so.

     285

286. my earliest recollection was a embroidery of the Mayflower boat. Coming from the New England area, it was a fun way to start since I also, enjoyed history this made it a fine combination.

     286

287. This is such fun! I think the surprises you hinted at may be the some of the best gifts ever. Fingers crossed that I might win 🙂

     287

288. What a great give-away! I love surprises.

     The first thing I ever stitched was the Birds of Color coin purse needlepoint kit from Stitch and Zip. It was the perfect introduction to stitching. It was easy and fast, and the end product was lovely. Many needlepoint projects later, I dipped my toe into surface embroidery and never looked back.

     288

289. The first thing I stitched was a pillow kit from Erica Wilson when I was about 10 years old back in the 1970’s.

     289

290. The first thing I stitched was a button hole stitch on a piece of cut work I attempted to do. I had no idea the proper methods. I was about ten and had nothing to go by but a linen table runner my grandmother had left me when she passed and a few skeins of her embroidery floss. I was addicted for life❤️

     290

291. I still have the first thing I stitched which was a blue and white gingham apron. My mother thought the white checks would make it easy for me to learn cross-stitch and be able to do a little pattern with them. She was right and it started me on a lifetime of loving hand embroidery, needlecrafts and textiles.

     291

292. I think the first stitching project must have been the gingham apron that used “chicken scratch” to hold the pleats and hem in place. My family did not include embroiderers, and I was the only leftie, so I cannot say how I learned that. However, my love of working with needle, thread, and fabric led to a long and fulfilling career in the field of textiles and clothing. I retired nearly two decades ago, and my passion for handwork has grown exponentially. Thank you, Mary, for adding to my lifelong learning!

     292

293. The 1st thing I stitched was a table cloth and napkins, it was pre-stamped and it was cross stiches blue. I never finished it, my mother did and I lost it so I have nothing of that early work… just memories!

     293

294. I was very ill at age nine. When I was able to sit up in bed and get bored my mother drew simple figures on pillow case borders and taught me simple stitches. All me siblings had lazy daisy patterned pillowcases to sleep with.

     294

295. Although my older cousin taught me to knit when I was five, my first stitching experience was in upper primary school, my age being about ten, when our class was taught basic embroidery stitches. We produced a sampler. It wasn’t too marvellous I must admit but I have made some progress since then! I think it best to teach embroidery skills as soon as a child exhibits an interest and, with that in mind, I’ve taught some of my granddaughters to stitch. Two of them, then seven, designed and embroidered beautiful hand towels for their mothers during lockdown this year, when we spent several weeks together at our seaside house. If was a delightful experience for all of us.
     Christine

     295

296. The first thing I ever stitched wasn’t decorative but functional…at least for my Sunshine doll. I made her a skirt, stitched by hand. I was twelve. My mother thought I was slightly too old for wanting more dolls, but she acquiesced and I had so much fun making clothes for her tiny body! Everyone else thought I was crazy!

     296

297. I love your designs. I have made the monograms for years and now am going to make the Christmas trees for gifts for the office.

     297

298. The first thing I ever stitched was an outlined cross-stitched kitty with a ball of yarn on a BIG count Aida. I still have it! It’s special not just because it’s the first but because we were missionaries in West Africa and it was given to me by one of the other missionaries, who drew the design herself, by putting colored dots in the center of the Aida squares and then mounted it in a little round hoop (with staples) that her husband had made out of a thin piece of wood that he had softened and shaped into a circle, then wrapped with a strip of tire inner tube to hold it all in place. It would have been impossible for her to get any sort of kit for me, so she made her own using fabric and threads she had brought with her. It’s unique and totally special to me.

     298

299. The first thing that I remember stitching was through preprinted cards with a blunt needle before I was of school age. I remember my mother gifting it to me and showing me how to begin. I remember loving doing that! Now, I’m finishing Elisabetta Forza’s “Waiting on 2021”. All I need to do is finish the numbers. She said, “It’s a grass stitch that turns into thrown points”. I don’t have a clue what this means, plus I’m left-handed. Do you have a posting that shows how this is done, please?

     299

300. The first piece I remember stitching is a stamped cross stitch table runner my aunt gave me for christmas. I ran out of the the pink (of course! I was about 9), and used a much lighter pink to finish.

     300

301. My earliest stitching memory was my Nana giving me a set of printed mesh fabric that you were supposed (?) to do needlepoint on and the strongest recollection I have was that one of them was a zebra and the ink from the printing had filled in the little holes in the mesh which made it frustrating to get a needle through.

     I returned the favour by making her a gorgeous peacock quilt a few years ago.

     301

302. The first thing I can remember stitching is a gingham apron for my mother for Christmas when I was about ten years old. It was a winter scene and you did cross stitch in each of the gingham squares. The only problem was that I did not know that you had to be consistent with the threads all going in the same direction. Thus my cross stitches go every which way on the same piece!
     I still have that apron and treasure the memories.

     302

303. The first thing I ever stitched was just 6 months ago, so I remember! It was a kit to make a cute little dog, that looked just like the dog my in-laws just got. So I added the dog’s name and gave it to them as a gift 🙂

     303

304. One of my earliest stitching memories is a baby gift for a good friend. It was a train with animals in the cars and instead of stitching them all as one piece, I decided it would be cute to stitch them as individual pieces and have the frames hook together like a train! Luckily even though I was a fairly inexperienced stitcher/finisher at the time, the piece came together as envisioned. She loved it!

     304

305. This is such a fun question!
     My great-aunt Kathleen and great-uncle Garfield gave me a Christmas present of a needlepoint rose – her favourite flower- on my seventh Christmas. I still have it hanging in my house because, of course, my stitching has blossomed since then (over 50 years ago). Now I see the mistakes and the colour choices of those days, and remember my effort, and it makes me warm and loved.

     305

306. The first thing I stitched as a child was either a needlepoint cardinal or cross stitch? serenity prayer, both of which were for my mother. The cardinal has special significance for me. One of my favorite childhood memories was of watching mom and dad cardinals build a nest through seeing fledglings fly away, right outside a window. All while sitting in my mothers lap for quiet time (just before or after nap time) for many days. I think it gave me an absolute devotion to birds and nature. Cardinals are still my favorite bird and when I see one, I feel my Mother’s love.

     306

307. The very very first thing I ever stitched was a bookmark on perforated paper using (I think) coton a broder; I seem to remember running stitch and possibly cross stitch and a few others, in bright colours. It was part of my needlework lessons at school, I must have been about 7, and my mother, with the blind love that mothers have, used it until it mercifully fell apart 🙂

     307

308. Hi,
     My first memory was a cross stitch sampler kit when I was 7. I think was a gift and it had a bouquet of flowers with my name and the date. I used the instructions to teach myself . I showed my mum and she very gently explained that all the crosses should go in the same direction. I still framed it and hung it on my wall and just modified my technique going forward. I don’t know what happened to it but I still love cross stitch.

     I also remember being gifted the needlepoint flowers my gran was working on when she died. I did the flowers and words but the sea of white was too much for me at 11. I need to dig them out and finish them. Maybe as a gift for my mum.

     308

309. The first thing I ever stitched was a bit of flower on a pillowcase edging. My grandmother was teaching me how to do stem stitch because I was apparently quite fascinated by her stitching.

     That and my great grandmother teaching me how to crochet are my favorite crafting memories.

     309

310. I remember shopping in Woolworths for floss and prestamped dish towels to stitch for Christmas presents.

     310

311. The first thing I ever stitched…I was maybe 6 or 7. The design was a winter hat, or toque. I remember some lines and maybe bubbles…I chose aqua cotton floss and I know I never did finish it.

     311

312. The first thing I can actually remember stitching were some cross-stitch Christmas ornaments my mother was making. She used to make an ornament every year, and one year it was cross-stitch. This was in 1981, and I was 14. I still have them on my tree, of course! She would make about 80 ornaments every year and send them hither and yon.

     312

313. When I was around 7 years old I stitched a small sampler which had part of the alphabets and some numbers. I stitched it in red and green. I still have it!

     313

314. My first introduction to embroidery was watching, at a young age, one of my dear Aunt’s cross-stitching on a lovely linen tablecloth and napkin set. Following the printed lines didn’t look too hard and with her help I was on my way. Sewing of any kind became my passion. I later was fascinated by counted thread embroidery, when another Aunt, from Denmark, displayed her lovely linens whenever we visited. A whole new world was opened up and at 84, I’ve hardly stopped since.

     314

315. I associate monograms with my mother–and it’s s a fond memory. Maybe it’s time for me to try it!

     315

316. The first thing I ever stitched was a reproduction sampler from Better Homes and Gardens. I was in the fourth grade. I still have the sampler, and I’m happy to say that my stitching has greatly improved!

     316

317. When I was about seven, I had a stamped cross stitch sampler and spent many long if also long-separated weeks working it. As no one I knew did any needlework, I have no idea who gave it to me, but I wish I could thank them again.

     317

318. My first memory of stitching is sitting by my mother as she made my dresses and I tried to make clothes for my doll. From there I progressed to embroider little flowers and loved it. This skill came in very handy years later in the ‘70 s when I spent many’s the hour embroidering flowers down the outside seams of my friends flared jeans. Thank you for all you have taught me over the years and I hope to try my hand at gold embroidery in the new year. Happy Christmas to you and yours Maura

     318

319. The first thing I remember stitching was on small cardboard “cards” that had holes around cute little pictures that you stitched with yarn. My first “real” sewing projects were clothes and blankets for my dolls on a treadle sewing machine.

     319

320. My first embroidery projects were stamped ‘dish towels’ that we purchased at the local Woolworths 5&10 store. The floss was certainly not DMC and I stitched with 3 or 4 strands! I was about 8 years old.

     320

321. Definitely interested in this freebie. I have done cross-stitch monograms….but have always wanted to do something more elaborate.

     321

322. My earliest stitching memory is being taught by my Grandmother on her farm in northern Idaho. She always had some form of needlework in her never-idle hands. There was always a large pile of completed crocheted afghans in the corner and endless pairs of embroidered pillowcases in her stash. Her wedding gift to me and my new husband was 10 pairs of much-treasured pillowcases. She started me out learning to stitch by making pillows out of two washcloths with fringe sewn to the edges. I remembered going to the store in the closest town to pick out the washcloths. Soon she put a hoop in my hands and got me hooked on making pretty things with as many colors and stitches as I could master. I loved looking at all the beautiful colors of floss! It was the start of a lifetime of stitching and gave me the courage to try new techniques. I wish I could show her where her teaching has led me over the last 50 years.

     322

323. I was 10 years old and my mother gave me a little kit to embroider. It was a 12″x12″ doily with a floral design in each corner on 28ct even weave cotton. Satin stitch, stem stitch and French knots were the stitches. Satin stitch was to follow the weave of the fabric all in the same directions no matter the design. We called it Ponto Chato. I still have the piece it is now 70 years old.

     323

324. The first stitchery project that I remember working on is a stamped cross-stitch crafting smock. I think I was 8 years old and found it almost too challenging…and my mother didn’t sew at all so I sort of had to teach myself.

     324

325. First thing I ever stitched? You didn’t specify embroidery, so I’ll go way way back to the time my grandmother was showing me how to thread and knot a needle, so I could mend something. I think I was perhaps 7 or 8 years old. She could make a circle with the thread end and just roll it between her fingers to make a knot. I never ever managed that skill, but it fascinated me and perhaps led to a lifetime of sewing and stitching.

     325

326. My earliest memory of stitching is a quaint flour sack towel with colorful leaves and flowers pre-printed on it. I was about 9 years old and living on Guam. My mother, who grew up on a farm in Nebraska, taught me to embroider. On that towel, I learned the lazy daisy stitch which I never forgot after that. I treasured that towel although we used it regularly in the kitchen until it was worn out. My mother has since passed away, and I am happy to have that memory of her teaching me this beautiful art.

     326

327. My earliest stitching memory is of my first large project. A design featuring various garden birds – I was so surprised I managed to complete it and was very proud.

     327

328. I love a mystery package!

     The first thing I remember (though certainly not the first thing I stitched) was a cross stitch we made at school for mother’s day. It had a picture of our house on it, and we had to fill in the whole background. Fortunately it was only 8pt aida (or maybe even 6pt?) but I do remember it taking forever. My mother kept it for years, though.

     328

329. The first thing that I remember stitching was a cross stitch pattern on red and white gingham using red floss and the white squares for the cross stitch. My grandmother prepared the piece for me in a hoop. The pattern was simple. The piece was to be made into an apron. I don’t believe I ever finished the piece but I pulled it out many times over the years and added more stitches. That was probably in 1963 or 1964. My mother was an excellent embroiderer and I have numerous samples of her work. I have done many pieces myself over the years. I really enjoy your newsletter and dream one day of doing a whitework piece or perhaps some needle lace.

     329

330. Let’s see. I remember looking my mind embroidery basket, so full of bright colored floss wound on cardboard cards. She gave me a piece of fabric, a hoop and a needle. I don’t recall making anything particular until I started doing counted cross stitch years later. I made her a pillow cover which still sits on her sofa “Always my Mother, Forever my Friend” surrounded by flowers.

     330

331. First was a folk design on a kitchen towel in as many colors as I could find. My dear sister said she loved it!!

     331

332. Thanks for the giveaway!

     332

333. Yea, a happy surprises to end a year of not so happy surprises. Great way to end 2020,

     333

334. The first thing I ever stitched was a scarf. My Brownie troop leader was an embroiderer and felt we should also learn. We started with large pieces of fabric. We all signed every one of the pieces. Then, we learned to do the stem stitch and stitched all the names on the scarf. Our troop leader had sketched the Brownie symbol in each piece and we outlined that. Then we fringed the scarf. I just wish I knew what happened to it.

     334

335. The first thing I stitched was an ear of corn on a piece of yellow flannelette. It was supposed to end up as a pot holder but I don’t think it ever made it. I did finish the embroidery though. I think I was in Grade 3 then.

     335

336. I am sure my first attempt at hand sewing was a dress for my Barbie doll, but the one I remember was making by hand a princess costume for my younger sister for Halloween. I’m not sure she even wanted to be a princess, but it was what I wanted to make.

     336

337. The first thing I ever stitched was doll clothing. I had a little troll doll that I made outfits for. They were usually made of felt and I embroidered flowers on them. I was 3-4 and my grandma helped me. Everyone could tell the difference between her flowers and mine, bIt she never could

     337

338. Hi Mary, I cannot remember the very first thing I stitched but I used to play around with the bits of fabric left over from my mother’s dressmaking. She used to make all the clothes for me and my sister and the fabrics fascinated me, so she taught me to sew from a very young age. Later I started to teach myself embroidery from library books, and my maternal grandmother gave me a delightful embroidery book for my tenth birthday. The rest is history as they say! Thank you for the chance to win these giveaways, I know I probably won’t win anything, I never have been lucky in raffles, etc but it’s fun trying.

     338

339. When I was 8 I joined our 4-H sewing club. My first project was to hem a tea towel. I completed 10 years in my 4-H club.

     339

340. The first ever stitching was done with an online class and it was just rows of different stitches. The first project was a bicycle with a beautiful basket of flowers.

     340

341. The first thing I ever stitched was in the 1970s, when we all were stitching decorative doodads on our denim shirts. I enjoyed it enormously but took my time getting back to stitching as an adult! Thanks for all Mary!

     341

342. I have been stitching on and off since I was 8 or 10 years old. I think the first things I ever did was stitching in the corner of a cotton dish towel. I also remember doing some “huck” towel work. It was all a long time ago. Thank you for this great giveaway. I love the Mini Sampler Stockings.

     342

343. I remember one of my earliest stitchery projects ended in disaster! I wanted to make a set of pillowcases for my sister. I chose lovely colors for the printed-on design. It wasn’t until I was almost finished with the first one of the set that I realized I had stitched the pillowcase shut. Completely shut! There was no way a pillow could get into that pillowcase! I was so young……..

     343

344. When I was eight, my mother gave me a collection of six vegetables done in Crewel. This collection was “progressive” meaning that the skills learned in vegetable #1 would be used in vegetable #2 and so on. The last piece was broccoli which required a bazillion French Knots. To this day (some 50 years later), I still have those pieces and can still do French Knots in my sleep.

     344

345. My grandma taught me to embroider when I was nine years old. She helped me pick out a cross stitch ABC sampler and floss from the local Ben Franklin store. I remember struggling over the beautiful floss colors, trying to decide. I still have the sampler.

     Sadly grandma passed away when I was twelve. I learned much in those three years as we spent weekends together embroidering whilst we listened to music and often took a break to dance around the living room. Grandma left me her embroidery supplies. I use the wooden box (made by her grandfather) to this day to keep my floss and other bits and bobs. Such good memories, thanks Mary!

     345

346. At about age 8, I stitched a dish towel with a rooster. My mom (who taught me the basics) laughed at my colors but I was quite proud.

     346

347. My first stitching was in elementary school at 8 years old a small sampler size A5 with rows of different stitches.
     I am 60 now and still remember it. Was a joy stitching it.

     347

348. Bonjour Mary,

     Je me souviens très bien de ma première broderie ! Ma mère m’avait offert pour Pâques une boîte de couture. Elle était blanche à l’extérieur doublée de rose à l’intérieur, avec tous les petits outils.
     Et, il y avait aussi un tout petit napperon déjà dessiné. Les fils étaient aussi dans la boîte. Je me suis empressée de broder ce petit ouvrage avec des points avant pour l’offrir à ma mère. Je devais avoir 8 ans à peu près. Depuis je n’ai jamais lâché l’aiguille !
     À bientôt.

     348

349. My Aunt Eleanor had me start hand embroidery when I was five years old. The first thing I stitched was a heart decorated with ribbons and flowers. I may have it somewhere in the house!

     349

350. I cross stitched a birth sampler for each niece and nephew born and made photo albums for their baby pictures! Used all kinds of specialty fibers! It was challenging but fun!

     350

351. Everything you do is a surprise! So why not this? We all love surprises,

     351

352. The first project I stitched was a little bear sawing. My grandmother helped me stitch this when I was quite young, probably 5 or 6 years old. I have been stitching ever since!

     352

353. My earliest and best memory of embroidery is my Mom teaching me how to do the stitches as a little girl. She was so patient with me and watched me as I stitched along.I don’t remember what the project was just that she was so pleased with my progress.

     353

354. The first stitching I can recall was a hoop-skirted, bonneted lady pillowcase when I was nine years old. She had a handful of flowers. Lazy daisy, backstitch, French knots and running stitch were all there and they still grace nearly every embroidery design I create, 65 years later. Bless both of my Grandmothers, my Aunt Ruth and my Mom for introducing me to this joy.

     354

355. Morning Mary, such tempting goodies you’re listing here.
     Oh my goodness that’s going back a few years. First stitching I did was to earn a badge for Girl Guides. Had to darn a sock, (who does that anymore) sew on a button and make a hand stitched buttonhole. This would be in front of the troop leader so she could be sure it was my work. Probably some other stuff too but I don’t remember. The next time was was years later, early 70’s, when I put some brown cross stitches in the white squares of some orange gingham for the bodice of a top for my young daughter. Came out kind of cute too. Used that same pattern for years getting larger sizes as needed for both my girls, lengthened the ‘skirt’ pattern piece to make dresses for them. And that’s what started my journey into cross stitch graphs.
     A peaceful happy Christmas to you – Brenda

     355

356. The first thing I ever stitched was a crewel embroidery kit I purchased from a catalog. It was a bouquet of beautiful, colorful flowers and was tied up in a pretty green ribbon. I figured out how to do all the stites on my own by looking at the pictures, but I couldn’t figure out how to do the French knot. I asked my Aunt Margaret, who was also an expert knitter, if she’s show me and she did. I felt so accomplished. I was in high school and worked on that flower bouquet during the summer. I still have it today.

     356

357. The first thing I ever stitched was a stamped doily I bought at age 10 from a Woolworth’s on the way home from school. I also bought a little pamphlet that showed how to embroider and some cotton floss. My mom kept that doily and proudly showed it to me when I was in my 20’s. I was horribly embarrassed because it was not up to my level at that time and asked her to throw it away. How I regret that now! I have granddaughters and would love to show them where I started, to teach that one improves only with practice. But I was very proud of it at the time and view that little piece fondly in my memory.

     357

358. The first thing I ever stitched was a cross stitch kit of a bouquet of flowers when I was 13. I begged my mom to buy me a kit to stitch as I really wanted to learn. It took another 10 years before I would stitch again as my education took up all my time. Remembering now, if it wasn’t for my dad convincing her to buy me a kit I would not be the stitcher I am today 🙂

     358

359. The first thing I remember making was clothes for my Troll dolls. We would sit in the shade during recess cutting and stitching. My first needlework project was cross stitching on Gingham making patterns on the squares. I think it is called Chicken Scratch, then it was just fun.

     359

360. I made myself a pink linen shift in home EC class when I was 12. Learned to use my mother’s Singer Sewing machine. Made all my own clothes for the next 10 years. At 20 I taught myself to needlepoint. First project was my own design: the women’s symbol with a clenched fist. All done in shades of burnt orange- clearly a child of the late sixties, early seventies.

     360

361. The first thing I remember embroidering is a small table cloth. I was eight years old and I still have it 65 years later. What lovely memories it holds.

     361

362. The first thing I remember embroidering was an iron transferred chick on a piece of fabric made into a doll blanket. I was about 9 years old and had begged my mother for several weeks to teach me how to embroider. She was a knitter, not one to do any other needlework, so it was a stretch for her. I still have that little doll blanket…55 years later.

     362

363. Describe the first thing you ever stitched! If that’s not quite possible, what’s your earliest stitching memory?

     My earliest memories of handwork is pushing the manual pedal on my grandmother’s sewing machine while she made Barbie doll clothes for me. I would stitch on the buttons or rickrack. I think I was about 4. At the same time my other grandmother taught me to crochet granny squares. I remember crocheting a huge square because I didn’t know how end of – I just kept going around and around. Finally about 5 or 6, I stitched with my mother on a Christmas cross stitch ornament.

     My love of handwork was instilled at an early age and I find myself turning to stitching as a way to pay tribute to these wonderful women.

     363

364. The first thing I remember stitching has a crewel owl and moon kit. I was in my teens. My mother didn’t stitch, she knitted and sewed. Neither of my grandmothers was proficient needleworkers. A friend purchased the kit for me. I was a crafter to the amazement of my family – doing beading, painting, braiding and anything else I found.

     364

365. I began stitching when I was pregnant with my first child – sometime during 1984. I started with x stitch and then moved into other embroidery. Love it.

     365

366. I don’t remember the first thing I stitched…over 50 years ago, but I do remember that it was with the Brownies in Girl Scouts

     366

367. Your blog is such an inspiration – thanks for sharing your talent!

     367

368. When my daughter was little, I made all her clothes on my grandmother’s treadle. Then I would embroider little flowers and such and add cute buttons. I didn’t know much about how to embroider, but she felt loved. 45 years later, I still embroider gifts for her and have treasured embroideries that she has done for me.

     368

369. The first thing I stitched was a needlepoint fly swatter, totally useless but something my mother wanted. I not only learned needlepoint from an accomplished embroiderer but my parents, both of whom had stitched early in their married life once again took up needlepoint. My father, a doctor, stitched 5 needlepoint rugs among many other projects. I am now an accomplished emboriderer (mainly needlepoint) with multiple projects waiting to be stitched. I just can’t resist buying things I find interesting.

     369

370. A few of my favorite things – monograms and Christmas trees.

     370

371. I remember being in 4-H and hemming by hand dish towels. From there I went on to doing cross stitching on flour sack towels which were printed. I was likely in 4th grade.

     371

372. Mary:
     I always enjoy your candor and honesty – busy, lazy, or unprepared (I doubt lazy and unprepared apply to you). I can relate as we are in the midst of moving from WA to CO. I am really busy and in some cases I may appear unprepared, generally not since I’m an organizer, , but I hope others don’t consider me lazy!
     Such a busy time and as I read your article today, I remembered the first item I ever stitched. It was a needlepoint canvas of a boy on a rocking horse – this was for our 1st child and even more special the kit was from my mother-in-law. She was my first stitching teacher!
     I look forward to continued Time with Mary as I read your on-line subscriptions!
     Best Regards & Stay Well,
     Camille

     372

373. I was 12 years old and had scraps of fabric from my mothers sewing box that I cut into squares and stitched a quilted doll blanket.

     I had never been taught to sew and it showed. But I was proud of it and my doll was warm.

     373

374. My first stitched piece was a small red necessaire with a line of white daisies underlined by a chain of back stitches. I still have it. My mother sew it with ziper closing. That made me so very proud and want to learn more and do more. I was 9 years old.

     Heloise
     Campinas, Brazil

     374

375. My earliest stitching memory is making Barbie clothes and doing some small embroidery projects for a Girl Scout badge!

     375

376. I don’t remember exactly the first thing I stitched but my mom used to drag me to the fabric store (Piece Goods). When I was around 7, they had some embroidery kits on sale so she got me one and I did it and then got more. My best friend’s mom decided to teach us how to do cross stitch one day when I was 10 but I don’t remember that piece either. I have a Christmas wreath with some of the ornaments on it that I made as a kid.

     376

377. I love your newsletter! So inspiring. The first things I embroidered were my beloved and worn railroad striped overalls. I was a geology major and one of very few women, so I wanted clothes that were both feminine and good for climbing about on road cuts. I embroidered the straps, pocket edges and pants leg bottoms with flowers and felt very seventies chic. The loop on the side held my geology pick, and the pockets held my Briton compass and praised samples.

     377

378. the first thing i ever stitched , was a rag doll with brown wool hair and a blue dress with flowers pattern.

     378

379. As a child I was surrounded by stitchers, including my father who gardened on summer weekends and stitched, counted cross stitch or crewel, in the winter. There was also a family friend, an award winning cross stitch artist who inspired me. So, I started early, but in the 1960s, cross stitch kits consisted of large Xs badly printed on cotton and I wanted to do better so I learned from the people around me. Mary, I admire the scope and variety of your work so much, especially the precision you demand of yourself. Thank You!

     379

380. This sounds like a terrific giveaway!

     380

381. My earliest stitching memory is watching my Mom embroider my Easter dress as a young child. It inspired me to get into stitching in college.

     381

382. The first thing I stitched was a stamped dresser scarf that I got at the dime store when I was about 7.

     382

383. My first stitchery memory is of a bright green needlepoint parrot….it took forever but I was so proud when I finished it.

     383

384. I was about 8 years old when I stitched my first embroidery items– tea towels for my Grandma. I taught myself by following the directions that came with the towels. I enjoyed it especially since my Grandma loved her gift.
     Later I began stitching crewel works followed by cross-stitch. I am now working with wool. I love all the stitches that can be used to embellish my wool applique most which I learned through your tutorials. Thank you for all the wonderful pictures and descriptions.

     384

385. The first thing I ever stitched was from a kit when I was in high school. It was a pillow with cute owls from the 1960s. I made it and gave it to my grandmother. 50 years later, I still have the bag that it came in, the illustration, the leftover yarn and the instructions!

     385

386. My first embroidered piece was a cross stitch pattern from Stoney Creek entitled “Wings”. The saying is ” there are two special gifts we should give our children – one is roots the other is wings.” I stitched it when my two children were very small. It has always hung outside their bedroom doors in the hallway. Though they are all grown up now and on their own , I still have it hanging in the hall and cherish the memories of their young days.

     386

387. My earliest stitching memory is looking at what my mother was working on at about 3 years old and seeing her beautiful stitches and thinking someday I want to be able to do that. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. It was a blanket for my soon to be born baby sister. My mother never finished it because she ended up having 4 more babies in 12 years. She taught me to sew on the machine when I was 7 and I made my own patterns for my doll dresses. Boy did I learn about seam allowances fast! I was a fashion designer in Los Angeles and designed Lingerie, with lots of embroidery and lace) and kitchen aprons and accessories which appeared on the Bullocks and Bloomingdales holiday catalogues. Mary I love you work and I am now designing embroidery patterns for the Jewish home.

     387

388. The first thing I remember stitching was a stamped cross stitch Dachshund on a potholder. I think that the little dues pouch for my junior auxiliary uniform would have been first (yellow felt with green blanket stitch) but I remember the potholder first.

     388

389. I very much enjoy your writing and illustrations and have shared many of your daily columns with stitching friends. Everyone appreciates your love for beautiful stitchery, and we look forward to seeing more. Thank you!

     389

390. My first stitching began when my mom showed me how to embroidery when I was 10. It was a miniature snowflake. Been hooked ever since!

     390

391. Always up for a surprise!

     391

392. A needlepoint tapestry of a field of rabbits!

     392

393. Odd, I don’t remember much about early embroidery, but I remember the SEWING CARDS and I loved them.

     393

394. My grandmother taught me to embroider when I was about 7 (she also taught me to knit and crochet), so my first project was a little bird on a handkerchief for her for her birthday. I did get it back after she died, so I still have it!

     394

395. A few of my earliest projects were embroidered pictures of Hummel figures. My mother’s collection of these figurines is large and began when she was growing up in Germany. What was unusual about the pictures were the faces, which began as a layer of flesh-colored felt to which you added the embroidered details.

     395

396. My first real stitching memory goes back to the early 70s, when I was in high school. Between classes, or sometimes when skipping class, I would find a quiet stairwell in the school and work on stitching butterflies on my jeans. I remember being particularly pleased with a bright purple and turquoise combination… still two of my favourite colours!

     396

397. The first thing I can remember stitching was signatures on a white shirt. In grade school we put our names on each others shirts and then sewed them at home. Wish I still, had it ! They were just covered with messy writing and “embroidery” such as it was !

     397

398. I have looked at A Sea to Stitch and thought that the monograms would be fun to stitch. I am just exploring stitching on linen because a lit of my embroidery I do as enhancement for my quilts. And I would love to own one of your ornaments. Steph

     398

399. The first thing I ever stitched was a little brown owl sitting on a small tree branch. It is about 2″ tall. A friend paid for an “intro to cross stitch” class at a local cross stitch store for me, and that is what I made during class. It was the start of many enjoyable years of stitching.

     399

400. I stitched an old fashioned telephone on a striped tea towel. I still have it all these years later. My mother embroidered as well and taught me as a young girl. Thank you for challenging us to bring these memories back to life. We need to remember all the good times.

     400

401. I was 5 when I first learned to embroider at my Grandma’s side. I don’t remember exactly what I worked on but I remember my Grandma being so patient with me and I remember going to Ben Franklin with her to get embroidery floss. I also learned french knots from her at age 5. She must have been a skilled teacher. She was definitely a skilled stitcher. I felt very grown up getting to do this with her. I miss her so much!

     401

402. My first stitched project was a stamped cross stitch when I was 8 or 9. My grandmother taught me how to do the stitches and I still have them ( I did 2) framed and hanging in my sew room.

     402

403. The first thing I ever stitched was a cross stitched project. I don’t remember what the actual piece was. I was in my mid twenties when a friend showed me how to cross stitch, and that was the beginning of my love for needle and thread! I have moved on to many different forms of needlework now, but I am very thankful to that friend who opened the door to many years of happiness for me! PS…… I would love to win the book!

     403

404. When I was 12 I did my first embroidery of a sampler (that was about 70 years ago). I have been embroidering ever since plus quilting. If I had days to search I could find it.

     404

405. My mother introduced me to embroidery when I was seven, and I was hooked. After I demonstrated my ability with a few basic stitches she gave me a simple sampler for Christmas which I enjoyed completing and which has hung for years in my sewing room.

     405

406. That is a long stretch back! However my first piece of embroidery was edging on a pillow case. My mom and grandmother always had some stitching on their lap and so I also had to try that. I was about 6 or 7.

     406

407. The first items I ever stitched were a bright blue and white gingham apron and tray cloth. I was seven years old. Once made up I then decorated them with simple cross stitches in a pattern on the squares. I realised even then how much I enjoyed sewing, and the fun of making things. I found them in the attic the other day and was quite impressed at the standard of work by my seven year old self!

     407

408. The first thing that I stitched was a cross stitch kit of a vase of flowers!

     408

409. The first thing I ever stitched was a little yellow cross stitch duck at camp. A counselor was teaching a Sunday elective type class and I was completely hooked at 9 years old! Other than that class I was a completely self taught embroiderer until I found your blog ten years ago!

     409

410. Last chance to win; could it be me; please let it be me. I need a piece of lovely linen to work a glorious pattern. Please let it be me……

     410

411. What a fun question! The first stitching I remember doing was under the guidance of my grandmother, seamstress extraordinaire. She helped me cross-stitch “Howdy Dad” onto a blue gingham pillowcase!
     LOVE reading your newsletter, and I love doing these Advent giveaways!

     411

412. I just love all the projects you have to offer. I would love to be the lucky recipient of today’s give away. I did make one of your snowflakes. Great directions and enjoyed the whole project.
     A great inspiration for staying inside and stitching.
     Thanks,
     Frances O’Donnell

     412

413. The first project I ever stitched was a Holly Hobby cross-stitch picture in 1980. I was hooked! My mother had always sewed and embroidered and taught me the basics. I’ve dabbled with many forms of needle work ever since.

     413

414. My mother was raised by her Amish grandmother so I learned handiwork quite young. My first memory of a satisfyingly completed project is of a set of days of the week tea towels.

     414

415. Long ago and oh so far away….when I was a brownie (yes, that was very long ago) we did a project as a group. each of us with our piece of fabric stitching away. I think it may have been a mother’s day gift, but I remember trying to be so precise in my stitching. Even then I was a perfectionist without the skills to be prefect.

     415

416. I have been hand sewing all my life but have only decided to try hand embroidery a few years ago. I took an online class in embroidery and was so disappointed in the class that I almost gave up. I found your website and have been learning hand embroidery and enjoying every since.

     416

417. I don’t remember the first thing I stitched as I have been doing it since I was very young. I can remember some wonderful craft cards I received one Christmas before I was ten and there were some sewing projects (probably construction not embroidery) in those.

     417

418. The first thing I stitched is still on my wall, a colorfully stamped picture of Shirley Temple as Heidi. I outline-stitched around her yellow hair, her blue dress, the red flowers. I still catch my breath remembering my sweet Grandmother having me make 7 yellow X’s (I probably was 7?) along with my very crooked name. This silly little picture represents treasured years of memories–of stitching, cooking, and laughing with her.

     418

419. My first stitching memory is when I was around eight years old (64 years ago). I was a member of a Blue Birds group of young girls. We gathered in a circle each with needle, embroidery thread, hoop, and a simple Christmas design ironed onto a tea towel to make a loving gift for our mothers. The instructor was kind, knowledgeable AND very patient. It was the first, but certainly not the last, time I experienced the friendship, camaraderie, and joy that stitching in any group brings to its individuals.
     PS My mother treasured her crudely stitched tea towel for years to come…

     419

420. My Mom helped me embroider the pocket of a shirt I’d made, the summer before 7th grade. 50 years later it is framed in my studio. My own design, lol.

     420

421. The first thing I ever stitched was a surface embroidery piece of Holly Hobby (if anyone remembers who she was) . It hangs in my sewing room to remind me of where my stitching journey began.

     421

422. First thing I stitched was Wendi’s free cat after taking her free Embroidery 101 class online at Shiny Happy World.

     422

423. The very first thing I stitched was a pair of pillowcases. I was in the third grade and I still have them in my cedar chest. When asked what we did during summer vacation I brought the pillowcases to share and can still hear a few wows from some of my classmates. My stitching has come a long way since then but my love for embroidery has never gone away.

     423

424. The first thing I ever stitched was a small cross stich sampler when I was 5 years old. I still have it and bring it out from time to time just to remember. Thanks so much for the giveaway!

     424

425. If you count crochet, the first thing I ever stitched was a pair of booties, the pattern taught to me by my adopted grandmother when I was about 8. I have made them since many times. My first other stitching project was a needlepoint canvas of a golden retriever. It was way above my beginning skill level and still not completed (from 40 years ago). I mixed fibers I shouldn’t have and should have incorporated needle painting. I might get back to it some day!

     425

426. The first embroidery I remember doing would be a flour sack towel. It was a small set of herbs done in the corner of the towel. It was just enough to get me hooked on needlework.

     426

427. The first thing I stitched was a map of the USA. Each states flower was embroidered with in the state. It was stitched in DMC
     and I was about 25 and I certainly didn’t know what I was getting into. My sister loved it so she got it and it is still hanging on her wall.

     427

428. Do any of you remember the premarked pillow cases you could buy at JC Pennys in the early 1960″s? That was my first try at embroidery. I wanted to learn one summer and asked my Mom to teach me, but she was too busy (5 kids and a tailoring business does that to you). So, I got a book out of the library and taught myself. I was so proud to finish the project just like the girls I read about in books like Little Women and the Little house on the prairie series.

     428

429. I’m going way back to a favorite childhood activity- lace up cards/sewing cards. I loved these so much that I would make my own using pictures from magazines glued onto light cardboard, punching holes around and then stitching different colors of yarn throughout.
     Patty

     429

430. My memory goes back till I was 10/11 years old and I stitched a sleeping bag for my baby brother in my school sewing class and it had an simple embroidered train with carriages going round the bottom.

     430

431. My aunts were designers and very busy seamstresses. They made and altered clothes for for famous people in New York City. I loved everything about sewing and at age 6 they taught me to blind stitch so that I could join in. My job was to do hems and I felt very important. My favorite person to hem for was Prima Ballerina Margo Fonteyn. She would always bring extra fabric so that I could also have an outfit and free tickets so that I could watch her perform. She was a kind lovely person.

     431

     1. My favourite ballet dancer was Margot Fonteyn you are so fortunate to have met her !

432. My very first stitched piece was a little girl mouse all dressed up with head bow and everything, to celebrate the arrival of my best friend’s first baby girl. I still have the photo is you want it.
     If I win your ornament prize, I am willing to pay for part of the shipping to Canada (hint, hint as you say), Mary. I don’t use linen at all and the book has very advanced projects that I will be unable to tackle.
     Thank you for these amazing prizes, Mary!
     Arke

     432

433. Thank you for the opportunity to enter your giveaway. I enjoy receiving your blog newsletter in my email and the patterns i Have purchased from you. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.

     433

434. The first thing I ever stitched was on the hem of a pillow case. My mother had transferred the simple design of flowers on the hem and then showed me how to embroider. I loved it. I have enjoyed embroidery but sadly I have severe arthritis in both of my thumbs and my sewing time is limited. But I still do it as much as possible. Thank you for all you do for our sewing community.

     434

435. My first piece of embroidery was a Jacobean crewel floral design , stitched to honor the birth of my daughter. It’s been hanging on my wall for 38 years!

     435

436. The first thing I ever stitched was a Holly Hobby sampler. It is a door pull with a long, narrow shape. Holly’s dress has many squares, a patchwork of different stitches, and then each stitch is represented below in a labeled line. I still have it hanging on my wall. I was 8.

     Pick me!

     436

437. Dear Mary

     My first stitching project was when I just turned 60 in 2010 and had just recently retired I decided I needed a hobby, I saw some Cross Stitch Christmas Cards advertised and thought I would try these as a starter to maybe a new hobby. Well I received the kit and started stitching these tiny Christmas Cards for various family members and I couldn’t stop stitching it was so therapeutic and I continually looked forward to the result of my sewing and was amazed at what I achieved. I couldn’t wait to see my finished projects. I gave them away and most of the people I gave them to liked them. But this started me on a trail of other embroidery projects and because I was newly retired it started me on a trail of looking on ‘you tube’ and learning all kinds of tips and techniques of the stitching world. Gradually I found you Mary and that was the start of my 1o years of stitching and learning form Mary’s Needle and Thread website and especially learning from your how-to-videos, So that was my beginning into the world of needlework and I have never regretted it.

     Regards Anita Simmance

     437

438. My first stitching was an ambitious wool jumper tackled on a sewing machine in home economics class. But my first embroidery (that’s what you meant!) was a cross-stitched alphabet sampler ordered from a women’s magazine.

     438

439. My very first stitched item was in about Grade 2 or 3 . Very roughly stitched outline of a simple house with smoke coming out of the chimney and flower that the teacher (or some kind parent) sewed into a bag. Still have it! Took me many years to start stitching /do embroidery. For many many years i did tapestry – so may school kneelers for friends and then friends’ children. So delighted to have discovered embroidery – love the gentle precision and peace that comes with working a piece of cloth.

     439

440. The 1st thing I ever stitched was a dress when I was 5 years old. I am now 65. 🙂 My Hungarian grandmother taught me how to cut out a pattern from newspaper and sometimes butcher paper for myself. I couldn’t reach the treadle so Grandpa built a little stool that was on top of the treadle so I could use the treadle.
     The next thing was to learn to crochet when I was 6. I ended up designing clothing in crochet and designing fabric clothing. I loved sewing and working with African fabrics and couldn’t keep them they sold so quickly.

     440

441. The first thing I ever stitched was a recipie for strawberry short cake in 1983. On4e should never be without a shortcake recipie.

     441

442. I’m sure my first embroidery was cross stitch on a dish towel as that is what my mom taught everyone, including the grand daughters and grandsons.

     442

443. I was maybe 8 yrs old when my mother, not a stitcher, gave me a flour sack dish towel to stitch. She had no patience for stitching, preferring to use those Tri-Chem tubes of fabric paint instead. The design stamped on the towel was of a cat with weird eyes that as I recall looked like wagon wheels. I never did finish it, a harbinger of future projects! I found it years later in my mother’s “rag bag.” I wish I had it now.

     In my adult stitching life, my first project was from a “Learn to Needlepoint” class I took through Minneapolis Public Schools Adult Ed in 1976 or so. It was a wool stitch sampler with maybe 20 sections, done in blue and green, true ‘70’s colors!

     443

     1. OMG, I figured I was the only person in the world who remembered Tri-Chem!. My mom didn’t embroider either, but made decorative Pellon covers for all the light switches and embellished simple felt stockings with that paint.

444. It was a hand sewn wool pin cushion that fit on my wrist. I was so proud of my accomplishment. The wool was left over from a shirt my mom had made for my dad. I was nine years old. I had it for many years. . .until our latest dog chewed it up. . . .

     444

445. I was in primary school and I made a felt needle case for my Mum with wool sections for the needles and a pocket on the back cover, then it was hand embroidered with felt flowers. My Mum died in June 2019 at age 99, she still used the needle case, my niece asked if she could have it, I’m sure she’ll take care of it, it’s in quite a delicate state, worn by years of love.

     445

446. My first experience with a needle in my hand was learning Swedish embroidery called hucking. Our brownie troop leader taught us eight year-olds how to embroider a tea towel as a present for our mothers on Mother’s Day. The fabric was dark blue, the thread was white, and the design was simple, stepped and classic. My mother was thrilled. How do I have such great recall? My mother died last year at age 90 and there in her cedar chest, wrapped in tissue, was my first effort at creating a thing of beauty for her.

     446

447. My first stitchery was a crewel kit which contained cattails, an owl and greenery. I framed it.

     447

448. The first project I remember stitching was a little crewel armadillo (from a kit). This was when I was in college in the early ‘70s. The earliest project I still have is a goose alphabet in cross stitch from the early ‘80s. My style has changed a bit since then!

     448

449. My first stitching memory is of my grandmother teaching me stitches for cross-stitching and how to sew a button. I didn’t use that skill for decades. But since having kids, I’ve picked up embroidery and have occasionally been mending clothes.

     449

450. When I was around 9 yrs. old, my Momma got me a little needlpoint kit to work on my own. It was a strawberry with a light blue background. She told me to thoroughly follow the instructions and to come to her with any questions, but she really wanted me to work it by myself. She was an experienced stitcher and I grew up watching her. Some of my best memories.
     She was proud of me when I finished 🙂

     450

451. When I was 8 years old I received an embroidery kit as a Christmas gift. I think the pattern was a kitten. Try as I may, my untutored work was a mess. I thought I would never learn to embroider, but I did…when I was 70. I love it and have made many gifts for friends. Mary Corbet is an inspiration and my current tutor!

     451

452. Primary school, aged 7 (?) is my first conscious memory of stitching. The class all received an oblong of a soft canvas all squared with regular holes (I’m sure there’s a name for this fabric but what it was called circa 1966 in provincial Scotland I have no idea!). We were allowed to embroider on this fabric using cotton thick threads and I loved doing it! We could use our own stitch patterns and colours. I have no idea how we learned to do the stitches – presumably the teacher showed us but I have no memory of that.

     452

     1. Binca! I bet it was Binca. Such a lovely word to say when you were 6 or 7.

453. I remember doing a cross stitch Christmas ornament with my maternal grandmother.

     453

454. The first thing I stitched was on denim jeans. I remember flowers with lots of color. Sure wish you still had those jeans

     454

455. I’m a very new stitcher. My first project was to embroider a shark onto a baseball cap for my nephew…a shark that he had drawn himself.

     455

456. The first thing I ever stitched was a pincushion (in 7th grade) on which we practiced our sewing machine skills for the finishing. The fabric had some tiny colored lines which helped keep the embroidery in straight lines. It featured an elastic band to keep it on the wrist. I’m still using it today nearly 60 years later!

     456

457. The first thing I ever stitched was a dresser scarf that my mother gave me. She showed me how to stitch the flowers and I loved it.

     457

458. My first memory of stitching was of my grandmother teaching me embroidery stitches, and giving me a prestamped flower embroidery design. I was around 5 years old.

     458

459. Thing first thing I hand-stitched was in fifth Grade. It was a stuffed red heart with white lace stitched to the edges. I stitched, in a running stitch, the letters “I love you” on it. I gave it to the boy I had a crush on, and he gave it back to me. 😉 I still have it.

     459

460. Hi!
     Other than sewing cards, the first thing I ever stitched was a preprinted cross stitch
     linen kit.
     It was a prayer of peace and I bought it with a hoop from the local dime store.
     I spent my allowance and the joy was born!

     460

461. Earliest stitching memory – my Nana from Brooklyn came to visit in Chicago, and taught me to darn, sew and my favorite- embroider. I wish I could remember what it was that we did!

     461

462. My earliest stitching memory is asking my mother to teach me cross stitch. It’s been my favorite stitching method ever since although I did eventually graduate to counted cross stitch. I find unparalleled delight in watching the design emerge on the blank canvas.

     462

463. The monograms look beautiful!

     463

464. What a great question! The first thing I ever stitched was in the early 1970’s and was a bright orange hippo. It was a crewel kit from my aunt who was visiting from California. I remember being so upset because I accidently sewed my pajamas to the back of my work and having to undo some of it! It was the start of a life-long hobby that has brought me such joy!

     464

465. The very first thing I stitched was a cross stitch border on a blue and white checkered tea towel. I was about 8 years old, and it was during a Brownie meeting at the Brownie leader’s house. I loved that session and was so proud of my work. Somehow, through countless moves with my parents from Ohio to Michigan, and then as an adult through many moves at two universities, and then, a move to Ontario, Canada, I still have that tea towel. It lives in the sideboard in my dining room, and has done so through 44 years of marriage after the many miles it has traveled.

     465

466. I remember cross-stitching a butterfly on a punched card, age six.

     466

467. My first embroidery project was a handkerchief for my dad with HUGE red and blue initials down the middle. I was maybe 6. I was so proud of that, and Dad kept it forever.

     467

468. Hello Mary; gosh, I find it hard to believe it could be 68 in Kansas this time of year! Maybe somewhere in the southwest, yes, but that seems quite warm for Kansas; but what do I know.
     I’ve been stitching so long that I can’t recall the first thing I stitched, but I do recall learning how to embroider when I was a teen, outlining some design. I learned how using those classic “Learn how” books, and even still have one today!

     468

469. My first stitching memory– in the “old days” a child could walk anywhere without adult supervision. My mom would send me to the “dime store” with money to buy a stamped dish towel (probably around 50 cents and no sales tax). I still have the tiny baby bib with the image of a poodle all done in french knots sometime before I was 10 years old.

     469

470. My very first memory is of looking at a dresser scarf (remember those?) that my mother had that maybe, or maybe not, she embroidered. It was of some simple stitches; the one I remember in particular was, I know now, Lazy Daisy. I tried to teach myself how to do it and, because I was very, very young, after the first attempt or two and failing, I gave it up. About 18 years later, my husband gave me a needlepoint kit of a Great Gray Owl in a tree in a forest with snow falling: that one I did finish and it started me on a long, slow journey into stitching.

     470

471. I remember sewing a tube skirt for my Barbie doll, and then many years later, in high school, sewing a skirt…. as for stitching, can’t remember any time using cross stitch or others!! I don’t think my mom liked stitching very much, but she did knit a lot….

     471

472. My grandmother taught me the basics of embroidery when I was just 6-7 years old. I remember a piece of fabric, probably a pillowcase (those were big in the late 50s!), and a metal oval hoop. I remember learning stem stitch, back stitch, and my favorite at the time, lazy daisy stitch! I’ve been embroidering ever since!

     472

473. What a wonderful offer of amazing goodies, So hoping I’m in with a chance. I have never owned a needleminder, being a sticker of needles in use in the outside of my needle case or into work in progress. I try not to, but fail, odd times into the of the chair! Fingers crossed…..
     Thank you for your generously Mary, All good wishes to you and yours for 2021

     473

474. Hi Mary,

     The first thing I ever stitched was a hand-drawn map of Cyprus in dark green stem stitch. I was 5 or 6 years old and nagged my Mom to let me ‘help’ her and stitch on the tablecloth she was busy with… She drew the map, and got me started on a scrap piece of calico to keep me occupied and quiet . Well, it was very wonky as you can imagine – but that was the beginning for me!

     Thank you Mary, I cannot wait to read each of your posts.

     Kind regards
     Athina

     474

475. The first thing I ever (remember stitching) was a cross stitch piece of apples on a shelf. I stitched it because of mom. She was the crafty person in the house (made clothes without patterns, knitted, crocheted, those kinds of things). Me, I was more like my dad–logical, literal, not creative at all. I came home one day and this piece of fabric went flying by followed by a few choice cuss words (very out of character for my mother). So I picked it up and thought, “If mom doesn’t like doing this maybe I might.” The rest is history. Cross stitch was just what this left-hemisphered girl needed–turns out it was also a gateway stitch to an amazing hobby.

     475

476. The first thing I remember stitching was a stamped cross-stitch piece that had a friends theme. I made this in high school (around 1970) for my best friend. I edged the piece with some crocheted lace made by my grandmother.

     476

477. One of my earliest stitching memories is working with my mom on a quilt for my 3rd grade teacher.

     477

478. Looking back from the vantage point of 62 years, I am SURE I stitched at least a little prior to my first memory, otherwise (LONG before the internet’s inspriation) why would I have thought to do this first project I remember? I embroidered little sprigs of flowers all over the front bodice of my wedding gown in 1978, matching the (polyester doubleknit, but really pretty 🙂 pattern knit into the cloth, all white. Yellow flowers and green leaves, to match my wedding bouquet, which was all yellow roses, and our wedding cake, which, guess what?, was decorated with both icing and fresh yellow roses! Did I mention yellow is my favorite color? Still!

     478

479. I have a vague memory of holding an embroidery needle and stitching over blue coloured lines with embroidery threads. My stitching was pulled too loose and too tight and I’m sure my perfectionist mother threw the piece away. Her talents overwhelmed my beginner techniques and it would be years before I found my zen in embroidering on my clothes and later embroidering huge tablecloths for my own dining room. I discovered for myself the fantastic power of the simple needle that ties us together across time, places and a myriad of cultures.

     479

480. The first thing I ever made was a needlepoint bookmark in flamestitch.

     480

481. The first thing I ever stitched was a simple skirt. My first embroidery was several years later , a flower bouquet on the pockets of a vest. Great memories!

     481

482. What a fun giveaway. I often enjoy your whimsy.

     My mom tried to teach me some basic stitching skills for years, but I refused to learn. I was a stubborn teenager, and it was decidedly not cool. So it was quite a shock to her when I wen to college, discovered historical recreation groups, and came home trying to sew and embroider.

     My first project was a Celtic knotwork design worked around the hemline of a skirt. I didn’t know anything about transferring designs or stitches, and I didn’t ask anyone for guidance. I just forged ahead blindly and with more enthusiasm than sense. I traced the design directly on the fabric with lead pencil and then I figured that if I laid thread across the ribbons it would cover the space, and so the most ragged satin stitch ever was created. I carried this skirt everywhere for NINE months.

     I’m still proud of it. Sadly, I don’t have any pictures. It wasn’t quality work, but it was an accomplishment, and now it’s a reminder of how much I’ve learned in the years since.

     482

483. Earliest stitching memory? Wow, so long ago. Just remember that I had just moved out from my parent’s house and was living in a studio apartment next to where I worked. Went into town to look around and saw a stitchery shop. Went in and started talking to the owner. I know I walked out with some stuff for a project, but it has now escaped me. I became a frequent customer to that shop, but only have one project left (that I know of) and that is a piece stitched on perforated paper with quilt blocks all around that says “One good turn gets most of the quilt”. Loved that saying.

     483

484. The first thing I ever stitched was a duck on a baby bib. I was 12 and my summer school home economics teacher told me to complete a project of my choice to make up for a one week absence. We were going on vacation to visit my grandparents. My mom took me to the Five-n-Dime and we picked out the pre-printed bib and all the embroidery supplies. My mom taught me embroidery on that family vacation.

     484

485. When I was six, my grandmother taught me a few stitches. The first project I worked on was an outline of a rose my mom drew on a scrap of an old sheet. I still have it tucked away.

     485

486. The first thing I remember stitching was when I was still pretty young (10?). It was a pre-stamped cross stitch kit ordered from Women’s Day magazine of the silhouette of a mom in a rocking chair with the saying “Mother, she dreams, she loves, she understands”. Even though it was pretty crudely done, and the blue pattern lines showed, it hung in our upstairs hallway for years!

     486

487. My very first surface embroidery project was a table cloth celebrating birthdays… designed by Sandy Jenkins. It was a wonderful beginners project and I use it for birthday celebrations still.

     487

488. My first piece was a Jacobean style wool preprinted embroidery kit that could be made into a cushion cover.

     488

489. I do remember–at age four, dragging my doll by the arm, I wandered over to a neighbor’s house. She welcomed me, got out some fabric, and cut out a dress for my doll. It was yellow dotted swiss. Then she threaded a needle and instructed me in sewing the dress. My mother was a master seamstress and embroiderer, but her tools and sewing stuff was absolutely forbidden to me, for she was afraid I would be injured by the needles, pins, and sharp scissors. When I showed up with my finished project she was amazed. I found the dress among her possessions after she died.

     489

490. My earliest stitching memory is of a Christmas apron (childsize). It was red and white checked and I cross stitched at the bottom of it. That was almost 50 years ago (guessing). I still have it, maybe one day I can wrap it around my granddaughter and we can make cookies.

     490

491. It was a little crewel kit of mushrooms on black velvet. Colors were very 70’s since it was 1976. Rusts, oranges, ochre. Still have it! I was hooked from then on.

     491

492. My very first embroidery lesson was from my dear Mother & we worked on a set of pillowcases. I was probably around 13 years of age.

     492

493. My mother taught my to stitch, a white cotton hankie with a forger me knot in the corner, when she passed, I found it in her handbag. Needlework brings such joy and I have used yours and other folks guidance to help me return to it after some 20 years of professional outdoor sports coaching…..I’m greatly enjoying returning to my roots. Thank you for all the help you give to all Mary and the generosity of your giveaways {[:-)

     493

494. My recollection of one of the first things I stitched was a foot stool cover in Crewel work. I loved it and had it for years until the colors started to fade and as I recall something stained it. I am sad because when I removed it I did not save it just as a memory of one of the first things I stitched.

     494

495. These are all wonderful things! Thank you! Merry Christmas!

     495

     1. I forgot to include my first recollection of stitching which was a dresser scarf stitched with stamped crossstitch. Great Great Aunt Mildred had my sister and I sew them when we spent a week with her in the summer, mid 1970s.

496. My favorite item that I have stitched is a Needlepointed Gingerbread House that has been set up yearly for about nineteen years. It is sewn on plastic canvas, and decorated with yarn fabficated lifesavers hanging from the eves, chocolate drops hidden around the house, and real candy canes and lolipops planted in the snow-covered lawn. Each Christmas season it has been enjoyed and visited by my five grandchildren who daily will look for little surprises left by one of Santa’s elves if he as seen that their behavior has been good. I have many photos of the children peeking through the front door of the Gingerbread House to see what has been left for them. It has been a delight for me to see their excitement and pleasure with this decoration that I made so long ago.

     496

497. Do I ever remember. Early 1970’s embroidery of a flower garden in gold, green and orange yarns on… wait for it… burlap. Sigh.
     Thanks for the opportunity to revisit that.

     497

498. I think the first thing I stitched was a printed cross stitch, done in the early 60’s

     498

499. Love all the surprises in your article today. You make December fun!

     499

500. My first embroidery, when I was 4, was a little bunny in a patch of clover. I had seen him that morning under the clothesline. It was done on the “blank” end of a linen dish towel (which itself had once been part of a skirt of my grandmother’s) which had on the “good” end a beautiful wreath embroidered by my grandmother. I got what was then called “a good paddlin’ ” by my mother; my grandmother took the beautiful towel away. I never dared ask about it. After my grandmother died, at 103, I was floored to find the towel, laundered, iron, carefully folded with my bunny on top, wrapped in tissue paper, in the bureau drawer where she kept what she called her “good linens”. My cute little bunny looked just like I remembered him! I intensely enjoyed both ends of that towel for 20 years before a house fire ended the whole saga, along with plenty of others.

     500

501. I don’t remember what it looked like, but I remember trying to embroider as a child and getting frustrated and quitting because the floss would get tangled and knotted.

     501

502. My first stitching project was a pillowcase or dresser scarf. My mom gave one to me and one to my sister. The story goes that she put one or two stitches in and the tossed it under the bed. Mine was finished but who knows where it is now!

     502

503. First thing, eh. Whenever I visited my Hungarian grandma, we’d go to Woolworths and I would pick out a printed “thing” (pillow case or dresser scarf) and some floss (Coates & Clark Brand). I had my metal hoop (with the cork lining), and some scissors. I can’t remember the FIRST actual project, but I still have a small “sampler” that was stamped cross-stitch. It is a deer leaping in the woods or something. Red and Blue. If you have ever seen a stamped cross-stitch piece, in solid-stitched parts, those Xs get all very confusing! And you can see how confused I got in the middle of the deer.

     503

504. I first stitching project was Swedish weave aroind age 10 or 12 . My mom taught me and I made tea towels for my Grandma. I still remember the thread color was coral on white fabric. I think I did a good job. It was fun and challenging and I was hooked.

     504

505. I did an embroidered pocket on an apron. I still have it; it’s practically an antique.

     505

506. My first embroidery project was a decorative border on a gingham apron I made for my mother. I must have been about 10 years old; it was a project to earn a girl scout badge. I still remember the lacy white chicken scratch border on the crisp blue-and-white fabric. It was lovely, and got a lot of use. I’m still stitching today

     506

507. The first thing I stitched was a stamped embroidery when I was a small girl. I remember the tangled mess when I tried to do a French Knot.

     507

508. The first thing I can remember stitching was a pair of Mallard ducks, which was a cross-stitch pattern from McCalls (I think). That was 40 years ago. I was a newlywed and stitched it on the back of one of my husband’s blue work shirts for him to wear to Ducks Unlimited meetings. He completely wore out that shirt, then cut out the stitched piece and sewed it onto a new shirt.
     Last summer I redid the pattern on a piece of blue Aida cloth, framed it and gave it to him as a gift.

     508

509. After practicing the stitches I need to make, I made a cross-stitch of the serenity prayer and then used satin stitch and chain stitch around it. My dad helped me make the frame and my mom helped me stretch the linen and finish the backing. I was 10 years old and the gift was for my grandmother. It now proudly hangs in my house. It is 60 years old!

     509

510. Well the first thing I stitched was the Lavender and Lace pattern of the little girl and the alphabet for my first born grand daughter’s 3rd birthday. She is 30 now and still has it. Thanks Ann

     510

511. I can’t be sure it’s the first thing I did – my memory is not great and I started stitching VERY young – but the oldest thing I remember is a kit that was a hexagonal plastic box with a perforated lid and the yarn and (plastic) needle to stitch a unicorn onto the lid in tent stitch. I don’t remember stitching it, but I do remember owning and knowing I had done it.

     511

512. The first thing I ever stitched was a large pillow bolster. I was in college and the whole project was free-form with mushrooms and a positive phrase that I’m forgetting right now. It was done in wool on a corduroy backing! Who knew, I certainly didn’t. The thing still lives – but now it’s in my daughter’s breezeway gracing a wicker settee.

     512

513. The first thing I ever stitched was hand-sewing doll clothes but my first embroidery was huckweaving on a hand-towel.

     513

514. So many years ago! It was a set of seven stamped dish towels, I think the ones with little kittens doing household chores.

     514

515. My grandmother used to send my mom embroidered flour sack dish towels, so when I first married, I decided to make my own. I bought the flour sack towels and some of those iron-on decals and my first towel had two little ducks swimming in some water with a few flowers around the perimeter of the water. I still have that towel although the others eventually wore out and I tossed them. I favored my ducks so didn’t use it as often. That little duck on its 35+year old towel sits in my dish towel drawer. There is something about the little guys that tug at my heart so I’ve never been able to get rid of that towel, even though I now make towels out of Moda toweling fabric. I should find a way to cut away a piece of the cloth and crazy/quilt stitch it to a backing and frame it. And the stitching (mostly stem stitch) was NOT bad for a beginner! PS: I just remembered that I used to feed the ducks at Alondra Park when I was a little girl. I loved doing that so maybe that memory is embedded in that towel.

     515

516. Hello Mary,
     I cannot remember what my earliest stitching was..my grandmother taught me when I was young. I started stitching in earnest in my early 20’s, and my first project was a field of dandelions stitched in mostly wool fibers on a green fabric. It was a kit I ordered from Mother’s Day magazine. I gave the framed picture to my mother, and now that she is gone I have it back! That was more than 50 years ago…
     Happy Holidays, and thanks for all the Christmas giveaways, such fun to look forward to, especially this year☺️
     Helen in Tucson

     516

517. The first thing I remember stitching is probably also the first thing I ever stitched. It was the image of a cat done in backstitch and looked more like a snowman than a cat. I was probably about 9 or 10 at the time, and found a small piece of grey felt somewhere and some brown floss. Maybe my mother gave them to me. She sewed, but she had some embroidery supplies and taught me some basic stitches. I don’t think I drew a design on the felt, just stitched what I would have drawn on paper.

     Thank you for doing this! Have a Merry Christmas and stay safe!

     517

518. I had to laugh when I read your comments theme today. An aunt had taught me one needlepoint stitch: continental. My husband was going on an extended business trip and I decided that to keep me occupied, I would stitch a chair. Yep. I bought a rocking chair, stripped and stained it, had the springs bronzed and set about making a cover for the seat and the back. With my own design. Yep. We call the design “primitive.” But it has rocked two babies to sleep and is still used occasionally to still some of the anxiety and stress of they days.
     This giveaway sounds wonderful, Mary! Thank you very much.

     518

519. Mmmmm…. ,
     Had to go way, way back in the memory bank for this one, but I think the earliest needlework I can remember stitching is a table centrepiece done on red and white checked gingham. The squares of the fabric gave little fingers a good guide where to place the needle and thread, I think I was about 8!
     Much has happened since then, even though I didn’t really dive into my stitching journey till many years later, to my regret (all those wasted years….. sigh).

     519

520. The first project I remember is embroidering the yolk of a denim shirt with flowers etc. They were All The Rage when I was a youth (back in the Dark Ages of the seventies.)

     520

521. The first thing I stitched was a bookmark after signing up for a kids and Mom learn to stitch class…I was hooked from the first stitch.

     521

522. If I remember correctly, the first thing I ever stitched (not counting stitching in childhood, this I can’t remember for anything in the world), was a “quilt square”, or what I thought a quilt square would look like. It was a little mermaid with a ball, done with old GDR floss on a light blue synthetic from a charity shop. The outlines of the mermaid herself were worked in dark blue, turquoise and white (in backstitch, I believe), so that the little creature nearly merged with the background. After that I started stitching a second square with oak leaves and acorns, but never finished it. Means, I still have got no quilt. Not even a mini quilt.

     522

523. I had to laugh when I read your comments theme today. An aunt had taught me one needlepoint stitch: continental. My husband was going on an extended business trip and I decided that to keep me occupied, I would stitch a chair. Yep. I bought a rocking chair, stripped and stained it, had the springs bronzed and set about making a cover for the seat and the back. With my own design. Yep. We call the design “primitive.” But it has rocked two babies to sleep (the youngest is 37) and is still used occasionally to still some of the anxiety and stress of these days.
     This giveaway sounds wonderful, Mary! Thank you very much.

     523

524. My first thing I can remember making is the typical stamped cross stitched pillowcase. I have no idea whatever happened to it!

     524

525. The first thing I ever embroidered was a purse when I was 8 years old. I chose wild colorful colors and when it was finished I entered it in the Fair. I won first place!! I love embroidery and I love your emails!!

     525

526. The first thing I stitched was a Long stitch landscape kit as a present for my Sister. 30 years on and still sewing.

     526

527. Made an apron in Vacation Bible School many, many years ago!

     527

528. My first stitching project was when I was about 8 years old and my mother taught me counted cross stitch. I made a christmas gift for my grandmother.

     528

529. I think the first thing I ever stitched was on a piece of scrap fabric – my initials. I was four.

     529

530. The first thing I stitched was an embroidery picture. I was 16 or seventeen when I started it. It was of Holly Lobby and used many stitches that I knew nothing about. My aunt showed me how to do some of the stitches and then I was off. It went with me to college, finished and framed. Enjoyed the stitching and still do today. It has gotten much better since then and I really enjoy other needlework as well.

     530

531. Lovely book and give away! Thanks.

     531

532. Well my first stitching was the Lavender And Lace alphabet with a little girl and her bunny, for my first born grand daughter’s 3rd birthday. She is now 30 and still has it.

     532

533. I don’t remember my first stitch but what I do remember is living in a small German village that had a stitch store in it when I was in the second grade. I saved my money and finally had enough to go in and buy some supplies. The shop owner taught me a few basic stitches and I was on my own after that.

     533

534. The first thing I ever stitched was a needlepoint kit of a cat wearing some kind of blue outfit. I was probably 11 or 12. Haven’t looked back

     534

535. First thing I stitched, well sewed, a potholder in 4H.

     535

536. At junior school a little stuffed orange felt owl with black spiral eyes.

     536

537. I was taught to stitch by my mother when I was 8 years old. The first thing I stitched were boarders to pillow cases. I loved the different stitches! However, after stitching these, I thought they were too pretty to sleep on.

     537

538. My first piece of embroidery was a table runner ,blue linen with roses in three strands of Dmc so a bit bulky ! I still have it 70 years later !

     538

539. Hi, Mary! The first thing I ever stitched was in 1972. It was a needlepoint of a frog sitting on a mushroom, twiddling his thumbs while eyeing up a butterfly. It had those big daisies (like on The Dating Game) and was done in Paternayan wool in psychedelic colors. I did it for home ec. It now is on the wall of my Grandson’s room.

     539

540. I began stitching as a little girl. My first piece was a simple cross stitch kit that contained a small basket and the words “I Love You”. I had it all through College, but it has since been lost.

     540

541. The first thing I ever stitched occurred when I was 3 years old. It was a simple stack of cut 2″ scrap squares that I sewed together by hand, following my grandmother’s instructions. She then had me attach a waistband with a self-tie. It became my very first apron. I was so proud of that simple apron that I wore it daily for years, until it was way too small for me; at which point, I removed the waistband and turned it into a pillow. I just couldn’t bear to part with it. Because I loved that project so much, my grandmother also had me create my very first embroidery sampler that same summer. She was so very patient and meticulous that I learned 6 different embroidery stitches and recreated them over and over until I perfected each one to her satisfaction. I was so happy and excited that from that moment on, I was totally hooked on all types of handcrafts, and always had some new project in the works. She was a wise woman who taught me that speed was not important. I needed to focus on perfecting my skills and enjoying each stitch. I still follow all of her advice, and can hear her in my head reminding me that each project should be enjoyed while it is being made, so it can become a blessing to whomever I gave it to eventually. I loved working with her in her sewing room so much! We had such good times together! Our work sessions have remained my most cherished childhood memories. So much so, that her advice is the first thing I teach to young people who are just learning to sew and do all types of handwork — always remember to find pleasure in the process.

     541

542. When I was a teenager (I guess I was around 14) I knitted a sweater. It was bright green and rather plain therefore I decided to embelish it with emboidery. I embroidered an owl. Why an owl – supposedly because it’s a symbol of wisdom. Since that time I have been stitching occasionally to embelish my or kids garments. Now since I am retired I stitching regularly and learning a lot.
     I am very happy that I discovered your, Mary, home page. You are so lavish that one can find everything needed for an embroiderer. Thank you so much!

     542

543. I was five when I sewed and embroidered a dress for a doll.

     543

544. My earliest sewing memories are of sitting on the small, trellised front porch of my Grandmother’s house, at the end of the day, with my Mother and my older twin sisters, being taught all kinds of handwork: crossstitch, tatting, knitting and sewing. It was almost the only time I saw my Grandmother sit as she was up with the rooster, pumping water from the outside pump, grinding the coffee beans, making bread and scrubbing clothes on the washboard. This was all done before full sunrise. Of the 5 girls in my family, I’m the only one for whom the sewing lessons took. How glad I am!

     544

545. My first project was a comical bee for the MN State Fair, completed in cross stitch.
     Thanks

     545

546. The first thing I remember stitching was a small linen table topper with cross stitches in 3 different colors. I still have it.

     546

547. The first thing I embroidered back in the early 1970s, was a pillow kit by Elsa Williams of a Siamese cat and a bee on a linen with wool in the style of crewel. I loved it and it eventually it fell apart, but I keep it as a reminder. By the way, my stitches were a good attempt, but I’ve learned a lot! A couple of years ago I found that kit online and stitched it for my son’s ex-girlfriend who has a Siamese cat – they both loved it. ~ Liz B.

     547

548. What an exciting pack for today’s giveaway! I broke my leg when I was 7 and my mum bought me a canvas tapestry to help pass the time. It was a picture of a white house and garden very similar to where we lived. It was was eventually framed and I still have it 50 plus years later!

     548

549. The first thing I ever finished stitching was a cross stitch juggling teddy bear. It was bright colors and I gave it to my dad. It hung in his office until he retired.

     549

550. 10 years old. Sitting under the bushes on a hot bleached out street of pastel stucco houses. Cool slightly damp earth squished between my toes.
     A wooden hoop in my hands … stitching lazy daisies and stem stitch on blue printed cotton. Wondering what would happen if i stitched outside the lines.

     550

551. It started in the 70’s when my sister and I found some Bucilla kits for crewel stitching. I think there is still one of the finished products hanging in my mother’s house! Then I discovered counted cross stitch then needlepoint and bargello. Currently I am captivated by embroidery, and inspired by the Needle ‘n Thread blog and the facebook group. Thank you Mary!

     551

552. My first hand stitched piece was a sprig of roses printed on small holed canvas about 10 by 10 inches, in wool with no instructions, that was 46 years ago and I still have it. It’s badly stitched, took ages I didn’t know what I was doing, but did it in, what I now know, is tent stitch. When I found it again I made it into a cushion, it brings me joy and reminds me perfection is not always necessary to love something.

     552

553. The earliest stitching memory is making an apron in school when I was seven with cross stitch on gingham. The cross stitches did all the seaming.

     553

554. I love your website and the emails. My passion is hand embroidery. I took classes and by the time I got home I couldn’t make it work. Having you online with such clear directions has been amazing. Thank you so much. I am close to finishing a king size crazy quilt.

     554

555. The very first thing that I embroidered was a stamped baby bib for a cousin who was having a baby. I was about 8, and had never embroidered before. My mother took me to the local sundries store that had floss and pre-made items. She taught me the outline stitch and I used ALL of the primary colors I could. I was so proud of my accomplishment!

     555

556. First thing I ever cross stitched was an owl from a 10 cent kit when I was 8 in 1965. But I was learning huckweaving crochet and knitting around the same time. My dad had that owl forever but no clue where it is now. Thanks for sharing.

     556

557. Monograms are one of my favorite items to embroider, especially for wedding gifts.

     557

558. My earliest stitching project that I can recall was a 4 inch square with a kitten in the middle playing with a yarn ball. I learned to embroider on this piece. It had various stitches to learn . I proudly displayed it on my dresser. Fun to remember! Cheers!

     558

559. The first thing I ever stitched was a colorful nosegay pattern, stitched with wool thread on a burlap-like fabric. I was around 9 years old. I felt so accomplished when I finished that piece and my mother framed it and kept it in her house for many years. I looked at it years later and understood what an integral part of my life that accomplishment was. It became a part of who I am today almost 50 years later. The finished product was good for a 9-year-old! I don’t stitch nearly as often these days which makes me sad. But I still look back on my nosegay with pride.

     559

560. My earliest sewing memories are watching my mom make clothes and soft toys for us. I helped out once by cutting the knees out of my pants – 5 years old. As I got older, mom and I shared many hand stitching projects. Mom would buy a kit for me and then help me if I had trouble. I still have my earliest stamped cross stitch samplers.

     560

561. A linen stamped cross stitch sampler (that I still have) that I received when I was in grade school; a gift I requested because I was (still am) very much into American history-related stories (oh “Little Women” and “Witch of Blackbird Pond”) and the young girls were always stitching samplers!

     561

562. The first thing I ever stitched must have been a baby’s first Christmas ornament. It was a small, simple cross stitch kit with all supplies included. Bought at the dime store because I didn’t know about needlework stores. It was for my brother’s or my son’s child.

     562

563. The first thing I remember stitching was a project for a Girl Scout badge. My recollection from 50+ years ago is pretty fuzzy, but I believe we each had to come up with our own design. Mine was a hot air balloon, done with acrylic knitting yarn on a burlap-type fabric – and the result was pretty homely, as I recall!

     563

564. My first embroidery project was when I was 5 on a summer trip with my parents. My mother was embroidering something and I wanted to do it too. I remember her drawing my initials on a scrap of her fabric and showing me how to do the satin stitch. I gave it to her as a gift when I was finished and she still has it on her inspiration board half a century later.

     564

565. The first piece I remember stitching was cross stitch on gingham (chicken scratch) for a small table cloth. First thing my mother taught me over 60 years ago.

     565

566. My very first project was pillow cases. I was hooked. Love it!

     566

567. Happy Holiday Greetings!!! To answer your question request my very first embroidery stitching project was a modified sampler type where it was a ladder and each rung of the ladder had a different plant that highlighted a different embroidery stitch. This was after sitting with a piece of pillowcase that I practiced basic stitches on.

     567

568. The first item I ever stitched was a roses cross-stitch table topper, which I started when I was about 19. I put it away for awhile…perhaps saving it for my hope chest?…and pulled it out several years later, after having 5 children! I finished it, and have used it many times since. My daughter-in-law has now expressed an interest in having it, so it’ll be passed on to her.

     568

569. My first stitching project was from my grandma when I was 8 years old. It was surface embroidery of a rooster on an obnoxious blue background. And I loved it! lord, the knots and thread nests on the back of that thing! And I haven’t stopped stitching for the past 50 (good grief!) years. I may try other crafts but I always come back to needlework. It is my solace, my way of passing time.

     569

570. I started my handwork adventure about 48 years ago stitching printed pillowcases from Ben Franklin’s and haven’t stopped yet!

     570

571. My first embroidery was a patchwork cushion embroidered with a candlewick design in the center .My mother a wonderful embroiderer encouraged me to do a course and her intention was to join me in this venture.Unfortunately my mother passed away before the course began.I went ahead with the course and fell in love with this wonderful world of embroidery and whatever I embroider I do in her honour.

     571

572. My mother taught me embroidery while I was (at 6 years of age) hospitalized for several months.
     I remember sitting up in bed and stitching. Treatment worked. At 78 years, I am healthy. WooHoo.

     572

573. I started stitching when I was very young, about 8. The first thing I ever stitched was a bumble bee as the main part of a little square, I was making a cover for a stool for a tiny doll. I was fascinated with bees at the time. I remember being very happy with myself because it turned out so well. I am sure if I looked at it now, instead of the memory of a little girl it would appear totally different. 🙂 I was also given a pot holder with a picture of a flower covered wagon, and never worked it because I was afraid I would ruin the picture. I always have to remind myself that we are always learning, we don’t start out as experts. Now a days I will try something and if I don’t like it, I will just start over. I love to embroider.

     573

574. My mother taught me to cross-stitch in the early 80’s when I was in 7th or 8th grade – I can’t remember exactly. But that year, I made a piece for each of my close friends for Christmas with their names cross-stitched on Aida cloth and framed in a padded fabric frame that I also made (which was all the rage at that time). I secretly also cross-stitched one that said I *heart* Mom for my mother, which I found when I cleaned out her house after she died. I’ll be forever grateful for my mother introducing me to stitching!!

     574

575. I started sewing when I was very young – my mother was a home ec teacher. The first project I remember was a sock monkey, with embroidered face. I think it was for a Girl Scout badge.

     575

576. My first memory of stitching is sitting with my mom and aunt, holding a hoop with a paper towel stretched in it. I was learning stitches before moving on to cloth and stitching iron-on transfer designs. I think my younger brother had more talent than I did, but less desire.

     576

577. The first thing! My Mom started me off with dish towels. Those cute little towels that have pictures of animals, kitties, I’m sure, doing everyday chores for each day of the week. You know the ones. Monday we wash, Tuesday we bake, etc. I still hold a special place in my heart for those and always pick up the patterns and smile when I see them. I remember Mom ironing them on the towels. Yep, good memory you’ve triggered. Thank you.

     577

578. The first thing I ever stitched was when I was six years old. It was a very small, very ragtag, tote bag. On it I tried to emborder my mother’s name as a present for her for Mother’s Day.

     I thought it turned out so well, I proceeded to make the same tote bag for all and everyone I loved. My grandmother, my cat, my teacher, my sister…

     My mother intervened and saved me from myself, and help me move on to sampler, where I proceeded to spell almost every word wrong. Oh well.

     578

579. My earliest stitching memory was spending a Minnesota snowbound weekend indoors cozy on the couch embroidering items from an embroidery grab bag I had purchased. I had enough projects in that grab bag to last me all weekend.

     579

580. Hmm. I can’t remember the first thing I stitched. It might have been the face of a bear on fabric, that then turned into a stuffed bear? It might have been a stamped cross stitch design of a building from Williamsburg. Or, it could have been the decorative cross stitches that we had to sew on our gingham aprons that we made in home ec.

     The more I try to remember, I think it was the stamped cross stitch!

     580

581. My first memory of doing embroidery is doing some basic back stitching and stem stitching on old sheets on which we would draw our name, basic flowers, and other simple designs when I was in the sixth grade. My school had a period every week on Friday when we would work on it. At the same time, my mother taught me to do a lot more than I was learning in school. I was about 10-11 years old. It was love at first stitch for me.

     581

582. Although it’s not embroidery I learned to sew on buttons and badges in Girl Scouts.

     582

583. the first thing I ever stitched was a pre-printed cross-stitch saying “home sweet home”.
     I just kept on stitching after that!

     583

584. The first thing I ever stitched was at a children’s church group when I was 11– it was about 8 lines of cross-stitch, each a single color, on Aida cloth. I was too much of a tomboy at the time to really appreciate it. I really came into embroidery later, in college and my young married life.

     584

585. Love the gift ideas…just want to thank you for all your inspiration and learning videos. They have always been a big help when teaching crazy quilt classes!!!

     Merry Christmas

     585

586. Gosh, I started stitching a long time ago. Over 50 years. I’m afraid I don’t remember what I started on. I remember making some bibs when I was in 2nd half of my first decade. I still have them. The designs were printed onto the bib.

     Heather M. in BC

     586

587. I was a freshman in college when I designed and stitched a whale spouting in the waves. I have it framed today, and each time a look at it, it makes me smile at the juvenile stitches! But I love it and I have great memories from that start into stitching so long ago.

     587

588. I am not sure – but I believe the first thing I ever stitched was a tablecloth for my grandmother. The floral design was printed on linen and she had me stitch it entirely with gold embroidery floss. I must have been about 10 or 11 years of age – a VERY long time ago!

     588

589. The first embroidery I remember I was about 8. It was a preprinted pillow case I picked out at a Woolworths store. The case had cross stitch roses. At that time I was I in love with variegated color embroidery floss so each rose was a different color. The purple and red ones were my favorites. That pillowcase was in use until at least my high school years.

     589

590. Wow! What a good question. It triggered memories I had forgotten. I got the first floss and stamped crossstitch I think as a Christmas gift from my Mother. The patterns I am sure were Aunt Martha transfers. I remember a simple red tomato on the dish towel. Remember Mom doing the iron transfer. What I remember as Christmas was 2 picture sized horses that were stem stitched and a bunch of floss that was what my Mom had. I was probably 11-12 yrs because I was crazy about horses. (While Mom with some persuasion from her Grandma did some crossstitch in the 40s. It was too slow. She was an excellent seamstress).

     Don’t believe either picture was ever completed. I do have the first completed and gifted project – a bought stamped crossstitchdresser scarf in 4 shades of blue. A Christmas gift to my maternal Grandma. It returned to me still in the gift box when she died. probably age 12-13. Should see if there is a date on it
     THANKS

     590

591. The first thing that I embroidered was a small pattern for a stylized flower. I had planned to make it into a bookmark, but I marked on it with pencil which won’t come out 🙁 I think about redoing it in the future, but right now I have so many other projects on my plate that I know it will be a while.

     591

592. My first stitching memory is sewing doll clothes on my mom’s Bernina sewing machine back in the late 1970’s.

     592

593. The earliest stitching memory I have is a “Home Sweet Home” piece that was stamped on white fabric. I learned daisy chain, satin, running stitches, and cross stitches. I still have it!

     593

594. The very first embroidery I did was a pair of stamped cross stitch doilies with S pair of simple flowers and a few leaves. The second was a stamped pledge of allegiance to the flag. I have no idea where the doors are but the pledge is framed and hanging in my guest room.

     594

595. Describe the first thing you ever stitched! If that’s not quite possible, what’s your earliest stitching memory?

     I think it was a teddy bear with a Santa hat on it! It was very cute.

     595

596. My earliest memory of doing needlework is of stitching on “embroidery” cards with what I think was something like a shoelace! I must have been 4 or 5 at the time and I remember loving it. Have a safe and Merry (modified) Christmas, Mary!

     596

597. While it wasn’t embroidered, the first thing I remember making was a small doll size quilt when I was about 10. It was for a history class at school. We were studying the pilgrims.

     597

598. The first needle work project I can remember doing was a little cross stitch kit. It was of an old time telephone and included a glass dome top and felt for the bottom to make a paperweight. I must’ve been around 10 I think. My Mom still has it on her desk. She will be 100 years young in February.
     Thank you Mary for a chance at winning these prizes.

     598

599. The project that came to mind for me was an Avon crewel work kit of Noah’s Ark. I still leaved at my parents house and was a teenager I believe when I started it. When I finished it I had my own kids. It was fun and I’ve learned a lot since then and learn more all the time.

     Darcie

     599

600. My earliest stitching memory was in the 1980s with learning petit point. It has been only this year that I had a friend start me on embroidery. I love it. My mother’s story is more interesting. She lived in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. Just after WW2, in 1946, as a young woman in her 20s, she was in the Hudson Bay Dept store, where Jean McIntosh herself was doing demos to sell her needlepoint kits. This is how needlepoint was sold then and for at least another 50 years. My mom asked if Ms McIntosh could teach her over Mom’s lunch hour. Mom worked at at Veterans Housing Board. It wasn’t busy and she agreed. My mom learnt and became a very accomplished needlewoman. The irony is that I had to learn from a co-worker because Mom was too busy with 5 kids and a job. I am the only sibling that took up the needle too. I love it as much as she did and try to follow in her footsteps. Mom was proud of what I learnt and that memory of Ms Jean McIntosh was one she related to me many times.

     600

601. I was around 12 years old in the mid 60s and I stitched a crewel embroidery kit. I remember it had mushrooms on it. I was so proud since I was basically self taught. Wish I still had it.

     601

602. I love goodies. Hope to win.

     602

603. I don’t remember exactly what my first embroidery project was. Probably a tea towel or a pillowcase. Our neighbor taught my sister to embroider and she showed me when I was about ten years old. We only knew three stitches, but it gave us hours of pleasure for years to come. Imagine my surprise as an adult to find there were many more stitches and wonderful ways to use and combine them.

     603

604. My first stitching project was a stamped round pillow top from Lee Wards. I think my grandmother tried to get me interested, but to no avail. It had several lazy daisy flowers scattered around. Nothing about it interested me at the time. I still have the pillow top which was never made into a pillow because my mother saved it!

     604

605. First embroidery project was embroidering my father’s initials on handkerchiefs as Christmas gifts…. Until recently, the stem stitch and french knot were my only embroidery “skills”. As a quilter, I have avoided embroidery until this quilt.
     With Mary’s help, I have added many outline stitches (Quaker stitch my favorite so far) and my husband is concerned that I have caught the bug! And it’s not covid

     605

606. I do remember my first piece. It was 1969, my first trip to Holland, and first meeting with my husband’s family. My mother-in-law’s flat was filled with beautiful cross stitch pieces and I asked her to teach me. She picked a counted pattern on linen with one color thread. She got me started and I finished it at home. It was made into a pillow and at some point got so worn it had to be thrown out. She definitely made me a convert and in the early years supplied magazines with patterns. We didn’t have anything similar at the time.
     Thank you for this giveaway. Some stitcher is going to be very happy.

     606

607. The first thing I ever stitched was an Alice in Wonderland picture that I copied onto some jeans when I was about 15. At the time, I had read that drawing the design on the right side of the fabric and then embroidering over the lines was frowned upon, so I traced the design onto sheer interfacing and put that on the back of the denim. I was a complete beginner at embroidery, and went over the lines with back-stitch. I wasn’t happy with the broken line it made, so went back and whipped the back-stitch to make it smoother. I thought I had invented a new stitch! Oh, the things you think as a beginner!

     607

608. what fun gifts

     608

609. The very first stitching I did was a hand stitched dress for my story book doll. My father was a rep for a dairy company and visited farms throughout Western New York State. He was only home on weekends and once in a great while he would bring something home to my mother, sister and me. Oh how special those gifts were in the mid Forties. I still clearly remember my doll, she had blonde hair and wore a mauve taffeta dress.

     609

610. Hi there Happy Holidays !!!

     610

611. My earliest memories are of my mother embroidering individual quilt blocks for the various quilts the local womens Church group would assemble and quilt to raise money. She’d sit in her rocking chair by the sunny window in the kitchen, with a warm fire in the wood stove.

     611

612. Hi Mary,
     My mother had a box of thread and taught me basic stitches when I was probably eight years old. The first project I started was years later while stationed in Germany – I don’t think I was too ambitious – it was a crosstitch piece by Teresa Wentzler titled The Castle. It only took me thirteen years to finish it! It is still my most memorable piece because of the time invested, but I have since done many needlework projects and I love to learn new stitches and techniques!

     612

613. The first thing I stitched were some pillow cases – this was in the 60s and I was 8 or 9 – the ones I did were done in yellow lazy daisy stitches with brown french knots in the center (I am pretty sure my grandmother, who was teaching me, did those for me). There was a green running stitch connecting the flowers. I don’t recall ever using the pillowcase (although I must have) but they lived in my linen closet for years – folded so I’d always see the stitching. Having to downsize recently, I had to throw them out as they both had dry rotted (shhh – I didn’t clear out my linen closet very often). They weren’t very good and you could see the blue lines of the stamped design but I had done them! I don’t always use a stamped design now but when I do I am very careful to cover up the lines!

     613

614. I have to laugh when someone asks what the first thing I stitched was. I must have been about 6 yrs old and learning to embroider with the help of my mother and a church group. The little piece still resides in a box I’ve kept for many years labeled “Finnished pieces” (sic). It’s a stamped cross stitch on a natural linen that says, “Greet the Day with a Song…Make Others Happy…Serve Gladly.” I managed to finish the words in various colors of cotton thread, but never finished the embellishments on the sides and bottom of the piece. The needle (rusty) and a variegated purple thread are still attached. It makes me smile whenever I pull it out, but it’s definitely not my best work. Many years later, I started with a Vogue pattern for Christmas ornaments and started an annual tradition of making new embroidered ornaments every year. Which turned into a much more involved hobby bordering on obsession.

     614

615. Oh, wow. It was so long ago but I’m going to guess it was probably a stamped embroidery pillow case. I wish I would have saved some of my early works but I am lucky enough to still have some items stitched by my Mother that I cherish. Thanks for the chance to win such a lovely gift. I enjoy your emails.

     615

616. Hi, Mary,

     The first thing I ever stitched was a piece of burlap that my mother gave me to learn on when I was in primary school.

     I used a giant plastic needle threaded with yarn. There was no pattern that I can remember, just some basic stitches. I think I was quite taken with chain stitch.

     Wow, I hadn’t thought about that in a long time. I can still remember the scratchy, smelly burlap.

     Beth

     616

617. I always wanted to stitch like my mother. She would transfer a kitty design (I loved cats) onto fabric and give me her tin of embroidery floss. She taught me the outline, chain and satin stitches and off I’d go stitching along. But it never lasted and soon the embroidery hoop was set aside and I was off to play outside with my brothers. When I was twenty I asked for another kit and mother complied musing whether or not I would finish stitching the design. She was most surprised and delighted when I did and so I’ve continued stitching to this day.

     617

618. The first thing I ever stitched was a black throw pillow with the names of my school friends on it, done all in cursive and in different colours for each name. I was in eighth grade, and wanted to use dryer lint as stuffing, which my mother forbade, and it turned out pretty well for a first attempt.

     618

619. My earliest memory of handwork was embroidering a pre-stamped baby sacque when I was about 8. I put it in my “Hope Chest”. These days no one uses sacques anymore but they were pretty back in those days.

     619

620. My first project wasn’t stitching, exactly. When I was five my mother sat me down with a piece of fabric and a straight pin, and showed me how to pull threads out to fringe the edges. She meticulously taught me to pull out the threads one at a time. Pretty sure that her motive was to keep me sitting still in one place for a goodly time. LOL A few years later my stepmom took me to the 99cent store, let me pick out a dresser scarf, and then gave me full access to her thread stash. Pretty cool! Have no idea what ever happened to either piece, but I enjoyed them.

     620

621. My earliest stitching memories are of stitching lines on Aida with embroidery thread when I was about 5.

     I am in the UK so don’t know if I’m eligible for this but I would love to get my hands on this book as I’ve thus far I’ve not succeeded in finding a source in the UK.

     Best wishes for a Happy Holiday season

     621

622. Oh my gosh, Mary, I haven’t thought of this in decades!! Grade 6. Home economics class. An aida cloth stitch sampler needle book. I can remember how awkward it all felt. I didn’t stitch again until four years later and I never really stopped after that. Thanks for pulling up that memory.

     622

623. The first thing I stitched was a small cross stitch something in grade 7 for a crafty elective. I don’t even remember what it was. I had done hand sewing prior as my grandmother taught me to knit and sew but it was all structural and not decorative.

     623

624. The first thing I remember is a hand drawn, small yellow bird on a brown branch, both done in outline stitch, that I made in Brownies. Also, I’m still using a dresser scarf of a horse in the desert that I made as a kid.

     624

625. I began teaching my oldest granddaughter, Anya, to stitch when she was 6. She diligently worked on bibs for her soon-to-be-born little sister. We had a great time. Anya is now 13 and we have begun working on counted cross stitch. She watches me stitch and wants to continue improving her crafting skills. And now her younger sister is joining the fun.

     625

626. The first thing I ever stitched was clothing for my Barbie doll. They weren’t exactly perfect but it gave me a bigger wardrobe for her!

     626

627. At around age 8 my mother taught me to do simple embroidery. Task was white kitchen towels that she purchased with stamped designs. I remember I was very impressed with my results; it was a huge ego booster. And we used those towels. This was in the late 1950s when embroidered towels were common in central Wisconsin farm country.

     627

628. My earliest stitching memory was when my Mom was teaching me the basics of embroidery. My mom did not really know much about embroidery but had tried several types of needlework. She showed me how to make a french knot, a straight/satin stitch, the chain stitch and the detached chain stitch. Then showed me how to make a little daisy with the french knot in the middle and the detached chain or lazy daisy stitches around it. Then she showed me a copy of Erica Wilson’s Embroidery Book and I carried on from there.

     628

629. When I was about five or six years old my mom had my twin sister and me sit down and make some drawings. I drew a steam locomotive, as I was obsessed with trains at the time. She took our drawings and traced them onto canvas and taught us continental stitch.

     I wonder if she still has that somewhere. I haven’t seen it in at least 25 years.

     Later she had us do some small needlepoint kits. I don’t think my sister finished even one; she just wasn’t interested at all. But I did several and later picked up cross stitch when I was around 10 or 12. (Then I got other hobbies and stopped for a long time, but then I picked up embroidery again a few years after college and set about learning lots of different techniques.)

     629

630. My first stitching project was stamped cross stitch table runner. I learned this while a patient in the polio clinic. We were always taught to keep busy with our hands and minds. It was all done in black floss and was an old time horse drawn carriage and driver. I gave it to my mom. I think I would have been around eight or ten years old.

     630

631. I started knitting, and stitching, and doing the round yarn spool when I was around 4. My mother taught me. I always remember having some kind of needle in my hand in my hand. I started with what is now called surface embroidery and expanded to crewel and then cross stitch when I was school age. I remember knitting my barbie her clothes and decorating them with embroidery. I only did “functional” needlework- things for use. I embroidered hand towels, hankies and then stamped cross stitch pillow cases. The earliest “gift” was a cross stitched ornament for my grand mother in Ireland. I remember being very proud of it. Then at 11, ( in the 60’s) I took a sewing class at the local Y and began making all my clothes and decorating them with surface embroidery. This continued until the hippo era when I decorated the legs of my bellbottom jeans with surface embroidery! I was sooooo cool!!!! I have four early pieces but they are framed and not “functional” pieces: 2 from the seventies. and two from the early 80″s.

     631

632. My first stitching project as an adult was a needlework picture of all of the grandchildren on my husband’s side. It had names and birthdates under each child. I have it to my MIL for Christmas…not sure it ever saw the light of day! Haha. Oh well. It did not deter me from embroidery, and now that I am retired, I have time to relax and stitch!

     632

633. The first thing I ever stitched was a rotary type telephone with my phone number backstitched below the the phone

     633

634. My first needlework piece was a Bargello pillow that I stitched in college for my grandmother. Although she has passed, I still have it.

     634

635. The first thing I ever stitched was a monogram A from one of Mary’s monogram collections! 🙂 Lexi Goertzen-Patin

     635

636. My earliest stitched pieces were stamped cross stitch sayings that I made for my 2 grandmothers as Christmas presents. I actually still have one of them. When my grandmother died my mother found the one I had made for her mother and gave it back to me. I was 12 years old (Mom told me to always date my work) and I distinctly remember being very dissatisfied with the way the printed crosses didn’t match up to the threads in the fabric. When I discovered counted cross stitch I was hooked! My need for preciseness was now gratified!

     636

637. makes me want to do it all. Nice

     637

638. I was about 8 years old when my Grandmother taught me to embroider. If I remember right, I think I tried to make a couple flowers in a cup. It was my Grandma’s idea and pattern. I don’t suppose I did too great a job but it certainly started me on a pathway of hand stitching. She also taught me to quilt and I discovered I could embroider something and then make a quilt out of it, albeit a small one, usually. To this day I think of her when I am stitching. I wish she could see how far I’ve come and that I don’t just do flowers in cups anymore.

     638

639. I still have the first item I ever embroidered, thanks to my dear mother who saved everything. It is the outline of my chubby little hand, outline stitched in black floss on a cotton kitchen towel–the kind with colored stripes woven down the sides, in about 1958.

     639

640. I was 5 years old and for my birthday I was given a shoe box full of small fabric scraps, pieces of lace and some little buttons.

     So I attempted to make a dress for my little doll, and was thrilled to bits with it. My father showed me how to thread a needle and how do do some straight stitches a d left me to it. That was the beginning of my life long love of sewing. And that was still the best present I ever received to this day!

     640

641. I have a memory of being about 3 years old and asking my Mother if I could sew – she did embroidery. She gave me a handkerchief and threaded needle and I began.

     641

642. Hi Mary! The first stitching I ever did was a “sampler” on burlap using craft yarn in my Girl Scout Troop. We had to use our own original design and 7 different stitches (I think) as part of the requirements for the sewing badge. All of my sewing relatives lived out of state, so I had to wait until I met my husband to really start learning. My (future) mother-in-law taught me cross stitching and I fell into quilting b/c I wanted to turn a book of cross stitched images into quilt for my first nephew. Recently everything came together when my daughter got married as I made hand monogrammed tote bags for the wedding party and an embroidered satin ring pillow. On a side note: thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and inspirations. I moderate one of the FB cross stitch pages and often link people to your YouTube videos when they have questions about particular stitches. Happy Holidays! – Betsy

     642

643. My earliest memory of embroidery was just before my son was born (he just turned 47). We had very little money, and I was making some baby clothes and embroidering little designs on all of the hand me downs we had. I also embroidered pockets of jeans and an entire jean jacket for a friend.

     643

644. The first thing I stitched, after a friend at worked showed me her project, was a piece for my husband for Father’s Day. It was on light blue 14 count Aida. There was a verse about a husband, a tree, a bird and some water I think. There was also a special mat for it with waves cut out that I bought. I used the dreaded “sticky board” and framed it myself. That was in 1985 and I’ve been stitching ever since.

     644

645. My Mom taught me to embroider dish towels, ironed on designs. Then I went on to embroidering pillow cases and dresser cloths. The backsides were so important then, and I still keep them neat but sometimes wonder why especially when framing. Old habits linger. Then to making my own designs for pillow cases in particular, including embroidering on printed fabric cases. In 1992 found EGA and really learned a LOT. Now in my early 80’s still loving my needle with particular favorite in hardanger, and blackwork though this one really challenges. Enjoy your site and learning, still, from that too!

     645

646. The first thing I ever stitched – many, many moons ago – was the letter of my first name in fuchsia on ecru colored napkins learning different embroidery stitches when I was in Girl Scouts. Happily, I can say I have very much improved my stitching since then. But I still remember it like it was yesterday.

     646

647. The first thing I stitched was a stamped surface work picture of a girl in silhouette holding a watering can. I did this when I was about 6 years old. I made it for my godmother for a Christmas present. I continued to stitch her something every Christmas.

     647

648. The first embroidery I did was a Christmas kit of an oriental design. Love the newsletter. I could spend all day here just learning new “stuff”. Thank you

     648

649. It was at school, for making a mother’gift, a needle pick . I have it always.
     I remember that I didn’t like de color of the tissue. ( ocher brown ) . The treads are yellow, blue and red. The stitches are right.
     I feel always the pleasure to stiche when I was 6 years old 🙂

     649

650. My first memory is embroidering a handkerchief at age 4.

     650

651. The earliest thing I remember embroidering was a pair of pillowcases from Zayre’s . I did baby blue daisies with yellow centers. I still have those cases 60 years later and they’re in perfect shape!

     651

652. Hi Mary

     The first thing I stitched was a cross-stitch image of a gooseberry-bush, when I was a teenager (I’ve forgotten the exact age). It was a piece my mother had started, before I was born. She never found the time to finish it. So one day I found it among all her fabrics and thread and decided I would finish it.

     652

653. The first thing I remember stitching in monogrammed pillow cases! What a coincidental tie-in to today’s give away! When I was probably 7 or 8, my mom got all new sheets, and she wanted to monogram the pillow cases. And I was all in on it! I remember the sheets were pink and yellow floral. Those things are long gone now, but I think they were my first foray into embroidery. I don’t remember anything else until I was in college in the 1980s and cross stitch was all the rage. And the first thing I stitched then was a sorority piece.

     653

654. The first thing I remember stitching was a prestamped pair of pillowcases. I completed one and used it but left the other one partially finished. My mother kept the partially finished case, as only a mother would do as the workmanship was pretty terrible. I must have been in elementary school when I worked on it as I don’t remember working on it. I did complete the unfinished case and keep it in my linen closet to remind me that there is hope for all UFO’s.

     654

655. My most memorable stitching project done at school was a blue Dorothy bag. This was decorated with Dorset feather stitch and ric rac.
     Sadly I no longer have the bag which I treasured for years.

     Susan b

     655

656. After completing a few cross-stitch kits, I wanted to expand my stitch repertoire so tried an alphabet sampler.

     656

657. A small crewel pillow with red, orange, yellow, and orange flowers. It was probably a kit ordered from a magazine.

     657

658. My first stitching project was a pair of pillow cases with bluebirds and ribbons when I was 10yrs old
     .

     658

659. My earliest embroidery project was when I was a teenager and I sent away for a Crewel kit of woodland animals that was featured in Seventeen magazine. Boy, that’s a few years ago. I’m still stitching maybe because that kit turned out so well!

     659

660. Stitching for the first time …. remembering my Grandmother as she made me, my piano recital gown. It made me feel like a Princess.
     Sewing now with needle and thread, I remember the magic my Grandmother was putting in each stitch, the love she expressed when she saw the finished gown on me.
     Needles, threads ….. are magic to me.
     I am proud to say I see. I create!
     I thank you for sharing your love of needlework with us.

     660

661. The first thing I ever stitched was a very basic cross stitch project. My Mom bought me special fabric to make it easy for me and I stitched my name.

     661

662. My first sampler was when I was in second grade. It’s was a cross stitch piece that said “East West. Home’s Best.”

     662

663. First I remember is cardboard stitching cards and shoelaces to sew with, but then cross stitch on gingham for aprons, skirts and pillows.

     663

664. I stitched a chairback when I was at school when I was about 10 years old and I still have it. I am now over 70 so it is pretty ancient. The first thing I stitched after I had left school was an owl sitting on a branch. That was freestyle embroidery and he is still hanging on my bedroom wall.

     664

665. My earliest stitching memory is stitching into those cards where holes were cut for the needle to go through! I can’t remember any real stitching projects from childhood, but I know they were mostly just cross-stitch. I count as my first real project doing embroidery designs on old jeans back in the early 1970s.

     665

666. Happy Holidays!
     My first memory of a stitching project was an eyeglass case for my mother. My mother was trying to work outside the home for the 1st time and it was the early 1970’s. A middle aged neighbor took care of us after school and she taught me how to cross stitch. Since my mother wore glasses regularly the neighbor thought a case would be a good project for me. She was very patient with me and it helped to pass the time as I waited for my mom to come home.

     666

667. My first stitching project was a small button bag which I made in Year 3. I still have it. It is blue, covered with various forms of laced running stitch and has a twisted yarn drawstring.
     Little did I know at the time that stitching would become an obsession with me later in life.

     667

668. I remember walking down the street and peering in the window of a small needlework store probably 45 years ago! After spoting a beautiful cross stitch kit of wildflowers I had to have it! And the insanity was born.

     668

669. Mary, thank you for these give-aways! My first project was a handkerchief stitched in burnt orange, lime green, bright red and turquoise, popular colors in 1969 for a Girl Scout working on the embroidery badge. I gave it to my parents; my mom returned it to me a couple of years ago. Shades of remembrance.

     669

670. The first item I remember stitching is a frog and some flowers and leave using embroidery thread on cotton cloth. I followed directions from a book by Di van Niekerk. I was totally new to it all. Loved it.

     670

671. The first thing I ever stitched was a dresser scarf that had printed lambs and lazy daisy flowers. That was about 70 years ago and I still have it!

     671

672. Hi, Mary,
     This is really a generous giveaway! I am wishing “Good Luck, to Everyone!”, but truthfully, I am hoping to be one of the lucky ones! Surprises are fun, but how wonderful to receive a piece stitched by you! Thank you for the chance.
     My earliest memory of stitching is sewing the running stitch on a scrap of fabric Mother gave me. Some of the stitches were done properly – in on one side, back through from the other side, but I was a slow learner, and I often made stitches from the same side, thereby looping the thread around the edge of the cloth. It always baffled me! I have to say, when I am not paying attention, I still do it sometimes.

     672

673. What a beautiful book / prize pack!

     673

674. The first thing I remember stitching was a simple floral Day of the Week set.

     674

675. My first piece was pre-printed pillow cases to embroidery. I still have them but they are not in use. I may gift them to my grand daughter. Knowing her, she will laugh, she’s almost 8!

     675

676. My first ever project was a cross-stitch teddy bear holding a an alphabet block.

     676

677. The first thing I remember stitching was pillowcases. They were fun to do and colorful and useful too. They were probably cross stitch and I still find cross stitch relaxing and calming to work on.

     I look forward to your games each Christmas. It is fun to read comments from other stitchers too. Thanks Mary and Happy Holidays.

     677

678. I was about 7 years old, and visiting my grandmother’s farm. On a trip to the town’s 5 and Dime Store, I bought a stamped pillowcase and cotton embroidery floss. The design was of flowers and leaves, and the floss I had selected was yellow, blue, and green.
     That was over half a century ago, but I remember it well!

     678

679. What a fun giveaway! I love surprises and new gadgets and goodies.

     679

680. How lovely! The first things I remember stitching were sewing cards (before I went to school) to keep me busy while my mother stitched. They had simple drawings with obvious dots around the lines, to be stitched with a tapestry needle and perle cotton. The first “real” thing was a stamped design on a mat for the dressing table – an old English water mill with a flower garden – done when I was 7. Thank you, Mary, for such wonderful stitching gifts.

     680

681. My mom taught me to embroider with simple pre printed cross stitch designs when I was six. The first one I did was a bonnet lady pillow. I still love to stitch 32 years later!

     681

682. The summer I was eight my mother tried to distract me from my complaint that there wasn’t anything to do by proposing that I make a yo-yo quilt, similar to the one we had recently seen on a bed in the Queen Anne’s Cottage at the Los Angeles Arboretum. She supplied me with her fabric scraps bag, scissors, needle and thread, and cut out a round cardboard pattern. After demonstrating the method for making a yo-yo puff, and supervising my first two or so, she left me to it. I liked stitching and gathering the edges of the puffs just fine but quickly tired of the tedium of tracing and cutting out perfect circles from the pattern, so I started eyeballing the cutting. At the end of the afternoon I had a pile of puffs that ranged from 1 to 2 inches across and from round to decidedly oval.

     682

683. I received as a gift a kit of a dashound dog head from a friend. I loved it. Unfortunately, it involved satin stitching the ears that were 6” long, on burlap no less. Needless to say, that was a disaster. I kept it for years thinking I would figure out how to do it, but can’t say that I have figured it out yet.

     683

684. Hi Mary,
     I dearly love how informative as well as fun and personal you make your posts. They are a pleasure to read and have steered me in many new and delightful directions with incredible outcomes. My very first attempt at stitching was a butterfly embroidery that I designed using silk threads. It was over 30 years ago. It’s on my studio wall waiting for just the right application. Never too late must be my motto. It still makes me smile so perhaps that’s why it’s still there.

     684

685. I have always been creating. I believe my earliest was monogramming handkerchief for Daddy and Granddaddy for Christmas.
     Most recently I am making Fair Linens for my church using your Church Designs IHS with satin stitching. I am still perfecting my satin stitch using your tutorial. Thank you for your guidance in this most reverent project! Love seeing “Mary Corbet” in my inbox and I devour every word!
     Merry Christmas Mary!
     Blessings,
     Susan

     685

686. Tried to embroider a table cloth and didn’t know that the floss was divisible. It was so clunky. Didn’t try for years but thanks to the internet I started at the beginning and have a few less embarrassing completed items.

     686

687. The first thing I ever stitched was a needle case in brown and orange stitched on beige damasque curtain material! A lovely lady set the kit up for me and guided me through. Looking back now, it was awful, but….. I’ve kept it and it was the start of an amazing journey. I was 55 when I picked up a needle. I can’t stop this journey…ever.

     687

688. When I was 9 or 10 my mother received a set of flour sack dish cloths from my uncle’s mother in law, with day of the week embroidery on them. I was amazed by the generosity of the gift and by the embroidery itself. I asked my mom how to make them… for Christmas I got the supplies. I worked and worked on that thing forever. I didn’t finish it until about 20 years later I ran across it and finished it in about an hour. I guess I figured if someone else can make these, then so can I. My mom was a seamstress and both my grandmas didn’t handwork, so I come by it naturally.

     688

689. The first thing I stitched was a yellow cross stitch duckling when I was about 7 years old.

     689

690. My first needlework project was a design of my own – a little bear with stitch instructions.

     690

691. Firstly, you need to scratch out the ‘very lazy’ portion of today’s offer. You are truly one of the most productive people I know and often wonder how you manage to do what you do.

     My first time with a needle and thread would be as a very young child and I did a piece for my Grandmother. It was a cross stitch stamped on fabric and I was ever so proud of it. Today, I wonder what she might have thought of it but she is no longer with us to ask. Whatever the answer might have been, it began a life long interest and I am grateful for that.

     691

692. My paternal grandmother almost always did hand embroidery in the evening. Her work fascinated me. I asked that she teach me to embroider, and I recall that when I was about four the first stitches she taught were a lazy daisy with a French knot center.

     692

693. The first thing(s) I ever stitched were stamped cross stitch hankies and a small bag to keep them in. I remember fondly my mother helping me, and I still have these hankies and bag to this day!

     693

694. I started with cross stitch at a young age. I made a needle book for my grandma when I was about 10. When she passed at age 103, my aunt gave it back to me to remember her. I still have it and use it.

     694

695. First embroidery was a stamped design of a wild duck that my grandmother gave me. It was fun to choose all the thread colors.
     No one in the family did embroidery, they did sewing and crochet. What I learned as a child was thanks to Girl Scouts. Now I always have several things at hand, of all kinds – mostly classic designs.

     695

696. The first thing I stitched after watching a craftsy class was a face. It was a tutorial and it turned out lovely. That got me hooked and I always have something on the go.
     I’ve learned from your stitch tutorials, Trish Burr books and ‘you tube’. It’s been about 6 months now and I’m expecting it will take years of practice to be any good really, but I will plod on trying new things. Thank you.

     696

697. My first stitching was a pillow with cherries done in chainstich. I enjoyed that.

     697

698. Hi Mary,
     When I was seven my grandmother taught me to crochet. I would make a long chain, wind it into a circle and sew it together to make a stunning rug for my dollhouse!
     Best, Betsy

     698

699. I was young, in the 12-14 year-old range and I stitched a chair pillow for my Mom. It had cross-stitched flowers and butterflies that I got from one of those iron-on pattern collections prevalent then (late 60’s).

     It was a small pillow, about 8”x 12” and when I was finished I wanted to stitch “Mom” in the corner but I miscalculated how big the ‘M’ was and ran out of room, so had to settle for “Ma” (which I’ve never called her). Still, she loved it and it resides—totally faded but “Ma” still legible—on her couch today, 50+ years later.

     699

700. Being from country Queensland, the first real thing I can remember stitching is a school sampler, on horrible pink cotton. My teacher was Miss Peacock and I still remember her, kindly.
     I have the sampler.

     700

701. I remember my first embroidery very well. 1945 – I saw my first Anchor threads assorted in a small box, the colour – it was a WOW moment for me. We were given a tray cloth with a transfer design in the corner to embroider. Our teacher was very strict and I know I was so nervous that I pretended to be stitching over and over again it became so grubby I was terrified as to what she would say. I can ‘t remember the outcome!!

     701

702. Hi Mary,
     I love reading your newsletter. It’s a peaceful break in the day as well as eye candy.
     My earliest stitching memory involves stitching lazy daisies on stamped pillowcases. I had a hoop that was metal lined with cork, something you don’t see these days! Nowadays I do mostly counted thread work.

     702

703. I was a little girl handsewing doll clothes, the pattern for which was tracings from store bought doll wardobes. To liven up one skirt I stitched lazy daisies across the hem like a border print.

     703

704. When I was 15 years old , my first pillow.
     I did it with my mother. Thanks for the gift. Have a good christmas time

     704

705. the first thing I embroidered was a tea towel, 1966 summer in Keota IA. My grandmother was teaching me to embroider. I had walked to the Ben Franklin store and picked out my threads (Anchor @ 3cents each) I spent 30 cents on thread! she showed me how to use empty match book covers for bobbins if she didn’t have shirt cardboard to cut up. She gave me a thimble and scissors that I still have and a 6’hoop. it was a great summer working on tea towels. She kept the first one, it was a terrific mess, but I was 6 years old. After she passed 1990 I was given a huge box of unfinished projects she left. I’ve finished most of them and gifted to family members.
     Mary, thank you, it was the most pleasant part of my day to remember that summer.

     705

706. Hello Mrs Corbet,
     That would probably be a cross stitch sampler I had to make in school, which I didn
     ‘t particularly enjoy lol.
     But fortunately it didn’t traumatise me enough to make me lose interest in hand embroidery altogether 😉

     706

707. After begging my mother for months to teach me to sew, she finally agreed to let me sew stitch a on flour sack dishtowel. It was a kitten that was mostly straight stitch because she thought that would be the easiest stitch for me to learn. I was 5 years old (over 50 years ago).

     707

708. The first thing I ever embroidered was a half apron made from checked gingham. The squares where probably 1/2 an inch square and it was embroidered with cross stitch using some very think thread. Probably a knitting cotton.

     708

709. The first thing that I can remember stitching is one of those cardboard pictures for children with thick thread. I probably did a few of them. I also remember regular embroidery, but can’t remember what I was working on. I remember struggling to make nice stitches.

     709

710. The first thing I stitched (which I still have!) was a bright (horrible shade) pink place mat with lime green and white running, whipped running and chain stitches – it’s truely awful but nearly 60 years later I wouldn’t be without an embroidery (usually whitework) project on the go.

     710

711. I was walking home after doing some shopping, when I passed a handcraft shop – knitting, crocheting, embroidery, painting, all that sort of stuff. In the window two large embroideries were hanging – two of the Cluny Tapestries. (Not quite as large as in real life). I remember stopping in my tracks, studying them, and thinking “that’s the sort of embroidery that I want to do”. I didn’t want bunnies or flowers or any of the usual stuff – but these classical pictures really did it for me.
     So I bought the patterns, & enough thread to do the first one – Sense of Hearing. It was crossstitch. So began the rest of my life! It took AGES! And much unpicking & redoing. But it’s been hanging in my bedroom for a long time now.
     I don’t really do crossstitch any more, I prefer everything else, and love Mary’s suggestions and stories.

     711

712. When I was maybe 10 or 12 years old I decided to sew a ‘picture’. I took fabric from a worn out bed sheet (only white back then) and used my mom’s sewing thread to stitch a little picture – maybe 4X5 inches. I can’t remember what the topic was, but I think it had a house and a tree. Then I took cardboard from a cereal box and made a frame and painted it red. I stuck the ‘needlework’ into the frame and taped a piece of string on the back so that I could hang it on the wall. My mom didn’t sew much, I’m not sure where I got the idea, but I had that little thing for quite a few years.

     I hadn’t thought about that in a long time. Thank you

     712

713. Hi Mary,
     My earliest stitching memory… I embroidered a shooting star on a pair of blue jeans when I was a freshman in high school. I must have done a decent job, because someone stole those jeans from my suitcase at summer camp!
     Best,
     June House
     Rehoboth MA

     713

714. While I don’t remember what I was working on for my first embroidery project, I do remember being very excited to start learning a new form of needlework. I did not realize at that point in time, that I was beginning to a process of learning that I truly enjoy stitching by hand (whether it it embroidery, sewing, or quilting) much more than stitching by machine. The handwork is soothing yet productive and feels even more creative than when I use a machine. I am so looking forward to having the time soon to get back to working on hand embroidery and other needlework.

     714

715. Many, many, many moons ago in an elementary school art class, we all stitched crosses on hills for an Easter project. The ground fabric was burlap, so very wide, evenly spaced holes and we used regular yarn for the design. I think we used plastic needles. The design was the 3 crosses on 3 hills, and I believe a sun in the background – very, very simple. I couldn’t have been more than 7 or 8 but I vividly remember this project.

     715

716. The first thing I remember stitching is a preprinted dresser scarf for my grandmother. It stayed on her dresser until we broke up her household.

     716

717. I am the only one in my family who loves needlework. I’ve been drawn to it since I was a child…thread shops, an elderly neighbor who showed me her work, inexpensive kits from craft stores. My first remembered project was a crewel kit of an open air fruit and vegetable market.

     717

718. My earliest stitching memory was being 7 or 8 and doing Needlework Class at school, with Mrs Hicks. She was a dottery lady who, at that time, I though was very old. We stitched various simple embroidery stitches on cotton fabric, she called headcloth. She said they were “Process Pieces” I would now compare them to being samplers. After we finished the stitching on our process pieces she took them away and made needle cases and pinwheels for us.

     718

719. A very long time ago my mother taught to embroider a pillowcase. I was about 10 years old. In later years we also did embroidery in home ec. in school. Of all the techniques I have tried over the years I particularly enjoy Jacobean Crewel .

     719

720. After breaking my wrist in late March, it is time to get back to handwork that I love!

     720

721. I thought that my first stitching was a HAED freebie when I discovered cross stitch. But then I remembered another project I had.
     When I first moved to Canberra, we lived at the Fyshwick Caravan Park for 6 weeks. One Sunday, we were just wandering around the industrial estate, and obviously there had been a truck spillage, because there were all those upholstery fabric sample squares spilling all over the road. They were small rectangles. We gathered as many as we could carry, a hundred or so.
     I had grand designs of stitching my favourite quotes onto them and stitching them all together. I think I got about 5 done. No prior experience of stitching, no YouTube at the time, just one stitch bible, and I jumped right in!

     721

722. I have memories of making a doll quilt when I was quite young, back in the 1950s. My mom was not a needle woman so I was always on my own with needle and thread explorations, but that never stopped me. It was always something I just HAD to do. And it still is!

     722

723. When I was a teenager I embroidered a pillow for my mother and presented it on Mothers Day. It has three baby birds in a nest propped upon a wondrous plant with various types of blooming flowers as well as different fruits. My mother kept it on her bed until I went to college, then packed it carefully away. I rediscovered it in my sixties, and it now graces my feinting couch. I am amazed at how good a job I did!

     723

724. My first stitched piece that I finished was a little cross stitched owl on a branch, which was finished into a glasses pocket. I gave it to my grandpa. I must have made it when I was 8 or 9.

     724

725. It would be lovely to win!

     725

726. What a lovely give away collection! The first item of stitchery I ever did was a crewel kit that had my favorite winter bird-2 bright red cardinals in a branch of a pine tree, in winter. My Grandmother had given it to me as a Christmas present when I was 8 years old- 58 years ago this Christmas! It was extra special because she was the one who then oversaw the project and then taught me how to do embroidery with floss, how to knit, and to make pomanders by sticking cloves in an orange. Every year someone in my family ( seven children- six girls and one boy, who all have done some type of needlework) makes her handed down recipe of Turkish Delight! It makes me think of her and all she taught me in my life! Great memories!

     726

727. I remember my first needlework very well – I was about 6-7 years old and my mom teached me how to make chain stitch. My first work was three colour tulips – my mother keep this work until now 🙂

     727

728. I love your emails. I am a member of the Guelph Embroidery Guild (Ontario, Canada) and am often referred to your web-site for guidance.
     This was a great one –just trying to decide if I should order the e-books on trees and snow flakes.
     In these crazy times good patterns and outlines for work are invaluable.
     I hope these will be available in the new year when the road ahead is clearer.
     Thanks for your inspiration.
     NancyG

     728

729. I recently found a poem/sampler I started years ago. It may be the first thing I stitched, I’m not sure. I finished it, framed it and hung it and enjoy it every time I see it!

     729

730. I honestly don’t remember the 1st thing I stitched – maybe a pincushion with my name on it in back stitches? I still have it. 🙂 My cousin taught me on a little piece of scrap fabric with a regular floral pattern, so it made for an easy visual to space out stitches for running & back stitches. I think I was 7.

     730

731. I remember in junior school we learned to sew and I loved it but I don’t remember what the project was and also in senior school I really enjoyed making a cushion and a cover for it in textiles class. I think that’s what got me interested in sewing in general and then cross stitch which eventually led me to become fascinated with other forms of embroidery. I love the fact that I am able to see what so many people are making via the internet, I find it fascinating.

     731

732. I think I first stitched a small cross stitch many years ago. I became hooked and enjoyed cross stitching for many years till I discovered embroidery. Now I always have some handiwork to do.

     732

733. The first thing I ever embroidered was a tiny cross stitch kit of a beehive, in summer school. I was 9! I still have it somewhere…

     733

734. I remember some 60 years ago sitting at my mothers sewing cabinet reading her little how to booklet of embroidery stitches and working so hard to master a bullion knot!

     734

735. Immediately after WWII, we lived in Georgia and were the first dependents to go to occupied Japan. We took a train from Atlanta to Kansas to wait for a port call from Seattle. My mother started me on knitting on that long train ride. Years later, I was an AF recruiting officer in the midwest and spent hours between visits to college campuses (during the Vietnam war), got a book, and started knitting again. I still knit occasionally, but joined EGA and ANG and my life took off in a different direction with hours and years involved with them. Mother knit me sweaters, dresses, crocheted, did hemstitched edge linen napkins..many hand arts in addition to all the WWII knitting she did for the troops.

     735

736. Mary,
     This is my favorite giveaway so far!! The thrill of opening a package full of goodies handpicked – Wow!!
     I can’t really remember my first project, but it was probably an OLD cuptowel that my mother penciled “Clean” and “Dirty” on either ends. I embroidered it with leftover DMC floss. She didn’t use it much, but she kept it and now, my 48 yo eyes can enjoy it hanging on the handle of my stove. 😉

     Carrie Gray “PlaneNut”

     736

737. First stitching? Probably a pillowcase. The pre-stamped kind that you bought at the local 5 and dime store.

     737

738. Love every pattern I have done from the trees to the snowflakes. Fun projects and beautiful work, even if it is my work. Ha!

     738

739. My memory of the first item I embroidered goes back to the days when I was a girl scout…I must have been 8 or 9 years old. One of the troop leaders taught us to embroider and we worked on a project over one Winter. I think I remember that it was a bunch of flowers! I think! Thanks for making me remember many, many years ago!

     739

740. My grandmother was an accomplished seamstress (having supported her family through the Depression) and when I was about 8 she stayed the summer with us. So the first things I actually stitched were gingham dresses for myself and my younger sisters! The first finished embroidery I remember doing is a large 8-point star in variegated floss on the back of a chambray shirt in the ’60s.

     740

741. The first thing I stitched was in high school. We had a needlepoint shop down the road and I went and picked out a bird to needlepoint.

     741

742. The first thing I ever did was pillowcases I made and embroidered flowers in silk on them. I was 13 years old and I made one for each of my brother and sisters and my parents.

     742

743. Oh what a fun topic! The first thing I remember stitching was the face of one of those crochet potholders. It was round, so it was easy to stitch, it was pink, and after you crocheted the actual potholder, you did embroidery with yard to make the eyes and nose and mouth. Then yellow yarn was braided and added as pigtails.
     I guess I learned how to crochet and the very basics of embroidery at the same time.
     I was very fortunate that my Mom and all the women on her side of the family were stitchers of some type or another–sewing, embroidery, crochet, or all of the above. They are all gone now but my love for crafts, especially sewing and embroidery have stuck with me, and I am passing it on to my daughters.
     Thank you for the chance to win one of your giveaways!

     743

744. The first things that I ever stitched were some simple flour sack tea towels done with running stitch when I was 5-6 years old. I do have a sampler I did when I was a bit older which is squirreled away somewhere.

     744

745. My first memory of stitching was sitting with my mother in her sewing room while she was probably making clothes for me and I was “designing “ and stitching, by hand, clothes for my baby doll. I was maybe five or six. This started me with a love of fabrics and threads- both the feel and color.

     745

746. My very first piece was a stamped cross stitch of a clown worked in acrylic yarn. It was a kit given to me a a present. It is still hanging on the wall at my parent’s house.

     746

747. The first thing I can remember stitching is a sampler of different stitches done in rows with wool on very large Aida. It was back when I was 9 or 10 (50+ years ago) and it was an activity we did once a week at school. I still have it and a couple of years ago made another one which was very similar, although my stitching has improved since then. Recently, a friend of mine made them both (the old and the new) into project bags for me to use and I love that they are regularly seen by me and others.

     747

748. My maternal Grandmother could stitch or sew just about anything so she was my instructor when it came to learning how to sew clothing items. My first memory of hand stitching was by her side learning beautifully hand-sewn hem stitches. I still enjoy and feel relaxed sewing in hems by hand. After that, she let me help work on a traditional hooked rug she was making.

     748

749. The first thing I ever stitched was the letter “E” on a counted thread sampler that my mother was working on. It was the first time she was doing this sort of work, and I asked if I could try stitching the next letter. I think I was about 13. From there I tried my hand at stamped cross stitch, crewel embroidery, needlepoint, counted cross stitch, and now surface embroidery. That sampler hangs in her dining room more than 40 years later and it brings back fond memories every time I see it.

     749

750. The first thing I ever stitched was with my Dad’s Mom. It was a cross stitch printed pillow case and I loved it! Both of my grandmothers were very involved in my journey. My Mom’s mother taught me to sew on her treadle Singer.
     Thanks for putting me in your lottery Mary!

     750

751. The first thing I stitched was a DMC cross stitch kit of a bicycle with flowers. It got me hooked!!

     751

752. I remember my mother teaching me to embroider pillowcases to pass the time in the summer. The rest is history….

     752

753. The first piece I stitched was a needle book in school. Lazy daisies, French knots, and outline stitch on felt. That was back, way back in home economics class. We were taught huck towels and sewed a skirt with zipper and set in waistline. I was very proud of my sewing box. They were all kept in cubbies at school. One day, I went to get mine and it was gone. I was devastated. I cried to my mom to talk to the teacher to find it. Anyway it was gone…along with my needle book. I’ll never forget that.

     753

754. One of my first stitchings, when I was about 17, was a smallish Holly Hobbie embroidery that I gave to a friends 9 year old daughter. I had not tried satin stitch prior to this, so her patch work apron was an experience! Many years later I meet up with the no longer little girl and she remembered that embroidered picture with affection – made me feel so blessed that my not so perfect stitching gave so much remembered joy

     754

755. Barbie doll clothes for my sisters dolls. They never fit properly and were not very fashionable but my sister never complained

     755

756. The first thing I remember stitching was about 37 years ago. I was newly married and wanted to make a quilt for our bed. I had no experience in either quilting or embroidery but I did like to sew. Mentioning this project to My mother-in-law, she introduced me to pre-printed embroidery blocks. There were 12 of them. She also taught taught me the back stitch, the lazy daisy stitch and the French knot. I was so excited that I worked on it when I could. About a year later I sent it to a church to be quilted. It took another year to get back because they has so much trouble with my seams being all different (mainly 5/8 inch) and nothing square. I also had huge knots in the embroidery. I have since challenged myself to go on from there because I like learning new things. I sorry to say that I don’t have the quilt anymore. I sold it to help my parents. Hopefully it’s still being loved.

     756

757. I definitely started with doll clothes, more cutting than stitching. My mother and grandmother introduced me to stamped embroidery, crochet, and tatting while I was still in grade school.

     757

758. The first thing I ever remember stitching was a set of pillow cases for my father for Christmas. I barely got them finished in time and the stitching was not great, but he used them until they fell apart. I was about 6 years old at the time.

     758

759. Hi Mary
     I still have what I think is the first thing I ever stitched – 2 small table mats made with ecru and blue binca, with running stitch rows in different coloured yarns and borders of cross stitch. My Mum kept them for years. I made them in primary school so they’re getting on a bit – in the mid 50s at a guess – guess I’m proof of the power of teaching stitching in schools!!

     759

760. I don’t really remember what the first thing I ever stitched I think it was one of those stamped embroidery pieces they had for sale at Woolworth’s. I’m sure my mother tried to teach me something when I saw some embroidered pieces that were in the linens she got when my parents married. I wanted to learn as a kid but really didn’t have much patience until I got older. I did some needlepoint in my 20s, but quickly became bored with having to fill in all background. I then became interested in counted cross stitch and did that for quite a long time. I eventually got back into embroidery about 5 years ago and found your tutorial videos on YouTube. That helped me get a better grasp on the stitches. I’m a visual learner and your videos helped me understand the stitches immensely. I have a copy of The Embroidery Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden and it’s helpful for some stitches, but I’ve discovered that many of the stitches you have videos for were not included in the book. I’ve discovered that I really like Jacobean stitches. I bought the Jumble pattern you had and really enjoyed working on it.

     760

761. The first thing i ever tried to stitch was a cross stitch bedding set for my dollhouse.

     761

762. Hi, The first thing I can remember stitching was a ‘Semco’ pre printed piece. It had flowers including daisies on it and an archway. There was a picture showing the completed piece but I can’t remember if the threads came with it or mum provided them. I can remember being very impatient when mum insisted on doing the dusting before allowing us to sit down and do embroidery. Although there was also knitting, crochet, tatting. As it is now, there always seemed to be so much uninteresting ‘necessary’ stuff to do before the really enjoyable stuff could be done.

     762

763. Describe the first thing you ever stitched! If that’s not quite possible, what’s your earliest stitching memory? -when I was about 6, my grandmother started me on one of the pictures that are printed on muslin (think deer in the woods). I have it, not yet finished.

     763

764. I can’t remember the first I did, but the first thing I can remember was a pre stamped
     set of pillow cases from a company called Lee Wards. That was over 50 years ago and the company is no longer in business but I an still here with needle in hand.
     Ashley

     764

765. I guess like many people my first recollection of making anything was of a needle case, which I gave to my mother and inherited when she passed 10 years ago. She had kept it over 40 years. Like her one of my treasured items is the first and only item, my son ever made, a bright yellow felt pin cushion, with a few long red stitches which he proudly presented to me when he was 5. Unfortunately football was more interesting and he has never repeated any other stitches.

     765

766. My recollection of my first stitching project is a table runner on linen. I was probably 8 to 10 years old. It is a stamped cross stitch of a couple of trees and deer. I’ve kept it all these years (and that is a lot of years) and am amused at the colors I chose. The deer and the trees are multicolored divided into about thirds I suppose. Hot pink, yellow, green…purple. And the back is a jumble of long traveling stitches. My mother never was interested in needlework… so no help there. Ha.

     766

767. The first thing I’ve stitched was a flower bouquet on Aida. It was my mom’s birthday and I wanted to make something different from my usual drawn gift cards, so I found a scheme in one of her magazines. My mom was delighted!

     767

768. First piece I ever embroidered was a flour sack dish towel. It was a Christmas gift for my grandmother. I had to take the flour sack apart, wash it, then hem it. Finally, it was stamped with a design, hooped, and embroidered. Most of the embroidery was done in outline stitch. The design was a little French chef. I think that I was about eight at the time.

     768

769. The first thing I remember finishing was a little cross stitched pot pourri sachet, when I was 14. I still have it!

     769

770. The first thing I remember stitching was a sun face needlepoint pillow in 3 colors, gold, orangish yuk and purple. It was hideous and the finishing was pretty awful too, all done by me. I kept it for many years and my dog loved to rest her head on it. She and that cushion went to heaven together. I guess you have to start somewhere.

     770

771. My earliest stitching memories are from grade seven Home Economics class, where I used a lovely pink sewing basket. I currently am fascinated with monograms and cyphers.

     771

772. The first thing I stitched was “chicken scratch” on a yellow and green gingham apron. And I still have it around somewhere.

     772

773. My first embroidery was cross-stitch on pillowcases. My grandmother taught me embroidery and that is the project that she gave me to start.

     773

774. The first thing I remember stitching was a flower design on a chambray shirt.

     774

775. My first foray into stitching was at Primary School. We stitched beautiful coloured threads through loops in the fabric making lines and zigzag patterns and gorgeous colour combinations purple and lemon, orange and lime green, crimson and soft pink. It was a hand towel for mum. That combination of colour and pattern and creating, hooked me! I have been embroidering ever since.

     775

776. The first thing I stitched was a Jiffy crewel embroidery kit of backyard critters, in the mid 1960’s. After my mom passed I took it off her wall and brought it home with me. It now hangs in my hallway, a bit rag tag though!

     776

777. Any surprise given by you is worth having. I love stitching and have been doing so fo tr many years. I am 70 now. I have been knitting since I was a teen. I started counted cross stitch in my 20s but I don’t remember what. I have given every thing I made away.

     777

778. The first time I remember stitching anything was when I was 8 or 9. It was in a children’s group at church and we stitched some flowers on a banner. The only stitch I remember was the lazy daisy stitch and I remember I wasn’t very happy with how it looked when I was done. It probably looked fine but I could see all my mistakes. I was introduced to Brazilian embroidery in my early 30`s and that’s when my love of embroidery was born.

     778

779. I THINK the first thing I stitched may have been an apron… But when I was pretty young I took an embroidery class done on towels— sort of weaving the floss under vertical long threads in the toweling. I don’t remember what that type of embroidery is called—-
     Hope I win— but whether or not I ever do…
     Thank you for ALL you do for us!

     779

780. When I was about 7 or 8 I would stay with my nanna during the school holidays, and during these times I was gifted a small red and white sewing box. Inside was a collection of embroidery tools and some squares of cotton with little flowers printed on the corners, nanna taught me how to embroider the flowers, and now 50 years later I’m still embroidering.

     780

781. I was introduced to embroidery and needlepoint by my Grandmother around the age of 10. However, my real commitment and interest began with a needlepoint project at the age of 21 and then an embroidery project to commemorate my son’s birth in August 1981. I’ve only recently, since retirement been able to resume stitching and my love of all textile arts.

     781

782. Hi:

     One of the first things that I stitched was a kit with roses on it. It was an embroidery kit that I had bought. It turned out not too bad. I stitched on my lunch hour and every night after supper to get it done and then I could start another one. It was very addicting. Since then I have tried cross stitch (which I also love), needlepoint and blackwork.

     Thank you and Merry Christmas

     782

783. I so enjoy your wonderful help with the hand work. I am delighted you are from Kansas, I am too.

     783

784. The first piece I ever stitched was a pillowcase with a little yellow duck in a blue sailor hat. He had orange feet and bill. I did my name underneath with a variegated pastel rainbow floss. I used that pillowcase for years it finally wore out. My Mom saved the embroidery, but I couldn’t find it after she died. But I still remember it well.

     784

785. I love your question for today Mary. My first memories of stitching would be in the late 1960’s. I was taught by my great-grandmother and mother. I was only 10 when they deemed I was old enough to have my own wooden hoop, scissors, dresser scarves, DMC Floss and needles. My lessons were on dresser scarves ordered from Herrschners. I was taught stem stitches, daisy stitches, french knots (my favorite), outline stitches, etc. I continued to do embroidery on pillow cases, scarves, etc. throughout my teens and 20’s, at which time I was introduced to counted cross stitch (1985). I still have the pillowcases my mom made for me and stitched cases from my great-grandmother and grandmother. My grandmother loved to crochet so she trimmed off the edges of our pillow cases and scarves. Such happy, wonderful memories, thank you for taking me down memory lane.

     785

786. The first thing I ever stitched was a pillow for a doll. I hand sewed it together from scraps my Mum had and then used some scrap yarn to stitch designs on it. I was so proud of it. My mother ended up using it as a pin cushion for years. Hmmm…I wonder what ever happened to it. ❤

     786

787. The first piece I recall stitching was when I was a teenager. It was a needlepoint on very fine count silk gauze. It was a rendering of one of the popular Hummel figurines. I’m sure I attempted simpler projects when I was younger and for my 4H club, but I have no memory of specifics.

     787

788. Oh my goodness, my first stitches. It was 8th grade home economics (You can tell I’m old. I don’t thing they call it that any more). We had to make a simple stuffed horse and then embroider on it. I hated the process and the result. While I continued to knit and crochet, I never did any more embroidery until I joined a crazy quilting group. It became fun and now I love it.

     This is your most fun giveaway yet. Thanks again Mary.

     788

789. First thing I remember stitching was a stamped design on a dresser scarf that came as a kit from a hobby shop.

     789

790. My first project was two swans swimming in a lake. Surrounding the picture was a lot of flowers. This pattern was stamped on black silk. It was the first project I framed.

     790

791. My earliest stitching was on burlap with yarn, made in school to give as a Christmas present, 2nd grade.

     791

792. the first thing I ever stitched was a pretty rock garden. I was maybe 22.
     I know, I was a late bloomer.
     I don’t know where it ever went but when I think back I remember doing some pretty good french knots.
     Thanks for the memory

     792

793. I’m sure that it a very simple item stamped on cotton. But, I do remember working on several crewl kits designed by Erica Wilson when in my early 20’s. Her projects taught me several new stitches. Working with the wool helped me learn the stitches easily. A great intro for me to embroidery.

     793

794. I made a set of blackwork cuffs for a medieval shirt for my dad

     794

795. My earliest stitching memory is from when I was 7 yrs old. I drew a likeness of Piglet on a wash cloth and tried to embroider it for my new baby brother.

     795

796. First thing I can remember stitching is a chain stitched bird on a piece of blue hessian type fabric and made into a hanging piece when I was about 10years old. I still have it.

     796

797. I remember stitching pillow cases, either preprinted or iron-on designs. DMC thread from the dime store (those stores we had before big box stores). And oh the array of colors of thread – nothing compared to the variety of colors available today. I probably spent hours as a child looking at embroidery thread at the dime stores. The pillow cases are long gone but 70 plus years later I am still stitching.

     797

798. Describe the first thing you ever stitched! If that’s not quite possible, what’s your earliest stitching memory? My earliest stitching memory is stitching an embroidered pillowcase with my grandmother.

     798

799. The first thing I embroidered was a little hand towel. My aunt bought it for me when I was visiting her for a while during Summer vacation. I must have been about nine years old. I wish I still had it.

     799

800. The first thing I ever stitched was a sampler, which was taught to all the 10 year old girls at our during -the-week class. We were Larks, age 9; Bluebirds, age 10; and Seagulls, age 11. I was 10. It was stamped cross stitch with the motto for all three groups, “Greet the Day with a Song, Make Others Happy, Serve Gladly.” That was 64 years ago and I still have it. As an adult I had it framed and it currently resides on my dining room wall. Unfortunately that was the only embroidery that I did growing up, and just recently started learning the art.

     800

801. Dear Ms Mary Corbet and fellow stitcher,
     My first embroidery was pink DMC floss daisies done in classic detached chain stitch. They were placed on a stamped cotton pillow case that my Grandma had as a Work-In-Progress in her handwork travel bag. She made it sound like I was helping her! In reality, she knew I wanted to learn in order to put cool late-60’s decor and repairs on my favorite jeans. Those jeans were the very next project, done in those same daisies plus some buttonhole stitch. I can still remember the pink floss…
     I don’t know if Grandma ever finished those pillowcases – I saw them later with a younger sister bent over them, also practicing stitches while honored to help Grandma with her work.
     Thank you again for the opportunity to win such a wonderful prize! I have been drooling over Elisabetta’s work ever since I saw her wheat stitchery while doing research for a breadbag for my husband’s shopping. It was probably linked here, wasn’t it! And now, the sea!
     Thank you, Mary, for *your* inspiration1
     Please stay well,
     laura

     801

802. The first project that I remember actually completing was an embroidery of three little lambs jumping over a fence. I was thrilled to learn how to do French knots. I was around 9 yrs old & still have the piece over 45 yrs later. Before that, from very young, my mother would iron patterns onto scrap fabric for me to sew. I also made a lot of scrappy looking doll clothes & decorated my cardboard box doll house with curtains & lines.

     A surprise box sounds like a wonderful prize to me!

     802

803. First thing I ever stitched was a counted cross stitch picture of a puppy holding a chewed sneaker and shoelace in his mouth! Puppy wishes inspired me.

     803

804. The first thing I ever stitched? I embroidered a denim shirt! Not sure what ever happened to it; that was a long time ago!

     804

805. The earliest thing I remember stitching was Barbie clothes. I literally drew a t-shirt dress kind of shape and cut it out twice then used a running stitch in wool to sew up the sides and sleeves. No shaping whatsoever! I think I was about 5. The first embroidery I did was a small children’s tapestry kit of an owl, given to me by my favourite aunt. I still have it!

     805

806. My first embroidery was a Christmas Ornament I stitched in a primary school class. It was a folk design ironed onto white felt. The completed embroidery was then backed with a slightly larger coloured piece of felt stuffed and with a ribbon loop sandwiched between the layers. We could choose whether to stitch on the lines or fill in with satin stitch. I chose to fill in and loved the ornament I made. It lived happily on the family Christmas tree for many years and then “disappeared”! I found the Vogue (I think) pattern in a de-stash sale a few decades later though I have not completed another as yet!

     806

807. First, thank you for always inspiring us and sharing your creative ideas! I look forward to the e-mail news that arrives in my inbox. You have been a catalyst for me to perfect my techniques, try new styles of embroidery, and expand my free-hand projects. I would love the gift basket. However, it is a bonus to what you deliver year around. Thank you!

     807

808. Wow, its been awhile. Not sure when my 1st stitch project occurred, but I recently made a few scapulars to refresh my skill set. I’m hoping you come up with more kits as its challenging to find all the materials in this environment

     808

809. I was taught basic stitches like back stitch, cross stitich, satin stitch on tea towels and pillowcases starting at 7 yrs old at a Boys and Girls club I belonged to. None of them survived, but I teach cross stitch and embroidery at the very same Boys and Girls club when it is open because of the pandemic.

     809

810. The first thing I stitched was a small cross stitch sampler. the kind that had the design printed on the cloth. It hasn’t been saved, so I don’t remember what my stitching looked like. I was only about 6, so it probably wasn’t neat and I guess that the cross stitches probably didn’t face in the same direction.

     810

811. I still have it and I’m nearly 70! A stuffed kangaroo about 10inches tall with various sampler stitches around the legs. My design, but helped by our craft teacher at school. Not bad if I do say so myself! Came across it the other day and thought about “moving it on” but couldn’t. Now there’s sentimentality for you!

     811

812. I honestly don’t remember exactly what it was i first stitched, but I do remember the experience. When i was just a kid, my aunt (who was also my Godmother) always gave me lots of gifts for Christmas. One Christmas she gave me an embroidery kit. It looked interesting, but I didn’t know what to do with it. She patiently explained what to do, and after that I was hooked. I’ve loved embroidery ever since. My aunt has long since passed away and I wish I could tell her what that one little gift did for me.

     812

813. I do like Elisabetta Holzer’s work. I have her Estense Embroidery book. I have used Sotema linen for the Estense work. Embroidery has been a real lifesaver during this unusual year. Keep well.

     813

814. I remember doing huck towels for Mother’s Day in the 3rd grade. I found them in the linen closet after she passed, she had kept them for over 60 years.

     814

815. I was 10 years old when my paternal grandmother taught me to sew a small quilt for a doll. She also taught me to embroider on a hankie, to crochet. We moved from Illinois to Florida the following year and I didn’t use any of those talents for years. When I was in my early 20s I started practicing all those lessons. It took a lot of effort to recover those abilities, but with perseverance, I’ve come a long way. My favorite thing now is Crazy quilting because I can use so many different types of handwork. I’ve even learned tatting! Needlework is such a rewarding thing to do.

     815

816. Aged about 8, I first stitched a teddy bear onto a pillowcase for my cousin’s new baby daughter. It was lumpy and puckered, but I was very proud of it.

     816

817. The first project I remember was a printed cross stitch pillowcase. It was to be done in pink and purple. My sister had the same pillowcase that she was to do in yellow and orange. I don’t know if either of us finished either the pillowcase or the matching dresser scarf.

     817

818. Mary, what delightful gifts!
     The first memory I have of stitching was of the hemmed first sampler that I did in my 3rd year of primary school – pale blue linen background. Hemming stitches were pulled out if they didn’t quite match my teachers expectations – quite a few tears. There were pulled treads for the line of stitches in any colour of the rainbow -but I only had white thread which in retrospect must have looked rather soiled when I’d finished! Thank goodness for Lux flakes!

     818

819. One of the earliest things I embroidered was an owl on a branch in wool tapestry threads. It turned out OK but I still had (and still have) a lot to learn. Practice has made me better but there are still so many techniques, fabrics, threads, beads, etc to try.

     819

820. About 3 years ago I took up embroidery,and was thrilled to stitch my first lazy daisy flower!

     820

821. The first thing I remember is a yellow tablecloth my great aunt gave me. She had started it but arthritis stopped her from finishing it. It is stamped w flowers from probably the 1940 to 50s. I got it in 1967. I was 8 years old. I have it hanging on the wall mistakes and all, it is a treasure. I did it in all my gmas favorite colors. My Aunt was her sister in law that she adored. I adored them both. I miss them still.

     821

822. I have enjoyed various artistic forms all my life, but had not tried any embroidery until an evening class in crewel that I took in my 30’s. We learned so many stitches making a scene with a squirrel and elaborate flowers. We made a sampler for reference as we progressed and I still have both. Probably the best turkey work I’ve done yet!

     822

823. The first thing I can remember stitching was a Garfield Christmas ornament. Really would love to win the Jewel of Sea- thanks Kim

     823

824. My earliest stitching memory is of a counted cross stitch project. I was on bed rest expecting my now-adult daughter and a friend brought me a project to learn on. I’ve learned a lot of stitches and created a lot of projects since then, but I still can’t make the backs of my works neat and pretty like hers were!

     824

825. The first thing I ever stitched was a tea towel with stamped on designs. My grandmother taught me to stitch and she let me pick out what I wanted on my towel. Along with small designs along the edge, there is also a tree in the middle. You can see the progress I made in understanding how to stitch by looking at both halves of the tree on the back side. I still have the towel and bring it our sometimes for fun.

     825

826. The first piece I ever stitched was a crewel pillow for my sister’s wedding gift in 1975.

     826

827. My first stitching. I was 4 and I stitched a pocket. My mum cut it out and applied bias to the top edge. I stitched the binding down, sewed on a button and herringboned a decorative triangle on. I still have the pocket.

     827

828. Hi Mary,

     I don’t remember exactly the first thing I embroidered, because I was keeping a course, so probably it was something like a sampler of different stitches. But what I remember very well and will always, is a dozen of designs inspired by and embroidered in Bayeux that were supposed to form three panels of a screen! You imagine ?!!! It took me about 10 years, and I finished them… but they were never transformed in a screen. They sleep quietly somewhere in a bag…
     Diane from Montréal in Québec

     828

829. The very first thing I ever stitched was a very simple cloth doll at my infant school. I was about six at the time. Ido remember it looked nothing like the one the teacher had shown us! I think she looked more like a scarecrow…….and no, unlike the other girls, I was not allowed to take her home!

     829

830. The first memorable piece I stitched was for my grandma. She loved birds, but especially owls. I stitched a kit that was on blue green fabric and wild 70’s colors. It was a fun owl to stitch. I would sit on her front steps during the summer while we stayed at her house when mom went to Denton to finish her degrees during the summers. She loved it so much, she hung it right by the front door so everyone who left the house would see it. I believe that is why I so love embroidery so much and have very few of my own pieces. I love to stitch for others to bring them joy.

     830

831. The first thing I remember stitching is a Girl Scout sampler I did when I was around 10. I found it when we were cleaning out my mother’s house and have it hanging in my sewing room.

     831

832. My first piece was a dresser scarf. Which I still have as a UFO.

     832

833. When I was 8 my parents borrowed a beach house from some family friends and took us on holiday. Before we went I went to the drapers in the small town where I lived and bought some fabric ( a dressmaking cotton), some thread ( a sewing cotton) and needles and here my needlework journey began (50 years ago almost).
     Thank you for this opportunity.

     833

834. The first thing I remember stitching is a sampler when I was approximately 10yrs old about 40+yrs ago. I have loved hand sewing ever since. I find it relaxes me when I am worried or troubled by something

     834

835. An iron on transfer, from a magazine, of the horoscope sign Cancer was my first “project.” It was stitched for a boy I loved in my youth. That elaborate crab was far from fabulous, but it was something no other kid in our school owned.

     835

836. My dear Great Aunt Esther, taught us how to sew on buttons. My dear Sister, Terri was 6 and I was 5. That was the first thing I ever stitched. She also taught us how to use a seam ripper to salvage buttons and zippers from clothing destined for the rag bag.

     Because we had learned to tread and knot a needle, she let us take from the rag bag to make doll clothes out of. With her guidance, there were a couple of really well dress Barbies.

     I was 50 before I learned to embroider. Now, it’s like a disease!

     836

837. I don’t remember the design of the first thing I stitched, but I remember because my grandmother was teaching me how to embroider. That is a wonderful memory. I also remember the frustration of trying to keep the threads together so they would look nice.
     Joyful memories.

     837

838. I think the very first thing I stitched was a hand-sewn potholder for a 4-H project, or perhaps some plastic canvas needlepoint! But the very first step of my “adult” stitching life (project chosen completely on my own) I remember vividly – a little cross stitch kit with a chick and a flower and a bee, that had a nice, simple finish as a little banner/flag that I hung on the bulletin board in my childhood bedroom – it’s actually still there to this day! I remember working on it while volunteering at the State Fair in my county’s 4-H booth, and being so excited because I stumbled into another stitcher only a few years older than me – and a boy, at that!

     838

839. Best challenge yet!

     I do not have any photos of my early needle work, or even my more recent stuff, as everything, photos, work, supplies, etc. burned up in our apartment fire in late January 2020.

     But here is how I learned to do my first needle work. At the age of 8, in 1964.

     My mother volunteered to be the Brownie leader for the Jewish community kids (and anyone in the neighborhood of the synagogue where meetings were held, Jewish or not). She started the second year I qualified for Brownies since there was no one else, and continued long after all seven of us had graduated from COLLEGE.

     My mother created a project for us using terrycloth. First we traced our hands on butcher paper – just the outsides, for size. Then we cut out terrycloth to fit kind of like a washcloth glove. Then my mother gave us permanent markers so we could draw anything we wanted to in terms of faces, clothing, etc.

     However, her purpose was to teach us a few simple sewing stitches. So (sew – pun intended), we learned how to use running stitches to hem our washcloth hand puppet things, we learned how to sew on buttons, and we all had to show we could to a small row of I think split stitch. She helped with showing us how to tac on bric-a-brac if we had the patience and skill level, and how to do a little other fun stuff like back stitch to the truly talented.

     I loved that project and haven’t thought about it in years! I remember doing this with her when I was in college and would be home on a break. I would be her assistant. And 8 years ago, when it was my daughter’s time, I stepped up and for several years was the assistant leader to the GS troop where my daughter went to school. I brought to them several of the crafting projects my mother taught us, because they are timeless.

     Thanks for the walk down a happy memory!

     839

840. I can’t remember the first thing I have ever stitched because I was a wee girl about 5-6 years old when my mum taught me but it could have been the grasshopper I stitched onto a pillowcase for my stuffed toys.

     840

841. My first stitching project was a yellow and white gingham supper cloth, I stitched white cross stitch in a border pattern. I made this for my Mother when I was a Brownie. Probably about 55 years ago.

     841

842. With my French Nanny!!!! I just have been no more than 5 or 6!!!! Put that away for 45 years, and now Embroidering is my total passion!!!!

     842

843. The earliest thing I can remember stitching was a “dance hall skirt” like the ones worn by the saloon girls on Gunsmoke. My girlfriend and I each hand stitched one out of old sheets and dyed them nile green after they were finished. Good times!

     843

844. The first thing I stitched was a orange and purple bulldog made from felt. You put it together with a blanket stitch and stuffed it. I was 13 and very proud of the job I had done.

     844

845. I cherish everything made with the hand and the heart.
     My first stitching was a table cloth with a centre circle of honey suckle. I stitched and stitched passing the hours away while pregnant with my first child in 1981 and my husband was away in the Navy on a 6 month deployment. He was due home on the planned date of birth. Luckily our little bundle of joy held on for one more week after my husband returned from sea before we welcomed him into our lives. That honeysuckle table cloth is still the centre of family entertaining to this day, 39 years later.

     845

846. One of the first things I attempted to make was Christmas stockings for my family..we still use them!

     846

847. Hello Mary,
     The earliest stitching I can remember had to be with my grandma. She taught me how to embroider & quilt at a very young age.
     Thank you for sharing your beautiful work & inspiring others.

     847

848. Dear Mary,

     My first stitching experience was making dolls’ clothes using scraps of fabric given to us by a neighbour. I tried to make the cloths as neatly stitched as possible and dreamed that my doll would eventually have the most beautiful wardrobe of outfits for every occasion as any doll could ever have. My father eventually put a stop to it as he thought that there were more productive things I should be doing with my time.

     848

849. Really can’t remember, it was over 70 years ago. My guess it was either a potholder or a dish towel. Learned from my grandmother and in the Brownies. The first I can remember was back in the early 70s and is a complex sampler kit printed on linen. It took me two years and 1700 hours to do it. But I have loved it ever since. As I tired of the hours, I would remind myself that an 11 year old girl did the original!

     849

850. What a great giveaway! I have her two other books, and her work is amazing.

     The first thing I stitched was a cross stitch in purple with a profile of Martha and George Washington. It wasn’t finished. I know that because I recently found it in my moms sewing box…I’m 65 and worked on it when I was about 9 or 10. Still love embroidery, perhaps I’ll drag it out and finish it! Thanks for helping dredge up a memory.

     850

851. Haha. The first thing I ever embroidered was my last name across the back of my high school gym uniform. Back in the 70’s we wore the most god-awful ugly snap-up dark blue gym onesie. But my name was beautifully hand embroidered in script across my back. I had even designed the script myself, and was so proud of it. And as everyone else’s iron-on felt letters fell off during the course of the year’s many launderings, mine stayed true. Darn, I wish I had kept it now.

     851

852. When I think of the first thing I stitched I can’t help but smile. I was 5 so it must have been around 1962 and my Great Grandmother gave me a white linen dresser scarf and she let me choose my colors from her sewing basket. I look at it now, a Blue French Poodle sitting in a basket of yellow and purple daisies and I can hear her voice patiently guiding my little hands.

     852

853. My very first stitched piece was a wild rose my Grandmother Rose drew on a piece of white fabric when I was about 10 or 11 years old. Grandma Rose and I sat on the front porch swing while she showed me how to embroider. It was a nice summer day and Grandma Rose was so patient. I remember it was a pink wild rose with a yellow center. Oh how tickled I was! I’ve been embroidering ever since!

     853

854. I have been drooling over Elisabetta’s book ever since you reviewed it – what a delightful way to do monograms. And would love to have a project kick-started with some lovely linen. Thanks for the Christmas joy you spread.

     854

855. The first thing I ever embroidered was when I was about 6 or 7. My mother gave me a printed cross stitch tray cloth. I don’t remember the exact design–it wasn’t any kind of picture, and I don’t remember if it had flowers or just abstract patterns. When I finished it, she told me I would give it to my grandmother. I assume she told my grandmother that I had made it. When my grandmother’s house was cleared out, either my great-aunt threw it away, or my grandmother had already discarded it. I suspect when my mother got there for the major clearing out, she would have recognized it if she had seen it. At any rate, although I wish someone had found it and passed it on to me, it is gone…..
     Christine

     855

856. These stitching techniques warm my blood thoroughly! I have a problem though. I have bought, bought and am becoming stockpiled with supplies. The problem is that I am so intimidated by it! I look at all the pics and get so exasperated with myself. It’s not the idea of messing up. I don’t know the problem actually. I do know this my hats off to all of you that have conquered this hobby. I think it is absolutely gorgeous!!

     856

857. I remember the first counted cross stitch piece I did. It was a baby sampler for my nephew and recall opening the package and thinking, “I’ll never be able to do this!” Well, I did, and am so glad I persevered!

     857

858. The first thing I ever stitched was a pincushion, with a delicate border. My mom taught me all sorts of needlearts. It was our time together that I so treasured.

     858

859. My amazing and dear Mother (and also my best friend) introduced me to the wonderful world of needlework at the tender age of 9! She started me with oversized, whimsical painted needlepoint canvas and thick yarn! I was hooked on the vibrant colors and ease of the projects. Fortunately, I still have many of those early pieces framed and hanging in my closet today! Leslie

     859

860. The first learning pieces I stitched were iron-on designs that taught me all sorts of stitches, all of this when I was 5 or 6 years old, and I’ve been stitching ever since. In case you’re wondering I have those four learning pieces framed and in my stitching room, they aren’t perfect, but they are full of the memories of who taught me to stitch.

     860

861. That’s hard… One of the first things I remember stitching was a flowered border on the edge of a pillow case. There might have been something before that, but it’s not coming back to me.

     861

862. My earliest memory of embroidering is a pillowcase with flowers. I was probably in 4th grade. My sisters and I would embroider on rainy days at the cabin.

     862

863. My first stitching memory was a linen/lace coverlet for the top of my dresser. It had vines and floral designs transferred on so that I could embroider it. My Grandmother gave it to me along with my first sewing box (my grandfather’s cigar box repurposed) and she taught me all the basic embroidery stitches! I remember the French knot being the most challenging. I was so proud and pleased when I was finished with that first project! I still use the needle book that came in that box 🙂

     863

864. My first stitching memory was a printed canvas of a beagle dog jumping up to catch a ball. I must have been all of five or six years old. It was all done in tent stitch and I still have it.

     864

865. The first thing I ever stitched was a cloth for my dressing table, when I was about 7 years old. I traced animals from colouring in books, then embroidered them! Unfortunately I don’t have the cloth now. I wish I had kept it.

     865

866. The first thing I stitched-I must have been quite young-were mother goose pictures that were outlined and came with plastic colored frames. I suspect I probably still have one around somewhere.

     866

867. I stitched a flower bouquet from a kit that was a give-away at our gas station. It was on a bright yellow background with lots of lazy daisy stitches.

     867

868. Baby quilt where each of we relatives used surface embroidery stitches with cotton floss for our individual portraits on the 1958 polyester satin popular at the time, to be stitched together for my cousin. I might be the only one left still alive who participated in the 9-block quilt. When she became a mother herself many years later, she brought the quilt to show me with her second son. I’ve been stitching personalized baby quilts ever since.

     868

869. The first thing I remember stitching were “memory” pillow cases for my girlfriends for a sleepover when I was 13. Each girl received a personalised comment about themselves. I tried to make them upbeat and funny. I have to say, they weren’t very professional looking, but a lot of thought and time went into them. ☺

     869

870. I monogrammed a blouse. It was white and I used black floss and a iron on pattern

     870

871. My first memory of stitching was my Mom and my sister used to shop at Kmart and buy the embroidery iron patterns and stitch a pattern of our choice onto pillow cases and send them by mail to my Nana in Ireland. When we would visit her she would have them always put away in a safe place and never use them because they thought they were too pretty. I was honored but also thought that it was a shame that she did not use them because we put so much work into them. Anyway,

     871

872. My first introduction to needlepoint was at a Newcomers Group in Ohio. The class was taught by a fellow member who was very patient. It was in the 70’s and the colors were avocado green and yellow and we learned basic stitches that all had a basis in the gobelin and mosaic stitches. That was a class that I have since moved on and expanded on into thread painting and gold work.

     872

873. I remember hand stitching Barbie clothes as my first sewing project, but hated it because I had to use felt…yuck. So then I found a cotton towel & cut it up and stitched a Bible verse for my Mom….the look on her face when she realized I had cut up her dish towel was quite memorable. She went and bought me some muslin to continue practicing my embroidery.

     873

874. The first thing I remember stitching is a clown – the colors were red, blue and yellow. It must have been a stamped kit. I was between the ages of 6 and 8 years old (we moved from that house when I was 8). My mom kept it a long time.

     874

875. There’s no way I can remember the first thing I made. My earliest memory is sitting in the chair in our living room working on something, getting one of those knots in the thread, and mom having to show me, again, how to get them out without breaking the thread.

     875

876. Oh, what fun. This is the best ever!!! A real “surprise” box from Mary!!! I want it, I want it!!! LOL. Gosh, it would be so much fun to have something Mary Corbett actually held in her hot little hands and stitched! :D. Well, I’ll be waiting on pins and needles, but trying not to sit on them, to hear the winners…

     876

877. I worked on an embroidery project for campfire girls to earn a bead for my vest.

     877

878. The first piece I ever remember stitching was a small stamped Semco pattern. With the help of a very patient mother I backstitched a small kangaroo out in the bush and learned how to do lazy daisy stitches for the bush flowers.
     I was so proud of that piece and still have it. I used to put it on my pillow as a decorative touch when I made my bed.
     I believe I was about 7. I am still stitching many years later.

     878

879. The first thing I ever stitched? LOL At first I couldn’t remember, but it suddenly came to mind. In fact, I have it somewhere. I “embroidered” a beach scene of a couple of palm trees and a bit of beach. The floss was all red and the fabric was pale yellow cotton – cut out of my daddy’s old pajamas that were in Mama’s scrap bag. Then I cut it out and “appliqued” it to a rectangle of burgundy cotton to make Mama a “kitchen towel”. Unfortunately, when it was hung up, the trees were standing on their heads!!!! What a hoot!!!! I was 6 years old.

     879

880. When I was a little girl, about 8 years old, my grandmother brought me a small muslin apron. She had me write my name on it in script. Then she showed me how to do a running stitch in black along the drawn line. She then taught me how to do a French knot and had me place one in the break between each running stitch. I am 74 years old and I still have that apron.

     880

881. My earliest stitching memory is my mom giving me a hoop and teaching me to embroider Days of the Week dish towels. They were iron on patterns on what she called a flour sack – really just cotton dish towels she bought from Herschners. I still have the wooden hoop

     881

882. My grandmother taught me to stitch. My earliest stitching project was a printed pillowcase from my her stash.

     882

883. The earliest thing I remember stitching was a cross stitch of a rose for my sister. It was so nice she had it professionally framed. That was over thirty years ago.

     883

884. I do not remember the first thing I ever stitched. I do remember my mother teaching me and how much fun I had playing with the hoop and not actually stitching.
     It was a few years later I actually settled down and enjoyed it.

     884

885. Describe the first thing you ever stitched! If that’s not quite possible, what’s your earliest stitching memory?
     I was about 6 years old. I had asked my mother to let me iron something. Little did I know what that would bring… she gave me a simple white pillowcase to iron and when I was done she asked if I wanted to learn to sew. I said, yes. She showed me how to stitch a stem stitch along the edge of the pillowcase. She had me stitch tiny even stitches, ripping it out over and over until I had it just the way she wanted it. After I’d stitched all around the pillowcase she helped me add my initials to it before we placed it over my pillow. That night and many nights afterward, I’d fall asleep fingering those initials. I was so proud of myself. This simple lesson led to a lifetime love of needlework – and it was done without an embroidery hoop! I don’t know what happened to that pillowcase but I think it was my best work ever.

     885

886. My the earliest project that I can clearly remember working on was a set of napkins with a different flower design on each one. I was probably 8-9 years old. Embroidery was one of the main activities when I went to visit my grandparents for the weekend. I think they were a present for my mother.

     886

887. The first thing I ever stitched was a sampler in elementary school. I do not have it anymore, but I remember it had pulled threads in it, different embroidery stitches, and my name.

     887

888. I absolutely remember the first embroidery project I ever stitched. It was a Girl Scout Sampler. We sat in a circle on the floor of my family room because my mother was our Brownie leader and we began stitching on a pre-printed sampler. I managed not to stitch the project to my Brownie Uniform as some of the others did, not to create a tangled mess of thread everywhere, and somehow I created some attractive stitches. Possibly I had handled a needle and thread before at my mother’s side since she made most of my clothes and sewing supplies were always around, but embroidery was completely new to me and I was positively hooked at age 8!

     888

889. My first stitching memory comes from Nursery School. I remember stitching a cardboard shape with holes punched in it, using a shoe lace. I loved doing the stitching, but would get so frustrated when the shoe lace caught on the corner of the cardboard. At the time, getting it unhooked was a challenge!

     889

890. Hi Mary,
     It’s been awhile ago, but I remember stitching little kits of cross stitch. I also remember loving to do needlepoint, silk ribbon embroidery, and learning regular embroidery stitches. Such fun! Some form of stitchery has always been with me. I would love to receive a giveaway of Monograms and More!

     890

891. We had needlework lessons at the little primary school I went to in England. I must have been six or seven when we started a cross stitch sampler using coton a broder. My stitches were messy and my teacher said my starting and finishing knots were like footballs! Still I loved it and she didn’t give up on me so I owe her a lot. Thanks for the question Mary – a pleasant trip down memory lane.

     891

892. One of the first things I can remember stitching is an Historical Map of the United States printed on 100% linen. This was more than 60 years ago and was stitched in red, blue and black. My grandmother, an excellent stitcher, was my tutor. The piece was never framed, but I intend to do that as a reminder of my stitching roots.

     892

893. My earliest recollection of sewing was in year one, we were taught to cross stitch on Gingham fabric and I was so into it that I stitched my piece to my skirt and all the kids laughed at me. That did not stop me I still stitch today 62 years later.
     Thank you for the wonderful giveaway Mary, much appreciated.
     Have a Blessed Christmas.

     893

894. The first thing I stitched was a piece of red gingham. My grandmother taught me how to hem the square and make cross stitch patterns with white DMC thread on the red squares. I still have that cloth with all its memories

     894

895. Oh I remember my first stitching memory – it was a needlepoint monogram! My mom did spectacular needlepoint and a little bit of surface embroidery, and she set me up with a little project one high school summer…it still makes me smile!

     895

896. When I was 13, my grandmother gave me a large piece of fabric with cats stamped on it, a needle and some yarn. No instructions so it didn’t happen. In 1975, I walked past a crewel kit for a Christmas wreath and knew I had to stitch it. I finished it and I’ve been stitching ever since.

     896

897. My earliest stitching memory is finishing a project that my Aunt Dorothy, who was also my godmother, never had the chance to finish before she passed away. It was a 12 Days of Christmas felt tree skirt. The pieces are sewed on felt and embroidered with sequins. It was a kit from the 60’s. I found it in my Mom’s sewing stuff and finished it about 35 years ago. I don’t really remember Aunt Dorothy but this item makes me feel her more in my heart.

     897

898. My mother taught my sister and I to embroider on tea towels, and later pillowcases. It became a life-long hobby for both of us. Thanks Mom! I taught myself huck-weaving in my teens, then tried black work, crewel, and cross stitch. Now I am focused on Brazillian embroidery–love that rayon floss.

     898

899. You are always thinking. It’s impressivet

     899

900. I don’t remember the first thing that I stitched but I remember my mother teaching me how to embroider when I was a young teenager. Most of the things we stitched were flowers or garden scenes. That is still my favorite subject to stitch.

     900

901. Hi Mary! Thank you for all your hard work, I just love everything you do. My VERY first “stitching” project wasn’t actually stitched. It was a tablecloth I did as a pre-teen with those horrible embroidery paint tubes! Oh the horror! (You may be too young to remember those paint tubes.) My 94 year old mom recently dug out that tablecloth and we had a good laugh, and I have decided to embroider over those old faded painted lines, wish me luck!

     901

902. The first thing I stitched was an ABC picture given to me by our neighbor. That was 70 years ago and I have loved sewing since.

     902

903. The first thing I stitched was a Christmas ornament from a shop called Country Goose in Phx. which is long gone’ where I learned to stitch. Merry Christmas Mary and thanks for all you do!

     903

904. My earliest stitching memory:

     My mother was a member of the church women’s group as was my friend’s mother and the annual fall Tea & Sale was coming up. There was to be a table for children’s fancy work! My friend and I got together and decided to make tray cloths. We withdrew threads from all sides and fringed the edges all round. Then, using two or three strands of two colours of floss we did a running stitch in the withdrawn area. We ironed on (or Mum did) our favourite patterns from the envelope of Vogue transfer patterns. I do not recall the motifs or colours; most likely, though, they were blue flowers in straight stitch with green leaves of some kind. You talk about proud of ourselves when we showed them off! Whether they sold, or not, remains a mystery.

     904

905. The first thing I remember stitching was clothes for my Barbie doll. I was probably 7 or 8. The first embroidery I remember doing was pillowcases. The ladies with the big skirts. I loved learning to embroider.

     905

906. I started stitching when I was young. My earliest memory was stitching a printed cross stitch floral design. Today, I still stitch and try to do something every day. It is really neat to think about how designs and threads have changed over the years.

     906

907. I was the youngest of five children. Born in Sydney but all lived out in the country on a sheep and cattle station of just over 100,00 acres. I learned to sew as a child. My first piece was a pale green linen tray cloth, with a simple pattern of daisies and leaves around the edge of the cloth. I loved working it.
     I am now 92 years of age.

     907

908. The first thing I can remember stitching was a flour sack towel. I can remember sitting on the floor by my mom, showing her my work after every few stitches. I was so proud of my work! I still stitch flour sack towels when I want to feel close to her.

     908

909. The first thing I ever embroidered was my monogram as a requirement for a Girl Scout badge. I am pretty sure I was 9. And I am still stitching.

     909

910. the first thing that I ever embroidered/stitched was an apron. My grandmother helped me sew an apron out of yellow gingham fabric And then we did cross stitches in the squares – what we now call chicken scratch. Little did I know what that project would be the start of.

     910

911. My first time stitching was at age eight. I was given a simple little house kit to be stitched with yarn. I still have it to this day 🙂

     911

912. When I was in college, A friend gave me a crewel kit of raggedy Ann. I had a great time stitching that.

     912

913. My first stitching memory is at age 12 sitting in the basement in front of a sewing machine with my grandmother as she taught me how to make a nine patch quilt. We used fabric scraps that were left over from previous sewing projects and tied the layers together with yarn. My grandmother lived 1200 miles from us and rarely visited which made my time with her very special. She passed away in 1977 but I still have that quilt and fond memories. That started a lifelong love of all things stitched.

     913

914. The first stitching project I can remember was a pair of stamped cross stitch pillow cases that I did as a teenager for my “hope” chest (yes, I had one!). They are long gone now but I remember the thread colors were lovely shades of yellow and gold.

     914

915. “Describe the first thing you ever stitched! If that’s not quite possible, what’s your earliest stitching memory?”

     I was in grade school, home sick one day. My grandmother got me started on a stamped embroidery beginner piece bought at Ben Franklin. Somehow I had stitched it to my nightgown!

     915

916. The first embroidery project I remember completing was a tent stitch canvas piece, a ballerina in a pink tutu on a black background…. I think I was 12 or so… give or take a couple of years….. it was recently returned to me!! terrible job of mounting but the stitching wasn’t terrible LOL

     916

917. My earliest stitching memory is from the age of about 7 or 8. (I will be 65 next week.) It is a set of 4 plastic framed printed circus scenes. The frame served as the hoop. The picture was printed in color on muslin with certain areas designated for stitching – primarily cross-stitch, outline, and stem stitch. I still have them!

     917

918. I remember stitching white lazy daises with yellow centers, but I don’t remember what I stitched them on. They were all lopsided but looked like they were dripping with raindrops!

     918

919. The first thing I ever stitched was a picture I drew of a vase with flowers. My mother taught me to stitch at the beginning of the summer. I got the bug and that wee picture was followed by an entire summer vacation of more flowers, some stitching kits and ultimately a floral bodice for a dress that my mother sewed for me. I loved that blouse and would love to recreate it someday.

     919

920. I was 6 and stitched a blue jay on a towel. I thought it was neat because my dad’s nickname was Jay!

     920

921. The first piece I ever stitched (and I still have it) was an embroidered apron with a mushroom motif on it. This was when I was a Brownie Girl Scout at age 7. I am 59 years old now and moved from embroidery to cross stitch as a young adult. I can still remember learning the process from a wonderfully patient Girl Scout leader!!!

     921

922. The first thing I ever stitched was a pair of stamped embroidery pillowcases that my great-aunt Marie gave me to learn on. My grandmother was a milliner and very talented needle-worker and it was she who showed me my first stitches to complete that set of cases. I was about 7-8 years old. I still have those pillowcases somewhere but they are pretty ratty. They mean a lot to me though. It was the start to over 58 years of needlework for me that continues to this day.

     922

923. There was a Vogue pattern of embroidered felt ornaments. I made them and still put them on my Christmas tree.

     923

924. My first project was a Christmas stocking for my son when he was a baby….that was 35 years ago.
     Thank you for the opportunity to win!

     924

925. The very first thing I stitched was in my Grade 1 class. My teacher gave us cut felt animals to whip stitch together and stuff with old stockings from our mums! We also had to embroider on the faces – I still have the blue rabbit I made.

     The second would have been a small crewel kit from, I think, Sunset Stitchery. There is a mouse (long/short stitch) with a small strawberry, flower and a couple of leaves.

     925

926. I think I was 8 when I embroidered the bottom half of the legs on my jeans

     926

927. Stitching has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, being handed down through generations on my maternal side. The earliest project I can specifically recall would be the face I embroidered on a doll I fashioned from one of my dad’s old crew socks!

     927

928. My earliest and very special memory was embroidering pillowcases at my grandmother’s house. When I finished, she crocheted an edging on them!

     928

929. The first thing I remember stitching was the body of a puppet in the second grade. The teacher was very kind, and it was an intro to holding a needle. Tanya heidi

     929

930. My first stitch project was a crewel work pillow. The design is a beehive among wildflowers. My grandma bought it as a teaching tool, she’d show me how to do the first few stitches in a motif, and then I’d do the rest. I can tell the difference between hers and mine. I still have it, it’s about 50 years old, it sits on the couch beside me when I stitch, our youngest cat is sleeping on it beside me right now. Thanks Mary, I enjoyed digging up that memory.

     930

931. My earliest memory of stitching (if you mean sewing) was 66 years ago while sitting on my grandmother’s lap at her mother’s Singer pedal sewing machine, complete with the torpedo-shaped bobbin case. Grandma made every stitch of her own clothing without paper patterns. When I was in first grade, she was putting together a quick, gathered apron to be worn at her waist and tied at the back. I asked for one of her aprons to play dolls with and she cut out a small one for me complete with ties. I was restricted to watching as I was too young to handle pins and/or use scissors in her opinion. When she finished her apron, she called me into the living room and walked me through gathering the apron panel using hand-stitching and attaching the pieced together, long, narrow sash that was the tying ribbon for the apron. The hardest part was turning under the raw edge around the apron as a hem and then top-stitching. Grandma controlled the starting and stopping with the rocker foot pedal, so there was no way I could run over the pins. The apron print had a rust background with small yellowish brown flowers. All stitching was done using white thread because that was the only color thread we owned. We still have Grandma’s apron.

     If by stitching you mean embroidery hand work, my first exposure was courtesy of my mother who was expecting our family’s third child. I was 11 and Mom was adding a crocheted edging to a mint green plissee’ baby blanket. I wanted a baby blanket for my Tiny Tears doll, so she cut out a square from the plissee for my doll. The edging would have been too complicated, so she drew a simple 5 or 6 petal flower and stem with a pencil in a corner of the blanket. She taught me a simple chain stitch to trace the edges of the flower petals and had me double the rows of stitching for the stem. It had no leaves. At the end of her project, she added a very simple scalloped edging on the little blanket. I loved it and felt like a new mom, just like Mom! Later, when she would feed our new baby girl Judy, I would sit near Mom and feed Tiny Tears in her mint green blanket. The “embroidered” flower was always where Tiny Tears could see it!

     That same Singer sewing machine that originally belonged to my great-grandmother still has a special place in our home. My grandmother live to be 95 and lived at home with us until her death 41 years ago. My own mother is now 91 and living with me in my home. The machine is part of a vignette honoring the resourceful women of our family through the years.

     931

932. The first thing I stitched was a printed needlepoint canvas picture of a grey striped kitten on grass with a flower and blue sky. I still have it!

     932

933. The first I recall is a printed cross stitch with the quote “Only Robison Crusoe could have everything done by Friday”. Still makes me smile.

     933

934. I remember the first stitching I ever did vividly. My grandmother marked (with pencil around a drinking glass) three circles overlapping horizontally on one of her good drying cloths (we’d call it a tea towel, maybe?) and handed me a threaded needle. She taught me outline stitch … I remember her explaining how to pass my needle under the outline of one circle to complete the next circle. 🙂 She also taught me backstitch and lazy daisy stitch that day.

     🙂 Linda

     934

935. First thing I embroidered was a butterfly in satin stitch. Turned it into a patch which I then stitched on to my jeans. This was in the early 70’s.

     935

936. My first memory of stitching is being with my Grandma Hutson. We were making a doll dress. In addition she and I made me an gingham apron and she helped me embroider a cross stitch pattern along the hem. I remember being so proud of that apron! She was so patient with me…I have always felt blessed to have had such a loving grandmother in my life!

     936

937. The first thing I remember stitching was a little doily with a lady in a crinoline walking through an arch of flowers. I would have been around 8 or 9 and still have the doily 60+years later and still remember the excitement of opening the package and seeing the coloured threads. Multi colours in one skein and probably cheap, but they are still holding up beautifully.

     937

938. The earliest stitching that I can remember was a crewel kit that I bought as a young teen. It featured yellow flowers in a woven container and I had a blast with it.

     938

939. For many summers when I was a child my family made a cross-country car trip to visit my mother’s family in Western Pennsylvania. One summer Nana taught me to crochet. One summer she taught me to embroider. Our project was a kitchen towel with a piglet to stitch. Looking back, I realize her skills were basic and that doing a project together was the main enjoyment. I didn’t take up embroidery again for 70 years, preferring needlepoint and lace knitting. Now I’m on a mission to learn thread painting and, thanks to your lovely kitchen towels, to create towels that are truly special. Thank you for all your online tutorials!!!

     939

940. My first embroidery was a bee kit by cozyblue. I had just had surgery and would be laid up for 3 months and was going stir crazy. Embroidery saved my sanity!

     940

941. The earliest memory I have of stitching is with my Mom, when I was about six or seven. It was a stamped embroidery pattern of a beautiful colonial lady in a lovely long dress. It was a treasured possession for many years, but vanished somewhere along the way.

     941

942. The first piece I stitched was a piece I turned into a pillow. Because it was the 1970s I stitched it on denim (ow!). There were tons of flowers plus the phrase “It’s a happy day”. I still have it!

     942

943. My first embroidery was a Christmas present of a needlepoint picture of a Colonial Lady. It was on a plastic ground.

     943

944. Describe the first thing you ever stitched! If that’s not quite possible, what’s your earliest stitching memory?

     This doesn’t qualify as embroidery, but is my first memory of hand stitching. Mama had made me a shirtwaist dress with box pleats, (remember those?) I was about 12 & knew how to hem so I was supposed to hem it & it would be finished, My friend & I sat in the front porch swing, & when I had completed the hem, I held it up, and lo-and behold, I had hemmed that big-tailed dress on the outside!!

     944

945. At age 7, my grandmother gave me 2 pieces of linen with a stamped cross stitch design on each. There was a little stem stitch utilized and a couple of lazy daisy leaves also. One was a dog and the other, a cat. At the time, I stitched the dog in blue and the cat in yellow. Quite colorful-haha! Many decades later, I found these pieces, finished, in a box during one of our moves. I cleaned it up, framed it, and it is proudly displayed in my sewing room!! Yes, I am still sewing and my grandchildren are the age I was when I started my stitching journey!!

     945

946. I was 9 years old when I stitched small cross stitch motifs on tea napkins made out of flour sacks. I was so proud of my achievement then and the memory makes me smile and think of my mother who instilled in me the love for needlework.

     946

947. It was a long time ago but I think it was a piece of red work. Still love doing this but add a fee more stitches.

     947

948. What counts as ‘stitching’? I’m interpreting it to mean any kind of sewing (not just embroidery). In that case, the truth is that I don’t remember. I remember being in the garden and doing running stitch around pieces of fabric (mats?). I think that’s around the time my mother decided it was time to teach me backstitch.

     If you instead meant something which might pass for embroidery, I also don’t remember. The first thing I clearly remember sewing along those lines was a place mat I made in school using what I’m pretty sure was soft cotton (probably Anchor) on a fabric somewhat like Aida, but with much larger holes. We did a line of decorative stitches all around the outside. Then we got a new colour and a new stitch and did one just inside that. We carried on like that until we had just a little rectangle in the middle. Pulling the outer threads away created a kind of fringe, so it didn’t fray. I was enchanted by this – it was the first thing I made where I felt the results actually looked good and all the different stitches and colours were great fun. (I persuaded my mother to get some of the fabric, but it never looked as good with left over yarn from my grandmother’s knitting and the ‘proper’ threads were expensive, so I only got a couple of colours in those.)

     948

949. I cross stitched my initials F V G on a piece of lavender and white gingham. I was about eight.

     949

950. The first thing I remember stitching was a printed cross stitch pillow case back in the sixties when I was maybe eight years old. It had birds dressed up with cute head scarves and bows. I still have it!

     950

951. The first thing I ever stitched was a dresser scarf. My mom had my sisters and I trace an embroidery design she had done as a child. We followed her instructions and finished the project over our summer vacation. Years later she had the pieces framed and returned them to us at Christmas. We are not sure if we got our own piece though.

     951

952. The first embroidery was a pelican sitting on a dock post with a little water and another pelican flying in the background. Although large, 18″x12″ ,there was not a lot to it and the thread was wool, but I enjoyed making it. I made several more kits, pillows with flowers if I remember correctly, before starting to design my own pieces. My mom had seen the kit and loved it, but she did not do embroidery.

     952

953. My earliest stitching memory is 4-H projects and Barbie doll clothes. Much later I got into cross stitching.

     953

954. Hi Mary,
     This is indeed a fun one. I wasn’t even in kindergarten yet. My grandmother had a large farm down south & taught math for over 40 years. Each year, before the holiday season around my birthday in early November, I was visiting the big house, after dinner she had pulled out some coarse fabric woven red gingham check. They each had a torn and slightly ravelled edge where she had used the sewing machine to sew right down the edge of the squares on each side so they couldn’t fray further as they aged. I asked what she was doing, and she told me since we had been working on my numbers, I could help her. She was using Chicken Scratch to replace the older dish rags around the kitchen from the more colourful ones she pulled out in spring that were now very frayed. The red was bright for the holidays & this stitch fit with the ancient kitchen and the holidays. She had stacks of fabric in different sizes. She got a small one for me and and counted out the 1, 2, 3, 4 of a cross stitch that the red thread crossed the white. She showed how to get to the next white square and she wanted me to count all 8 steps out loud. Then when a row was finished I had to count how many x’s there were before we turned the corner. Like almost everything we did together she turned it into a lesson of some sort, generally math or history. The hardest part- even to this day is having too heavy a hand and having to go back and smooth the too tight stitches!
     Thank you for the memory, Mary.

     954

955. My mother took me to Ben Franklin, a five n dime store and I got a stamped cross stitch kitchen towel and some floss. I do not know how old I was but young and I finished it. I learned to knit the German way, but do not know who taught me.

     955

956. I started embroidery when I was 8 years old. It was a stamped doily. My earliest and fondest memory of embroidery was watching my Grandmother making pillowcases and doilies. She embroidered a beautiful apron that was her Sunday best. She embroidered all 50 states and flowers on a beautiful quilt that she also quilted, one of over 150 that she quilted for people. I’m still not sure how she did all of those things along with crocheting and tatting while being a farm wife with 5 kids to raise. She left us a rich needle arts legacy.

     956

957. My grandmother taught me to stitch & sew before I was old enough to go to school as a way to keep me busy and out of trouble! I remember adding very simple monograms to my grandfather’s handkerchiefs and working pre-printed cross stitch pillowcases. Later my mom and I would work needlepoint and more challenging projects.

     957

958. In grade 2 Mrs Phipps had us make a pot holder for our mums using hessian and wool with long stitch to make butterflies. It still has pride of place in a display cabinet. The beginning of an obsession.

     958

959. The first thing I stitched was a quilt label for my son’s ‘ big boy bed’ quilt.
     It was a fencerail quilt, and I hand quilted it. It was my first quilt and my first hand embroidery!
     I made lots of mistakes on the quilt, and my hand embroidered label wasn’t the best, but my son loved his quilt.

     959

960. My earliest stitching was making flowers on bell bottom jeans and Jean jackets for me and my friends, still embroidering to this day.

     960

961. I remember going to a party with my mom where they were selling crewel needlework kits. It was kind of like a Tupperware party but for needlework. I loved all the projects and my mother bought me one. I was young and it was advanced and the whole thing turned out to be frustrating and not something I finished.

     961

962. The first thing that I ever stitched was a little hand towel.. I was 7 ears old and an aunt who holds a special place in m heart taught me the stitches. I still have that towel.

     962

963. The first thing I ever stitched was the word Mother in pink floss on a yellow bath towel as a gift for my mom. I was about 12, way back in 1962!

     963

964. Thank you Mary, for these generous giveaway opportunities.
     My very first embroidery was when I was about 7 or 8 when I stitched several lines of chain and herringbone across the bib of an apron my Mum had made for me. The apron was a beautiful, to me at the time, bright, bright aqua cotton and I stitched using the brightest coloured threads in my Mum’s work box. From memory red, orange, yellow and pink featured.

     I have no idea where my apron ended up, but I still have a scrap of the bright orange & aqua elephant print fabric I used to “sew” a simple gathered skirt around the same time. My sewing was sitting on Mum’s knee while she held my hands to guide the fabric through the machine. I did draw up the gathers, pin to waistband and insert the elastic myself.

     964

965. I think I was 11 or 12 when I cross stitched a bib for my first niece. My grandmother taught me, with much patience! I’m sure that bib wasn’t my finest work!

     965

966. The first thing I ever stitched depends on what type of stitching is being referred to. As a kid, I found a plastic canvas “cross stitch” kit of a yellow kitty with a pink (my favorite color) background. It even came with a little frame. I had a ton of fun stitching it!

     For embroidery work, the first thing I stitched was a back stitched label for some primitive church dolls my Mom was making for a craftshow. I watched her stitch a couple, and asked if I could try. Despite the time crunch my Mom was under, she showed me how to do the back stitch. While I stitched, she prepared more, worked on other projects, and answered my many, many questions. I was hooked after that!

     966

967. My grandmother taught me to embroider and insisted the back of the work was a neat and pretty as the front. My first piece was a pillow case. She strivgled to teauch me since I was asouthpaw and she had never encountered one before.

     967

968. Once upon a time, when most people respected the environment and recycled their clothes, not once but many times, I darned my cotton tennis socks, and I was pleased with the result since they lasted another year or so. Later I tried darning woollen socks (not so good) and raising cuffs on jeans (reasonable, and only after discovering why thimbles are usefull!!) but repairing worn-through seats on old shorts remains a mystery.

     968

969. This sounds like such a great set of goodies. I’m not really sure of the first thing I stitched, but I do remember doing a lot crewel embroidery with yarn in high school. (I graduated in 1976!) My mother and her mother both made rugs using some kind of punch, like punch needle, but on a larger scale. I should have paid more attention. My mother did lots of handwork including knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and quilting. I wish I was as accomplished.

     969

970. The first thing I ever stitch was one of those pre-printed block you could buy from the dime store, it was a teddy bear. That was back in the 60s. I remember after the chores and supper was finished sitting on the floor
     by her chair as she taught me how to do different stitches .I found it a couple of years ago when I was cleaning out her things when she passed.

     970

971. First stitching memory is a running stitch Daisy outline, done in light blue yarn on a burlap background made in kindergarten for Mother’s Day.

     971

972. The first item I stitched was a table runner of green ivy and red berries stitched in stem stitch. If you get snow, enjoy it, whether you play in it or watch it come down! Janet from Missouri.

     972

973. The summer I was 12 I learned how to embroider.
     My friends and I spent the summer making pillow case and dresser scarfs. I still have one that has grey squirrels on it

     973

974. I stitched a counted cross stitch kit of bears in sweaters. Each bear had a letter on his sweater, so they all spelled out “I love you”. I still have it and it’s about 30 years old!!
     Happy holidays!

     974

975. The first thing I ever stitched was an adorable beginner embroidery kit – it was a rendering of a baby fox curled up in some grass. All seed stitch. It was a lot of fun, and got me hooked on the quick gratification of embroidery. (As compared to my knitting, which I love but I am painfully slow.)

     975

976. Lizzieb – The first thing I stitched. I was 8 yrs old and I’m 68 now, but I remember my Father teaching me how to embroidery a table runner. He had a accident at work and was bed ridding for recover. Everyday after school I would visit with him and we would stitch.

     976

977. I remember when my sister and I were about 7 and 9 the neighbour lady taught all of us neighbour girls (6) to embroider simple iron on patterns. Can’t remember what they were on or where they ended up. Maybe we were younger!

     977

978. The first thing I embroidered was a pair of jeans that I wore in high school and college.

     978

979. The first thing I ever stitched was a black needlepoint background around a pre-stitched kitten. I was about 8-9 years old and was bored after it was only about one quarter done, but was made to finish it. I vowed to never stitch anything that repetitive again and have kept that vow. I do still have the finished needlework finished as a pillow on my sofa over 50 years later.

     979

980. I think the first thing I stitched was a cute baby bird design on a onesie for my friend’s baby.

     980

981. My earliest memory of stitching (reluctantly) was a sampler of straight, chain stitch, buttonhole stitches along pencil drawn lines, at school. But my happiest memory of early stitching was a preprinted duchess set of cottage flowers I found in my Mum’s stash which I diligently stitched in bright yellows, purples, blues, pinks and greens. I think I was about 9 years old. That’s the moment in time when I found a life long love of needle and thread.

     981

982. My first stitching memory is my grandma showing me how to stitch a seam closed on a pillow she made.

     982

983. Wow you are outdoing yourself with this one!

     I had fun thinking about both questions so I will try to keep it brief but give two answers. Not because I’ve forgotten, but because my first stitching is unrelated to what I consider my first real embroidery project.

     My earliest memory is when my gramma gave me some quilting scraps, thread, and a needle when I was around maybe 9 and let me play at making my own “quilt”. I did not like it, but I fondly think back on it now.

     I’ve embroidered here and there on occasion over the next two decades as accents to sewing projects but what I consider to be my first project of embroidering for the *sake* of embroidering is a little pattern I got off etsy in January 2017. It is a floral circular border of satin stitch, woven roses, french knots, and lazy daisies. It was meant to have a phrase in its center but I left it empty. It represented a momentous occasion in my personal life and was my initial attempt to turn the gloom I was feeling into something beautiful in spite of it all. Stitching is the best therapy!

     983

984. One of my first stitching memories is a cross-stitch strawberry from a kit I made for one of my aunts as a birthday gift when I was in first grade. I remember how much praise I got from the family only to see it again many years later and be horrified at its, well, let’s say, imperfections. That opened my eyes to what family is about:)

     984

985. The first thing I remember stitching is a red work pillow case when I was a little girl. ( I’m now 62)

     985

986. I remember stitching a towel. It was a cat transfer and my mom was showing me how to stitch. I love stitching and am getting back to it recently. I use your stitch instructions all the time and have some ebooks. You have so much knowledge.

     986

987. Not the earliest thing ever but the start of my love of stitching. 15 years ago when my sister died I needed something to keep my mind and hands busy. I had been given a cross stitch kit for Christmas and decided to try it and to my surprise I liked it. It continues to keep my mind and hands busy.

     987

988. The first thing I ever stitched was a pair of pre-printed pillow cases. I am 77 years old and I still have these! And I am still stitching!!

     988

989. I stitched a very basic birdhouse for home economics.

     Melanee

     989

990. My grandmother who was a prolific stitcher took me to a five and dime store where she purchased a white handkerchief for me. We went home and she got our her iron and a pack of iron on transfers. I go my pick and chose a rabbit. She ironed it on to the corner of the hankie. Then I picked the colors of floss I wanted to use. She and I spent joyful hours on the back porch swing with her teaching and me learning different stitches.
     I had that hankie until a flood in 1972 washed away pretty much everything my family had including my hanky.

     990

991. My first stitching memory is picking up a cross stitch pattern for a world map. I thought ‘how difficult can this be? It’s only cross stitch! Can’t believe a problem. I do this easily’. Famous last words. I did finish it. It was incredibly difficult. Lots of half and quarter stitches. Lots of single crosses . But I did it! I was so proud of myself when I finished. I had it framed and 30 years later am still embroidering. Mostly I do surface embroidery, but I still do the occasional cross stitch.

     991

992. The earliest thing I remember stitching was a small children’s tapestry of a horse. I was about 8 years old and had been given it as a Christmas gift. I was very pleased to finish it and as a first effort it looked quite good.

     992

993. The first thing I remember stitching, apart from those cards with animals on where you joined the dots to make the outline, was a tray cloth. My Grandma White ironed on the pattern and taught me stem stitch and lazy daisy. I remember loving the variegated blue and pink threads from DMC which I used for the flowers. I’m sure it was very clumsily done but I loved it and the feeling of working on something with my Grandma.

     993

994. My first memory of embroidery was knowing that my Father did it. I was very young when Mum found an old table cloth that had been printed with Australiana motifs for embroidery. She had coloured some of them in with hobby tex previously. A horribly cliche piece of 1970’s tourism upon which I cast my first stitches. Mostly chain stitch I seem to recall 🙂

     994

995. The first thing I remember stitching was when I was about 4 or five years old, and was an “outfit” for my doll. I have a vivid memory of sewing it onto the doll–a black and white fabric scrap of my mom’s, which I carefully wrapped around my doll and sewed onto her body! My skills have progressed a bit from then.

     995

996. My first piece of needlework was a prestamped little doily that I found at my Grandma’s . I think that I was helped a great deal by my Mother.All the ladies in her family were superb stitchers and hoped that I would develop both skill and love of needlework. I am in my eighties and still love to spend time with needle and thread.

     996

997. I started stitching in the first covid lockdown, and I think the first thing I stitched was a sampler to practice different stitches. It was done with variegated thread which felt very cool!

     997

998. One of my early memories of stitching was of a horse (I was horse-mad) in tent stitch on canvas. This was a long time ago and a lot of stitching has been done since then.

     998

999. The very first thing I ever stitched was a cat on 14 ct printed Aida and I still have that piece 🙂

     999

1000. One of my earliest sewing memories is my grandmother stitching on canvas. Every time I came over it had more flowers. Then suddenly it was a pillow. I don’t know how old I was, but I remember going from room to room and checking the throw pillows, pillow cases and linens in amazement. I was convinced that my grandfather grew flowers for my grandmother and then she turned them into threads for her sewing.

      1000

1001. The 1st thing I remember stitching is chicken scratch and a nine batch quilt block when I was 4 or so with my Grandma. She started us early on handwork. Merry Christmas.

      1001

1002. The first thing I made was a cross stitched table cloth when I was 4; it still exists, it is 59 years old.

      1002

1003. The first thing I ever stitched: a pillowcase. Someone, perhaps my mother, gave me a pillowcase with the pattern printed on it. My mother provided floss, a hoop, and a little booklet with stitch instructions. I am not sure I ever finished the pillowcase, but I used what I learned to free-stitch a few flowers and the word “Mom” on a piece of scrap cotton for next Mother’s day. She still has that piece tucked away.

      1003

1004. I have vague memories of sewing a cushion in a school sewing class as a teenager – black with a large yellow felt moon which was blanket stitched on, and then I think there was a white tree, possibly in stem stitch. The first items I can remember that I would class as real embroidery are some little dolies which had a pattern of tea cups and flowers worked in stem stitch and lazy daisies. I used these as practice pieces because I had a pattern for a skirt I wanted to make that had an embroidered band of flowers around the hem. I still have the dolies and the skirt, but not the cushion, because it was truely awful!

      1004

1005. The very first was my sampler in primary school but I don’t remember much detail and I don’t still have it.

      The first thing I remember finishing was a tablecloth of leaves in brown and cream that I stitched when I was 16-17 when we lived in PNG. Obviously nothing else to do up there. I still have and use the cloth after 60 years.

      1005

1006. My first stitching project was a little skirt with an elastic band. I was all of 7 years old! Wow did I love that skirt!!!!

      1006

1007. When I was quite young we made handtowels at school using a fabric called huck-a-back, it had small threads on the surface and you wove floss up and down and made patterns. They were quite nice, they are still in our linen cupboard! Looks like the technique of surface embroidery is also called Swedish weaving.

      1007

1008. The first thing I tried to stitch was a stamped Christmas star embroidered piece my Oma sent me when I was 6. I stitched the x’s but got bored or overwhelmed. Either Oma or Mom finished it. I don’t know if it still exists, but I have the basket it came in.

      1008

1009. When I was in infant school – so about 6, my mum used to come in and do sewing with my class. We all hand stitched little felt pears with eyes and mouths! I don’t know what became of it but I didn’t sew again for many, many years, until I developed a passion for it in my 30s, and shared that passion with my mum!

      1009

1010. My first memory is of a canvas work zebra with a purple sky! It was a kids kit, the canvas was mounted in the white PVC covered frame – very 1970’s. I still have that picture, but no longer on show!

      1010

1011. Hi Mary!
      I was about 11 years old when my mom saw my interest in the cross stitch she was doing on a table mat!
      She quickly handed me a piece of Aida cloth, briefed me on how to count and place the crosses. Then I was asked to choose my design and pick the colours of floss. She was never far away and I am really thankful that she encouraged me to explore my creativity!
      I chose a little flower from my mom’s cross stitch book. Even now, remember being attracted to fuschia pink and black floss and the excitement of seeing the design I was stitching in that combination! More exciting was that the flower was being formed by just counting and placing the crosses!
      I was delighted that my mom smiled and kept encouraging my efforts. She never once batted an eyelid at my black leaves and pink flower ☺️ My mom is no more, but I will always cherish this memory!

      1011

1012. The first thing I ever embroidered was a pre-printed cross stitch table cloth that my mother had started many years before that and never completed. I asked if I could carry on stitching it. She was only too happy to let me finish it for her and she said I could keep it on completion. I was a teenager at the time and I still use on a daily basis many years later.

      1012

1013. Oh my first embroidery, that’s a long way back, I am now 74 years old. I think I was 7 when I had and still have, my first sewing box. Inside were four Anchor embroidery threads, a doily and needle case to embroider. I still have the needle case, and not having a mother or relation who stitched, I used all 6 strands to do the embroidery.
      I have embroidered a couple of the snowflake and made them into Christmas decorations, beautiful thank you for your designs and directions.
      Oh to win one of your presents would be fantastic. Stay safe and keep well, Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2021. Carol. X

      1013

1014. One of the first projects that I completed, was a candlewick cushion, which still sits on a chair in my living room. Another early project was an embroidered christening gown for my grand daughter.

      1014

1015. The first thing I recall stitching was a hand towel, I chose white fabric and bordered it with red spotted white cotton, outlining the red spots in a “starry” way in buttonhole stitch. I loved doing it and was extraordinarily proud of it – I was 10 years old and have been stitching on and off for half a century now!!

      1015

1016. I honestly don’t remember what the first thing I ever stitched was. I was maybe 6 or 7 years old, and if I had to guess, I would bet good money it was either a teddy bear or a Christmas decoration. Maybe even a Christmas teddy bear!

      1016

1017. The first thing I stitched was a Christmas stocking for my then infant son. It was a kit and was on sale for 5 dollars so I bought it and thus began my obsession.

      1017

1018. Happy holidays, Mary! My first embroidery memory is stitching flowers (only the outlines) with my grandma when I was little. I’m so happy to have taken up hand embroidery again just a couple of years ago. Now it’s my hobby, my creative outlet, and my “tranquilizer,” especially in these times.

      1018

1019. The first thing I ever stitched is a cross stitch sampler. It is only 4″X6″ and I stitched my initials and the date. What I learned from that little project was immense and encouraging. I have never stopped stitching. The sampler is framed and in my work room as an inspiration for me.

      1019

1020. I think the first thing I sewed was a sampler of various buttons – with shanks and without – that my mum set up for me. After that it was a sampler of various embroidery stitched such as stem, chain, lazy daisy, satin, blanket stitch, etc.

      1020

1021. G’day Mary,
      I still have my early stitched item as I found it amongst Mum’s things after she passed away. It’s a pincushion where the pins go in the sides and it’s about 1cm thick, oval and funny! A caterpillar on one side and ‘MUM’ on the other done in magic 2 colour chain stitch. I found the directions in an old encyclopaedia. I was probably 9 or 10.
      Cheers and thank you.
      Kath Grabham

      1021

1022. The first thing I remember stitching was a floral crewel work piece, it came as a kit and I was probably only about 8 years old. I enjoyed stitching and learning how to do it.

      1022

1023. The first thing I ever stitched was a gingham headband for my mother which I monogrammed with her initials. I was 7 at the time and was instructed by a very nice neighbor.
      After my mother’s death, I found the note card I made explaining how I created it. Sadly I did not find the headband!

      1023

1024. My earliest stitching memory is with my maternal grandmother. I can’t remember what we stitched, but it was on a scrap piece of muslin, just straight stitches. I was approximately 8 or 9 years old. I have wonderful stitching memories because my paternal grandmother also taught me to embroider and my paternal great grandmother taught me to crochet. I still enjoy both to this day! Thank you for being generous with your giveaways.

      1024

1025. My first memory of doing hand stitches with my mom I think is was heat transfer. I was around
      Age ten. When I restarted stitching I found a kitchen towel pattern. It came out ruff but I finished it

      1025

1026. Does knitting count? Does sewing? I have early memories of learning to knit a scarf, and I know I learned to sew on a machine at age 8 or 9. The earliest needlework I can recall was a cross-stitched mason jar lid: simple flowers and a Bible verse. This was in the 80s, and I was about 18, I think, when I learned this new art.

      1026

1027. The first thing I ever tried to stitch was a picture of an Oriental woman in a purple komono. It was on 18 count aida and I couldn’t do it. So I put it aside and started a violet on 14 count. It turned out great. Then I went back to the purple komono and finished it. It also looked great! Thanks so much for your website. I really enjoy it.

      1027

1028. When I was a little girl my Mother taught me how to crochet on the edges of my doll clothes and add flowers to them. Then she started me on cross stitch towels and pillowcases as I got older. She made all my clothes as a child and would embellish them with embroidery or crochet. Now at the age of 70 I can’t sew as long because my eyes tire and I will get a headache but I still love to try.

      1028

1029. I don’t remember the first thing I stitched, but I know that my mother started teaching me at age 5. She taught basic needlework through the local rec council and it just wouldn’t do that her daughter couldn’t stitch. She passed away some time ago, but she was always so very proud of my stitching.

      1029

1030. My first stitching experience was on vacation in Arkansas in 2016. I decided to try something I’d never done before and went to a craft store and bought iron on patterns, floss needles and a hoop. I embroidered fruit, grapes, orange, apple watermelon, cherries and a lemon on table napkins that I had brought. The results were alright but since then I’ve learned so much more about stitching especially through your website. I have a whole repertoire of stitches and techniques for starting and ending my floss. It’s fun to compare my early work to my current work, there is a vast improvement. I’m currently working on the Holly and Evergreen tea towel for Christmas. Thank you, Mary for teaching me so much. Sheiliagh

      1030

1031. I must have been around six or seven, and it was in a sewing class at school. The project was a felt doll or teddy bear (I don’t remember which). What I do remember is getting frustrated as I saw others in the class complete the stitching on the border much faster than me (I think it was blanket stitch). I rushed to finish, however I had been in such a hurry that the stitches were huge, and didn’t hold properly. I was told to undo the whole thing and start again, much to my dismay.

      I definitely learnt the hard way the first lesson of needlework: ‘more haste less speed’!

      P.S. Thank you so much for your Christmas giveaways, I love reading people’s answers to the questions you set!

      1031

1032. The first thing I stitched (badly) was one of those printed cross stitch pillowcases. I think it must have been about 55 years ago!

      1032

1033. In 1984 I was a newlywed. I cross-stitched four small ornaments – two for friends with new December babies and two for our Christmas tree with our initials and the year. Sadly “my” ornament, a pine tree, was lost several years ago. My husband’s, a golden star, takes pride of place at the top of the tree.

      1033

1034. I went to Catholic High School. Nuns thought busy hands was a good thing. So I learned to sew. My first project was a set of hand towels.

      1034

1035. Hi Mary,
      The first thing I can remember stitching was an outline of a bunny from a child’s embroidery kit.
      Thanks for the give away.

      1035

1036. My first embroidery was a dresser scarf with a pattern of flowers in cross stitch and stem stitch that I selected at the dime store with my aunt who was visiting and wanted to teach me to stitch. I was in second grade and picked colors of purple and green floss to use. I don’t think I ever finished it, but it did get me started on my needlework journey. Thanks, Aunt Betty!

      1036

1037. I started sewing when I was about ten. I don’t remember what I stitched at that age but I do remember using my Dad’s treadle (turned electric) sewing machine. He was an upholsterer and furniture maker, and I spent a lot of time in his workshop with him, and learned about color, pattern and fabric from him. I am sure I am a better stitcher for all that knowledge received!

      1037

1038. The easiest embroidery that I can remember doing was a small tablecloth with a crinoline lady at each corner. I can still remember the joy 65 years later of choosing the colours – different for each corner – all in bright colours.

      1038

1039. While heavy duty sorting during the pandemic I came across a corduroy patchwork doll quilt I made when I was 5 or 6.

      1039

1040. The first thing that I remember (I believe I did some earlier) was when I was 18 I saw a quilt with embroidered blocks and I tried to make one like.
      Thank you

      1040

1041. The first thing I remember stitching was a pair of “chicken scratch” aprons for Christmas for my Mother and Aunt when I was in seventh grade. I got my sister to help and she said it turned her against stitching forever! She kept going around the hoop with the thread.

      1041

1042. My first stitching came at age 9, when I began embroidering pillowcases.

      1042

1043. My mother taught me to embroider when I was around 10 years old. She was an accomplished needleworker, and produced dozens of beautiful crocheted doilies, as well as candlewicking designs, embroidered items, but most lovely of all – crewelwork art. I have many of her items as family heirlooms and display them in my own home. And I am carrying on that knowledge, although putting it to use in more modern ways.

      1043

1044. My first memory of stitching…while sitting next to my mom as she created amazing things, she gave me some small pieces of linen, a needle and some floss. After patiently showing me how to separate the strands, I started creating my own ‘masterpiece’. I was about 4 yrs old at and had forgotten about this particular time. My mom passed away in 2016 —- as I was helping dad go through her needlework stuff, I came across a small box with — that first masterpiece I created. What a wonderful surprise to discover and bring back memories of her…

      1044

1045. The first thing I ever stitched was a stocking. I made a felt stocking and hand embroidered the whole thing. It was an adventure for sure learning along the way. That was last year and this year I made another stocking and have learned so much along the way.

      1045

1046. Describe the first thing you ever stitched! If that’s not quite possible, what’s your earliest stitching memory?

      A surface embroidery kit with planets and stars on it that my mom bought me, I don’t think I ever finished it, and have no idea where it is now.

      1046

1047. Fun, fun, fun! I love the surprise of Christmas. I can image the surprise of the shepherds when the Angels appeared with the greatest news ever announced “The Saviour of the world has been born”!
      The first time I stitched was in high school. I think it was an eyeglass case. I had a wonderful home ec teacher who encouraged me to be creative. She was a true blessing in my life.

      1047

1048. My first embroidery memory was making a set of embroidered pillowcases for my friends as a party favor (from a chocolate themed birthday party). I was probably around 7 or 8, and each one had “Sweet dreams” embroidered on it!

      1048

1049. My mother gave me 2 embroidery kits when I was about 11 years old. My mother was an avid sewer, but knew nothing of embroidery.
      I followed the instructions and learned the stiches. I embroidered a girl in a field of flowers and boy in a field.
      I was hooked, took a hiatus for a few years, but so happy to be stitching again.
      By the way I still have my first 2 embroidery projects.

      1049

1050. My first stitching was doing surface embroidery on pillowcases and dish towels to put in my “hope chest” for when I “hopefully got married”!! Thank goodness we have move passed that mentality!!

      1050

1051. The first thing I stitched was a small gnome ornament my husband got me for Christmas a few years ago. My previous hobby had been beading, but it was hard keep up after having a baby/thru the toddler years. I really needed something else to be creative and thought aloud one day cross stitch might be worth a try (much easier to set aside than beads, and less disastrous if knocked over by little hands), and my husband was listening.

      1051

1052. Love it!! Thanks for the chance.

      1052

1053. The first project I clearly remember was when I was in the fourth grade, and my family was moving to another city. My classmates signed a white blouse and I embroidered each name in stem stitch.

      1053

1054. To have an items “stitched by you” would be gift enough! Thanks for all you do for your readers every day…wining today would be a true bonus. 🙂
      Hugs!

      1054

1055. I stitched my first thing when I was 4 or 5. Everyone in my family stitched, knitted, etc. This was piece of white pillowcase with stick like designs men, dogs, flowers. It was stitched with DMC thread. It is now framed and hanging in my house.

      1055

1056. I still have my first piece of stitching. When I was about 6 or 7 my brother and I were at my Granny’s house and I probably said I was bored. Well – not in my Granny’s house did you say that! She put some monk’s cloth, needle, thread and a pattern in my hands and taught me how to cross stitch. The image was a colonial lady at a spinning wheel. Of course, my brother had to be in on the action so he cross stitched a few squares of colour before he moved on to something else. I still have that piece too. I incorporated both of them into a crazy quilt. LOL

      1056

1057. The first thing i stitched was a pillowcase when i was about 8.

      1057

1058. A gift given to me by my grandmother to fill time in the long, hot summer days contained needles, brightly colored wool thread, a small piece of linen, a pattern for an embroidered ladybug with finishing instructions for handsewing a stuffed pincushion.

      I entered the finished project in my hometown church fair and much to my and my grandmother’s delight won a blue ribbon that launched a lifetime of stitching. I still have the pincushion and cherish it and my grandmother’s love.

      1058

1059. While I received an embroidery kit or two as a child, I don’t recall them. But at 18, I did buy stamped linen guest towels and floss. Years later, I learned that one stitched with one or two strands—not all six! I still have one, which I casually framed. It makes me smile and is a nice reminder of how far I have come.

      1059

1060. My first memory of stitching is learning from my grandmother. I miss her greatly.

      1060

1061. I don’t remember the first thing I stitched. My mom taught me cross stitch and embroidery (and sewing in general) at a very early age and I do remember doing embroidery designs on my clothes. I was in high school in the early 70’s so I had the jean jacket and floppy hat all decked out in my hand embroidery designs!

      1061

1062. I have been stitching almost my entire life. In recent years I have tried to be a bit more creative in my uses of my embroidery work and love it! I use the designs in my tote bags and currently I am working on stitching designs to become a shawl.

      1062

1063. My first stitched piece was a counted cross stitch of Corinthians 13 with a butterfly personalized with my Grandmother’s name who had passed.

      Thank you for the chance.

      1063

1064. The first thing I ever stitched was when my Mom taught me to cross stitch at age 12. After making several small ornaments with single motifs like a heart or a duck, I did a more complicated (for a beginner) project with four little girls doing the wash in a washtub which I framed and gifted to my Grandma. When she passed away I was able to retrieve it before it got trashed and now it hangs in my house.

      1064

1065. The First thing I ever stitched was a cross stitched wreath from a kit. I was 10 years old and it was gift, they thought it would be easy and keep me from getting underfoot.

      1065

1066. At about 6 years old, my mother wrote my name, in cursive, on the edge of a pillow case and showed me a basic stem stitch. I’m 65 and still always have a needle handy.

      1066

1067. The first thing I remember stitching was a printed simple farm scene with a house, a tree, a cow, and a few flowers. It had mostly backstitch outlining and a few areas of cross stitch. I think I was about 7 years old, and it seemed like it took me forever. But my Mother framed it when I finished, and it hung in my backyard playhouse for several years.

      1067

1068. The first thing I remember stitching is an embroidery kit I received for Christmas in the early 80’s when I was 11. It was Miss Piggy “My Beauty is my Curse”. It was truly tacky but the work I did on it was presentable. I have had lapses but have enjoyed stitching ever since.

      1068

1069. When I was 12 I went to a summer day camp program at my local high school and one of the “craft” activities they had us do was a crewel piece that I later made into a pillow. I loved stitching it and haven’t stopped since.

      1069

1070. The earliest stitching memory I have is corners in handkerchiefs, which my Mother taught my sister and I. We would sit in our spare time and work on these with my Mother showing us the stitches. Amazing how your question brings back memories.

      1070

1071. I don’t remember at the age of 77 what the first piece I did looked like. However, I’m sure it must have been one of the pre-printed items available at the dime-store. All of my early work was done on one of those pieces and quite likely it was a pair of pillow cases.

      1071

1072. Such a lovely collection of items any needle work would love!

      1072

1073. My first embroidery project was, appropriately enough for this give away, a monogram. Well, my first initial. I was in the first year of school and have no memory of actually stitching it but it hung in my mother’s bathroom for years.

      I worked it on blue aida in holborn stich in yellow and blue.

      1073

1074. My mother taught me some very basic embroidery stitches. However she was very particular and wanted the outcome to be perfect, which is hard when I was 8-10 years old. She just wanted me to practice and practice and I wanted to finish something. So now I am working on your snowflakes. Mine aren’t perfect but with each one I am learning and it is so much fun.

      1074

1075. The first stitching project I remember doing was a printed cross stitch sampler when I was around 7 or 8 years old. This was worked on while on a train ride with my mother from Illinois to California. Apparently, I thought at the time that speed was better than accuracy. Over the years I learned that was not the case. Still, the experience helped foster my love for embroidery and sewing. I remember seeing it during our last move. When I find it again it will be hung in my craft room to remind me of a wonderful holiday with my mother.

      1075

1076. Your postings and website are always inspirational. While I can’t remember specifically my first stitching piece, I did work on printed projects with my grandmother.

      1076

1077. My first memory of embroidery is sitting with Grandma Macie (about 1954) – watching her and then learning how. She had such beautiful, even stitches! My childish hands never made stitches like that. 🙂

      When I married, she gave me a set of pillow cases she had embroidered. She passed away 4 months after my wedding. I so treasure those pillow cases and have never used them.

      1077

1078. The first thing I remember making was a very small cross stitch ornament kit, I think it was a cat in a box and I probably did it when I was 8 or 9!

      1078

1079. I can’t remember the first thing I ever stitched but the first thing I was really proud of was counted cross stitch angel for my mom.

      1079

1080. My aunt taught me basic embroidery stitches when I was about 9 years old. I did a preprinted dresser scarf. Long time ago. ❤

      1080

1081. My mother insisted I learn how to embroidery. So my earlies memory is sitting down with her and practicing a few basic stitches.

      1081

1082. I must have been 5, my grandmother gave us girls some sewing cards for Christmas. They were heavy cardboard printed with designs of flowers and puppies. Each design had holes around it and the package included a large steel needle and yarn. I learned to thread a needle, do a running stitch, and back stitch with those cards. I would finish running yarn through the holes in the cards then take it out and do it again. I had hours of fun with those cards!

      1082

1083. Would be a great Christmas present just for me.

      1083

1084. The first thing I ever stitched was a doll, made from a sock. I made a face, little arms, and hair from yarn. I name her “Pearl”…I supposed it could’ve been “Purl.” LOL I must have been 8 or so. Such a cozy little doll, not like SOME dolls from the ’60s!

      1084

1085. The first thing I remember stitching was a pre-printed “something” bought at a department store (remember those??) with Anchor threads that probably cost a nickel then. I’m sure it was probably a pillowcase or napkins, maybe a doily. But I remember it was fun to do, and I don’t remember how I knew what stitches to use. Maybe some instructions came with it? But no matter how it started I’ve loved it ever since.

      1085

1086. The first item I stitched as a child was a pillowcase, with a lady in a Dutch costume and tulips.

      1086

1087. My earliest memory of stitching was sitting with my grandmother stitching tiny rose buds (3 satin stitches and a lazy daisy leaf) on a handkerchief corner. This was in the mid 50s. I was 9 or 10 years old. Still stitching!

      1087

1088. My very first stitch project was too many years ago to remember. It was of flowers to be incorporated into a quilt.

      1088

1089. I played around with simple hoop embroidery stitches when I was a child, but the first project I remember finishing was a counted cross stitch Christmas wall hanging.My mother in law was a very accomplished needlepoint artist, and I greatly admired her work. When first married, I expressed an interest in learning to stitch and she leant me a magazine with the simple cross stitch pattern. It turned out very well but the experience was enough to teach me I didn’t enjoy cross stitch! That’s the one and only cross stitch project I ever did…until now. I’ve started a very large Disney project for a dear friend’s 60th birthday, and am already regretting it :). She’s a Disney fanatic so I knew that had to be the theme but it’s almost impossible to find Disney embroidery patterns. I’m not artistic enough to convert a pattern, so cross stitch it is. Wish me luck that I finish it before she’s 70! Thanks so much for your website. I so appreciate all your tutorials, projects and products. I’ve learned so much and rediscovered my love of stitching because of you!

      1089

1090. The first thing I ever stitched (that wasn’t crochet learned from my grandma) was a stamped baby sampler in cross stitchI did for a friend in the early 1970s. I remember thinking that I didn’t like it very much.
      I liked my second thing a whole lot more. It was a (stamped again, lol) crewel piece called Whitefish Bay (a place in northern WI). I did this as a gift for my grandparent’s 50th wedding anniversary.

      1090

1091. A flour sack doodle cloth when my grandmother taught me to embroider.

      1091

1092. My first stitching project was embroidery on a dish towel for my mom. It was the first time I tried the iron on
      stamp design, it was a bouquet of flowers stitching the daisy stitch. I had no idea how to stitch it, so I had to ask
      my mom. This project was quite challenging, I was so proud of it.

      Teri

      1092

1093. My first stitching was on 4 napkins – a strawberry cluster. With my mothers help I worked very deligently, ironing the pattern onto each napkin, using a hoop and following the color chart. I fell in love with embroidery. That was 50 years ago! I kept them and still cherish them to this day!

      1093

1094. My first project that I remember working on as a per-teen – many years ago – was a pillowcase that my grandmother had given me to learn how to embroider.

      1094

1095. I believe the first embroidery I did was a tomato hot lifter we made at elementary school one Christmas for our mothers. At least at this moment that is the one I thought of.

      1095

1096. This is Helen Rogers. My first memory of stitching was going with my Mom to the needlework shop in my tiny hometown of Kingsville Texas to pick out my first needlepoint project. I was 9 I believe. My Mom taught me all the stitching I know: needle point, cross stitch (regular and counted) and embroidery. I got to be in weekly her “sewing group” during the summers and cherished that time of getting to be with the “grown-ups” and being, at least where stitching was concerned, elevated above the level of kid. I was in that group for years and learned a lot about stitching and life from those ladies! When I finally found the time to return to this passion (after I’d raised my kids and slowed down with work to a normal pace) Mom’s eyes had taken her out of the stitching game , but I still loved showing her what I was doing and talking about my plans. I lost Mom 2 years ago, and I so wish I could still share my project successes with her. Including my obsession with making Christmas ornaments that I picked up following you! 🙂

      1096

1097. My earliest memory of me sewing was on an aida piece of cloth, cross stitching what I was drawing. I stitched a cow and a person. I had to convince my mother to teach me how to cross stitch. I still have it, somewhere in my house or at my parents…

      1097

1098. I’m sure I stitched things as a young girl and did some loom beading as a Campfire Girl but the first “real” stitching I did was a piece of Hardanger at about 19. I took a class and was hooked on stitching. Once I learned the basics in the class I made a large table runner for my mother-in-law. Thanks for sponsoring the giveaways.

      1098

1099. I was probably 8 y/o.
      My Dad drew an apple tree for me; just a simple outline with “apples” on the inside. Mom showed me how to do a simple outlining stitch. I was so proud. I dont have this cloth anymore I am 71y/ o now
      But I do have the wooden hoop I used

      1099

1100. The first thing I can remember stitching was a small outline of a bunny. I did running stitch around the outline and then my Mom’s friend helped me turn the bunny into a little pin cushion. I think I was about 5 or 6 at the time.

      1100

1101. Oh my, I believe the first thing I ever stitched was a crewel Bucilla kit of a great horned owl (I am one to jump into something new feet-first!) I was in my early teens, and my grandmother helped me with some of the stitches. I still have the piece, and still love it!

      1101

1102. My first stitching experience was a scrap quilt for my doll. My best friend Debra and I had been raiding her mother’s large oatmeal container of 1.5-in postage stamp quilt squares to play with them. Grace chose redirection vs admonition. She cut 3-in squares and taught us 4-patch construction, along with our own oatmeal container for patch storage. I made a lovely (to me) lopsided top and played with it a long time.
      I still love color, design, and texture in fabric, thread, and beads, all of which must be touched and worked. I’m glad that Grace chose to let me explore fabric and stitching because the skills I learned made me happy and fulfilled. And now I’m a quilter, stitcher, beader, and garment maker.

      1102

1103. The first thing I stitched with needle and thread was a simple quilt with my mom when I was 8 or so. Embroidery I picked up much later, my first real project being a sampler kit that took 6 months to finish! I’m slow.
      Side note: I’m SUPER excited about that beginner gold work kit!!!

      1103

1104. My Russian Grandma showed me how to cross-stitch on kitchen towels. I must have been about 7 years old. Years later, she showed me the Russian stitches she learned when she was a girl in the Ukraine. Miss her very much and always thank her for the beautiful memories.

      1104

1105. I think it was a crossstitch pattern but my memory isn’t that good. What I took with me from home was some fabric with fruit motives.

      1105

1106. My first stitched item was a baby’s first Christmas ornament.

      1106

1107. The first thing I ever stitched was a felt appliqué book for my niece’s first birthday. Page 1 is a picture of her house, page 2 is a picture of her room and crib, page 3 is a picture of the backyard with her cat Zoe and her dog Charlie, and page 4 is a picture of her eating a cupcake with sprinkles!
      The stitches start out simple and a little shaky but slowly got more steady and advanced as I got better with all the practice. This website was so helpful for learning the stitches, from the basics to the more intricate!
      Nowadays I am working on flowers, flowers, and more flowers, inspired by books by Diana Lampe, Jenny Bradford, and Elisabetta Sforza.
      And my niece is now a little over 2, with an ever growing collection of her aunt’s embroidery!

      1107

1108. My first memory of embroidering was learning at my mother’s side. when my mother was too busy to embroider with me, I’d walk down the street and stitch with an elderly neighbor. I still have several cross stitched (not counted!) linen table cloths and napkins. I use them and look at them with wonderful memories.

      1108

1109. My first stitching must have been cross stitched pillow cases…still stitching!

      1109

1110. We lived with my Grandmother and she taught me basic embroidery. I did lots of handkerchiefs and table scarves. I wish I knew what happened to those. I do have a sampler that I did when I was about 10 yo. I love it.
      I so enjoy your blog and have learned so much from you.

      1110

1111. The earliest (7 y.o.) thing I remember stitching was preprinted cross stitch towel (rushnyk). It wasn’t a masterpiece of course, but since then I adore cross-stitch designs and embroidery itself.

      1111

1112. The first thing I ever stitched like most people I guess was cross stitch. I was taught by my cousin and it was a picture of 4 clothed bunnies dancing with one clapping and a mother bunny holding a young bunny watching. It was all in front of their house with trees and bushes and clouds. It took quite some time to complete and with copious mistakes.I remember getting very board with it but later discovered that with a change of subject matter I was happy to try stitching again. It wasn’t until university when I was in an unrelated club that encouraged me to try my own design of embroidery that I realised that there was a lot more scope to the art and a lot more to learn. This was where my journey really started.

      1112

1113. The first thing I ever stitched was an owl. A beautiful I will with the textured yarn. I still have them and he’s gorgeous! Of course, I was a eight-year-old child when I made him!

      1113

1114. The earliest things I can remember stitching were little blue flannel pouches that my mother cut out for me. Those weren’t embroidered, just sewn around and turned.

      The earliest embroidery I’m aware of (although I can’t remember actually doing it) was a little pinky-purpley flower with a rather trailing and looping stem in running stitch. It’s mounted in a hoop and hanging on the wall in my mother’s sewing room.

      1114

1115. The first thing I remember embroidering were old fashioned ladies with the long, full skirts. They were from iron-on transfers. I think it was a dresser scarf, but it could have been pillowcases. It was over 50 years ago.

      1115

1116. I’m slowly adding embroidery charts to my stash. I’m looking forward to putting needle and thread to other types of stitching than
      Cross Stitch.

      1116

1117. I remember my sister Meg showing me how to thread a needle and take a few stitches. She made clothes for my doll. She even crocheted her a tutu! Meg is still much better at sewing than I am. She makes Halloween costumes and pajamas for her grandchildren.

      1117

1118. My first embroidery project I think was chicken scratch on the pocket and bottom of a gingham checked apron. Oh so long ago! I then advanced to counted cross stitch and regular embroidery stitching.

      Have a Merry Christmas!

      1118

1119. My earliest memories are of learning embroidery with my mother. I was very young, 8-10, I suppose. We would find a transfer pattern we liked and then iron it on a flour sack to use as a tea towel. My mom had a big tin of embroidery floss we would choose the colors from.

      1119

1120. The first thing I ever stitched was a pin cushion. I must have been about seven years old. That experience did not inspire me to a lifetime of creativity in stitches unfortunately. My mother was so talented in all things stitchery so I either thought I couldn’t compete or I didn’t need to learn because she made such beautiful things. Now I find myself in retirement and I want to learn because it is a wonderful way to be creative!

      1120

1121. When I was about 8 yrs old, I embroidered the outline of my hand with a running stitch and added some other colorful embroidery around it. It is mounted on cardboard still! I remember my mom and grandma were always embroidering also. My mom did several crewel embroidery kits, and grandma embroidered table cloths for all her grand kids.

      1121

1122. These giveaways certainly set such a lovely festive note to these days. Thankyou. Sometimes I am so caught up in organisation for the season I lose the true spirit of it.
      Two things come to mind as my first items I stitched, I can’t remember which was first, as I think I was under 12 years of age. A tapestry pincushion or an evening bag for my sister who is 10 years older than me. Both items still exist and are used nearly 50 + years later 🙂

      1122

1123. My first embroidery stitching was over 50 years ago. I think I was about 6 years old. I embroidered a horse’s head. I still have it.

      1123

1124. A little girl dressed in red, wearing skates – on a black background, worked in bright wools on canvas, half cross stitch all over is the first needlework I remember doing. I may have been as young as five. I also seem to remember that it was given to me as a birthday gift from one of my grandmothers. It may NOT have been the first stitching I ever did Mary. It is the first I remember!
      I do hope your Christmas is blessed.

      1124

1125. The first thing I tried to stitch was a simple embroidery project my grandmother tried to get me interested in when I was 7 or 8. I thought the results looked so bad I never finished it.

      1125

1126. The first thing I ever stitched??? Oh so long ago! I think it was with my Granny when she taught me to embroider (back stitch!) my initials onto a cotton handkerchief … more years ago than I dare to count!

      1126

1127. When I was 10 I wanted to embroider so badly that I took sewing thread and a square cut from an old sheet (we didn’t have money for supplies) and tried to make it work. Even creating my own stitches. No-one in my house embroidered. It didn’t work but I never gave up wanting to create. When I was 20 I bought my first embroidery kit which was a grouping of flowers. I still embroider but mostly when I quilt. I love embroidering something into the design of the quilt when possible.

      1127

1128. My first project was my name stitched on pink and white gingham! I remember being SO proud when I finished and it really did look like my name and all the X’s were pretty close to being the correct size(thanks mom for the gingham and traced pattern!)

      1128

1129. My first memorable stitching was of a garden of zinnias – I’d planted them for the first time and fell in love with their colors. This coincided with falling in love with beginning embroidery – I longed to capture those zinnias with thread. I decided upon a bird’s eye view of only the flower tops crowded together and stitched on black linen to bring out the color. I was pleasantly surprised to find almost perfect color matches in DMC cotton. I wrapped back stitches for the flower edges and filled with chain stitch to simulate the tiny layered look of petals. Though I thought of many ways to improve a second try I was pleased overall and of course never got around to giving the idea a second go.

      1129

1130. The first thing I ever stitched was a cross stitch sampler for my parents 40th ruby wedding anniversary I designed it and incorporated all the members of the family doing the things they loved with my mum and dad in the centre plus other symbols depicting their life together for example a key board as my dad loved to play the organ ironically it nearly caused me and my husband to divorce as I was always completely engrossed in it and it took so long to finish! (only joking) 🙂 I am quite late to the world of stitching and so wish I had started at a younger age.

      Julie

      1130

1131. I have an early memory of stitching cards with holes you laced through. I also remember having to sew bloomers, an apron and a laundry bag with embroidered initials.

      1131

1132. I still have the first piece I stitched! It’s a stamped cross stitch picture of two women wearing sunbonnets, and it has a verse about friendship on it. Mine is stitched with pink and green. I don’t remember if those were the colors I was supposed to use. I think I was in third grade when I stitched it, and I entered it at my county fair, where it won a ribbon. Which I also still have. It’s interesting to think how that piece started me on this journey!

      1132

1133. At age 6 my Grandmother taught me to cross stitch on stamped pillow cases. Can’t remember when or if I ever finished them.

      1133

1134. My first embroidery was a potholder from Santa that had the most Ugly screened design of vegetable people you have ever seen. I was 7 and the faces were scary to me. So mom whip stitched a piece of card stock over the little faces and I did some of the worst embroidery you have ever seen. Mom stitch the scary faces when I was done. It will never see the light of day. After that she stick to a flowered dresser scarf and the ubiquitous Southern belle designs for my learning. Teenage years were needlepoint ad crewel.

      1134

1135. I remember doing some stitch samplers on a gingham fabric, and also doing a cross stitch dressing tablet set using an already printed on the fabric pattern. It was a rose design.

      1135

1136. A little cross stitch piece depicting Pusheen, meant for beginners. I heartily recommend that kit.

      1136

1137. I clearly remember sitting in my great aunt Bess’ sun room while she showed me how to do stem stitch on a piece of cotton material. I then stitched a red rose on a little doily and so began my love affair with hand stitching. I was 5 years old. 65 years later and I’m still stitching.
      Thanks Mary for the chance to take part in your wonderful Christmas give aways again.

      1137

1138. the first item I remember stitching- I stitched my name on a washcloth so my brother would not use it- straight stitches in black sewing thread on a pale yellow washcloth!!

      1138

1139. I embroidered a tablecloth and napkins for my parents 25th wedding anniversary. Oh, my, had no idea what I was doing. I am now the proud owner of it since both my parents have passed but I do hope to give to my granddaughter. Not a masterpiece but something made with love.

      1139

1140. Hi Mary,

      Thanks for the giveaway!
      The first thing I ever stitched was a stamped cross stitch pillow case. They were stamped with a blue ink. I don’t remember the colors I used, or the pattern, but I remember my mom showing me how to stitch it. Probably 55 or more years ago!

      1140

1141. The first thing I stitched was a printed cross stitch toaster cover. This would have been 1967-68-ish, when I was 6 or 7. This was back when kits were on lovely heavy linen – I still remember it. (I might even still have it packed away in my childhood box in the attic.)

      I also remember my Swiss mother (in the throes of the Erica Wilson crewel kit era) being very annoyed that I refused to follow the color chart – I made a VERY colorful rooster!

      1141

1142. The very first thing I stitched was a cross stitch kit I received for Christmas when I was 6 years old. My mother was a sewer and crafter before it was popular. She encouraged me to try things on my own and create my own designs at a very early age. I was hooked. I am 73 yrs old and stil doing all types of needlework as well as spinning, weaving, knitting, crocheting, quilting, sewing and journaling. Anything to express my creativity.
      Merry Christmas and Happy Yew Year to all!

      1142

1143. Hi Mary, the first thing I stitched was a dresser runner, given to me along with variegated threads by my grandmother. I thought it was so beautiful. I could hardly wait to add stitches. I was about 7 or 8 years old. I hate to think what it looked like on the back (or front, for that matter) but that joy and abandon is sometimes moderated by trying to do things correctly. I loved that dresser runner. I moved on to other stamped crossed stitch objects d’art such as an apron and pillowcases.

      1143

1144. My grandmother taught me to stitch. I think she started me on small cross stitch projects though I don’t really remember. The first project I did on my own that I do remember was a large — like about 12” tall Speedy Gonzales on the back of a denim shirt for my brother. I remember this because the satin stitches I used for his body were several inches long and I couldn’t understand why the stitches kept separating. With your help and others, my stitching has improved! Merry Christmas.

      1144

1145. The first thing that I can remember stitching was a small free kit from a home party needlework company, can’t remember the name right now. I later did them in different size fabric to Represent family members.

      1145

1146. my first memory of me and needle and thread ….i was not in school yet and sitting in the floor ,by my grandmama, i had a threaded needle and grandmamas button jar. i was threading the buttons on the needle and thread. sorting by size and color. grandmama was hand sewing me a yellow dress with a big white collar that she was embroidering on in browns and yellows. that is the first memory of sewing. later i remember grandmama teaching me how to make the running stitch, stem stitch, blanket stitch, and my favorite ….the lazy dazy stitch. i did that one stitch on everything she would let me. dishtowels, my slips, doll clothes and just scraps of fabric. she taught me alot of embroidery, and dressmaking, and home making. i will always miss her. thanks for the rememioring

      1146

1147. I was around 18 years old when I first started embroidery/crewel work . Mom bought me my first kit. After dinner especially on holidays the ladies would sit with our kits and talk and have snacks and just get silly while the guys all ended up in front of the television watching the game. Such special and fond memories now that she has been gone since 1981. When my oldest passed away in January of 2019 , my whole world fell apart and it was embroidery that saved my sanity. I picked up a piece of work and just stitched. I did not really care what it looked like. I just kept stitching it brought me some peace.

      1147

1148. I embroidered a butterfly on the back pocket of a pair of jean shorts in high school. Nothing fancy – just a bunch of different colors.

      1148

1149. I started with cross stitch. It was a simple deer sampler done on 16 count aida cloth. Bullion roses were the enticement that got me to switch over to surface embroidery. Love it!

      1149

1150. Oh dear that was such a long time ago. Maybe a peace sign on a pair of jeans in the 70s?

      1150

1151. The first thing I ever embroidered was a tiny sampler at an embroidery class at Fabricate Studios in Atlanta a couple of years ago. I’ve been hooked ever since!

      1151

1152. The first thing I ever stitched was a giant cross sticth someone gave me at age 10 (1990. I had no clue what I was doing and ran out of thread so fast (I didn’t know to separate it!) I didn’t do another until last year and thank goodness the internet is around to answer all my little questions! But now I love it!

      1152

1153. The first thing I ever stitched was a simple plastic canvas wreath ornament at Girl Scout camp. It hung on my mom’s tree for years and now it hangs on mine. 🙂

      1153

1154. The first thing I remember ever stitching was a pair of pillow cases for my hope chest. I was very young around 8 years of age and I remember always asking my Mother if I could help her when she was embroidering and she always would say “Not now” I need to get this finished.” This one day she surprised me, she showed me how to trace a flower onto a piece of fabric, how to put into a hoop and make it tight. She let me pick out the colors for the flower and leaves and stem. I remember I choose red and green. She threaded the needle, and showed me the first steps in holding it and how to push it thru the fabric. I pricked my fingers so so so many times trying to poke the needle in. I think she ended up stitching with my small hand under hers so I could feel the movement. There were many tears from me and lots of encouragement from her, we continued these simple lessons until it finally finally fell into place for me, (I think she breathed a sigh of relief!) needless to say I felt she was proud of my childish work as everyone that came to visit it I was always asked to show it off! As I think back to those days they were happy ones, and I am proud to say that if it weren’t for my Mom and that first little flower she encouraged me to stitch I may not have been sharing this!
      Thank you
      Yvonne

      1154

1155. As a child,I was waiting for my friend to dress. Her mother was embroidering a ‘crinoline lady’ on some linen. I was fascinated and concentrated how she produced the stitches. there and then she gave me some left over threads and a iron on pattern I rushed home,The only thing I could find was a handkerchief so I stitched a very simple ‘lady’ not a masterpiece but a beginning to a lifetime of stitching

      1155

1156. The first thing I every stitched was a sampler in the late 1980s called Southern Sampler by Ginger & Spice. It took me about 9 months to do. I probably wouldn’t be able to do it now as my eyesight is not as good. My late father liked it a lot and now I have it in my home.

      1156

1157. I stitched a needlepoint skunk, Disney’s “Flower” from the movie Bambi

      1157

1158. The first project was a dresser scarf from Woolworth’s with floss that cost 5 cents a skein. It took me a month to save up my allowance to have enough to buy everything I needed . . . the beginning of my stash!

      1158

1159. Dear Mary
      Thank you so much for your wonderful web site and your Stitcher’s Christmas contest. My earliest stitching project that I can remember was a shoebag done when I was a child. Maybe a brownie project, I’m really not sure, but more likely a school project. I’ve done basic sewing, making clothes for my children when they were growing up. I came across your web site in the last couple of months and you have inspired me to take on embroidering necklines and bottom borders of t shirts for birthday presents. The project has become an all consuming passion, using your how to, and tips and techniques and learning new combinations. I thoroughly enjoy and look forward to each new email. Embroidery has become a new passion for me. Thank you.

      1159

1160. First thing I stitched that was actually finished: A neighbor lady taught a special art class when I was in 2nd grade; our project was embroidered mushrooms, in acrylic worsted yarn on burlap. My father kept that thing for nearly 40 years and it may still be around. Probable actual first project: some little design in wool yarn on a dish towel, which got washed and the embroidery shrank into an unrecognizable not. I went to cotton floss very shortly after the mushrooms, and never looked back.

      1160

1161. The first thing I remember stitching is a canvas bag for flosses. I stitched it at my grandmas when I was around 4 or 5. It was a sampler on the flap of the bag, some basic stitches in different colors. My grandma would show me a stitch and begin it and I would finish it. The stitches are enormous but surprisingly very even 🙂 I suspect that the sampler was much longer than the flap and my gran just took the best part of it for the bag. I still have it, it’s over 30 years old 🙂

      1161

1162. Growing up in remote, equatorial Africa any form of needlework was unthinkable – basic sewing only. Supplies were hard to come by.
      Later, aged 10, in Australia and Year 5 with Mrs Stocker as my teacher. She was a devoted needle point enthusiast. There was always a piece of work underway on her desk. For our “craft” lessons, she got the whole class, including the boys, doing a piece of needle point. Mine was a Semco piece of a girls face. One of a series, if memory serves.
      Nearly 50 years later I’m still doing needlepoint (amongst other things) and it never fails to bring her, and those classes, to mind.

      1162

1163. my first stitching memory is doing a simple embroidered dresser scarf. I still have it 59 years later and the stitching is so good I suspect my mom tore out my stitching and redid it!

      1163

1164. Wow! What a generous giveaway! I would dearly love to win this more than any of the other giveaways so far. Thank you so much for including this in the giveaways this year!

      The first project that helped me to get started with embroidery was a cross stitch picture of a house with some trees and birds on each side of it – similar to what you find in cross stitch samplers. My mum started me on it, but I did a lot of the figuring of how to stitch it on my own – with some mistakes along the way!

      Merry Christmas!

      1164

1165. My first stitched piece is a smocking sampler that I made in Home Ec. I still have it and the teacher’s critique where she gave me 9 out of 10. That encouraged me to keep stitching, although I haven’t done any smocking since. Maybe I should try it again.

      1165

1166. My first stitching was a small cross stitch letter with a cockatoo on it that I stitched for my mum. I pulled it a little tight, but my mum still has it framed beside her bed now.

      1166

1167. A little sachet to fill with herbs/lavender. My one teacher was very encouraging with my stitching.

      1167

1168. The first thing I stitched was a simple flower and leaves, to get the feel for how to stitch and to make sure I could actually do embroidery without making my hand and wrist issues worse.

      1168

1169. I was sewing doll clothes by hand when I was 4. My mother probably cut them out and I used a running stitch to sew them together. How pleased I was to put them on a doll. I’ve been that way ever since. I get excited to finish something.

      1169

1170. The first memory I have of embroidering was a tablecloth. I must have learned on scraps before hand. I was 11 or 12 years old. I have embroidered (off and on) every since. Now it is definitely my favourite hobby!
      Merry Christmas to all the Embroiderers out there.

      1170

1171. I can’t remember the first thing I stitched — that was a long time ago and there was a big gap between when I first learned and now. I do remember stitching a Needlepoint Kit for my mother when I was in my 20’s– I even framed it and did a pretty good job at that! It was a happy picture — a house and tree and flowers as I recall, done in bright colors. She hung it her living room and it stayed there for many years.

      1171

1172. A tiny (maybe 1.5 inches across) pink rose that I framed in a hoop long before it was the fashion with some lace added behind the hoop. It still hangs in my parent’s house!

      1172

1173. I loved the cardboard lacing cards as a child. That led to embroidering flowers in stem stitch onto squares that my mom sewed into a table cloth for my bedroom when I was in early elementary school.

      1173

1174. The first thing I ever stitched was a stand-up lion. The pattern came from women’s magazine about 50 years ago. It has tent stitch and turkey work for the lion’s mane. I named him “Leo” after my father. I take him to all my needlepoint shows to show how much fun it is to do needlepoint. I hope he inspires other to try needlepoint among the many stitching opportunities out there.
      SFCAKID

      1174

1175. Earliest thing I stitched? Does Chicken Scratch as a Camp Fire girl count? But my interest in handwork started when I wanted to needlepoint my young children’s crayon pictures after seeing an article in Family Circle. That has lead me to explore all sorts of handwork since then.

      1175

1176. My first embroidery project was a stamped cross stitch baby bib. It wasn’t until I was a mom that I realized how rather impractical that was!

      1176

1177. Describe the first thing you ever stitched! If that’s not quite possible, what’s your earliest stitching memory?

      I believe it was one of the “punch & stitch” kits, where one would thread a very large-eyed needle, then punch out the little holes in order to create kind of a running stitch of a picture. That takes me WAAAAY back.

      1177

1178. I remember the first thing I stitched under my Beloved Grandma’s watchful eye was some chicken scratch on some gingham fabric. I would have been between 5 and 8 as I know we were living with her when I was that age !

      1178

1179. Your postings are so readable and always seem to know (?) just exactly what I need to know and learn.
      Thank you.

      1179

1180. Around age 10 or 11, my mother gave me a pair of pillow-cases printed with shafts of wheat on the hem. With gold-colored embroidery thread, Mom taught me two embroidery stitches. Sitting on the floor in front of the register, I eagerly completed the project within just a couple days. That was around 1957, and I haven’t stopped loving embroidery, both stitching, and admiring needle artwork.

      1180

1181. The first thing I can remember stitching was a burlap pillow done while attending Vacation Bible School with my best friend and neighbor around age 7. I think it had a daisy and ladybug on it stitched with knitting yarn. My mother held onto it for quite a few years until it fell apart. Not the best stitching job. 🙂

      1181

1182. I was twelve-years-old at a Saturday morning class in a convent across the street from my grade school. I first stitched an altar linen for the missions. Each stitch had to be perfect because it would be used on the altar.

      1182

1183. My mom was (and still is) an avid cross-stitcher, so when I was 9 and showed some interest she helped me stitch a small ornament that had a bedtime bear sitting on a moon. I gave it to my teacher as a present because she was expecting a baby.

      1183

1184. The first thing I remember stitching is a tiny vest for my Sasha doll. My maternal grandmother had made it out of Christmas red felt – for Christmas of course! – but she then helped me stitch flowers on each side of the front. Chain stitch as I recall with a back stitch stem. I still have that little vest!

      1184

1185. I did my first stitching project in the fifth grade when we were learning American history. We made a simple white thread on white fabric design using french knots. I’m amazed that I learned a complicated stitch and had the patience to finish.

      1185

1186. When I was little my family went to the beach in NJ for up to a month. There were always days of rain. At the 5 and 10 cent store we bought things to amuse us during the bad weather. I bought printed cross-stitch designs that came with everything needed. I learned to handle a needle during those sunless days.

      1186

1187. I don’t remember the first thing I stitched, but it was probably a stamped cross-stitch pillowcase. The first thing I remember stitching was a small sailboat, probably a kit from a craft store. It was in the early 80’s and I gave it to a guy I was dating. It was all of 2” tall but I was proud of it… pretty laughable now!

      I hope you get your snowy, cozy, inside weekend and take some time for yourself.

      1187

1188. Oh my, the first stitched item was likely doll clothes with my mom teaching me to sew. She taught me sew much.

      1188

1189. My first stitching memories where with my grandmother then over the years trying all forms of handwork…I find it very relaxing and the end results rewarding !

      1189

1190. My grandma taught me the basics of embroidery on a set of pillow cases when I was about 8 years old.

      1190

1191. I cant wait to read others responses to this question!

      The first thing I ever stitched was printed needlepoint of a pear and apple, only 4 colours. My mom gave it to me when I was 6 or 7. She’s always had needle in hand and I guess I was curious, I hated it and never finished it (my first UFO!). Though I still do not like counter or grid type stitching, I did come to love surface embroidery deeply and have tried many techniques over the years. She recently gave the UFO back to me…who knows one day I might finish it.

      Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. Stay safe.

      1191

1192. I’m not sure of my first stitching project, but I do remember crewel embroidery kits that I stitched. The only one I remember was the profile of an Indian in a headdress. It may have been an Erica Wilson kit.

      Thanks for another fun giveaway!

      1192

1193. Stamped pillow cases or a tea towel would have been my first experience embroidering. These were things we used and after a time they needed replacing.

      1193

1194. The first “real” thing I stitched was a quilt. I’m not one to start small! HAHA It took me about 12 years to finish beginning in high school.

      1194

1195. My first and very memory is making Christmas gifts of linen handkerchiefs decorated with drawn thread borders. I love drawn threadwork still. We pulled embroidery thread into the empty slots which was decorative. When I was younger I think I was taught to fringe the edges and later to hem the edges. Thanks for helping me dredge up that memory.

      1195

1196. Nice question, Mary! My grandmothers taught me to knit and crochet when I was around 6 or so. A few years after that my mother got me into embroidery. Crewel and needlepoint. My first crewel must have been an Erica Wilson kit. My first needlepoint was a kit, too. I still remember the picture.

      1196

1197. Oh Mary! You are so generous! Okay, my very first stitching memory is learning in the first grade, age six. We learned to thread a needle, and make a rolled knot, the kind between your thumb and forefinger. We had paper cards with pictures and the holes already punched, like a dot-to-dot, and we learned the running stitch and the back stitch. This was in the sixties, when girls still learned such things at school!

      1197

1198. My very first memory of hand stitching was using running stitch to sew a little doll’s dress and I still have the doll wearing the dress. It also has a rusty pin to help hold it together. I was probably about 6 or 7 years old.

      1198

1199. One of the first things I ever stitched was a printed cross stitch quilt pattern that I intended to give to a friend as a wedding present. First time. A quilt. Took forever. My grandmother had it quilted and it never made it to my friend. I still have it.

      1199

1200. Hi Mary
      The first thing I think I stitched was a kids cross stitch kit of a bunny. If I remember rightly, the bunny was purple, and there were blue hills in the background.

      1200

1201. My first project was a dish towel. My mom was teaching me to embroider, and we used an iron-on transfer. It was an old coffee pot with flowers in it. I still have it, decades later (no, I’m not saying how many decades).

      1201

1202. The earliest memory I have is stitching a stuffed doll. The pattern was pre-printed, you just cut the outline, sewed the two sides together, turned right side out and stuffed. Viola! A little stuffed doll. Simple, but it sticks out in my memory.

      1202

1203. The first thing I remember stitching was a gingerbread man on burlap. Running stitches to do the outline, with button eyes and ric rac for “icing” . I even entered it into our local fair! I haven’t thought about that in ages; thank you for the fun question!

      1203

1204. I’m sure I started stitching at a very young age but the earliest I really remember is in my junior high school’s home economics’ class embroidering pillowcases with laisy daisies, stem stitch and lots of French knots. We also learned to knit slippers and to sew aprons. So glad for those opportunities as creating with my hands has brought me much pleasure throughout the years.

      1204

1205. My first stitching memory is my mother teaching me cross-stitch. I think it was just a piece of cloth that she put in a hoop. Later Mom gave me a printed sampler which included the stitch that took me forever to conquer–the French knot.

      1205

1206. Thank you so much, Mary, for putting this together each year! The first things I stitched were counted work and traditional embroidery when I was in high school. However, I truly took up the embroidery hobby years later when expecting my 2nd child 37 years ago. I have enjoyed working at it ever since.

      1206

1207. I remember as a child learning to embroider on a preprinted design on the fabric. As a teenager when at family reunions with cousins and aunts and uncles playing cards around the big round wooden kitchen table, I chose to embroider an original design of flowers which I have to my grandma . After grandma died my parents brought it back to their home and now I have it. It’s fun to look at it and remember those family times.

      1207

1208. The first thing that I stitch and started to learn embroidery was ribbon embroidery and it was a wedding ring pillow. I still have it and this ring pillow sample was beginning of several ring pillows that I stitched for my family members and friends.

      1208

1209. Hi Mary,

      My earliest stitching memory is sitting with my grandmother learning to make cotton yo-yos. Precious memory.

      1209

1210. My earliest memories of embroidering were of strawberries and mushrooms… It was all the rage in the early ’70s when I was a preteen/teen. My older Brothers girlfriend was in her late teens and she embroidered the whole of the back of her Jean jacket. I wish I had pictures-it was pretty amazing. She was my hero and the inspiration for the strawberries and mushrooms.

      1210

1211. The first thing I can actually remember stitching completely myself was a needle holder. I was age 8, so just over 40 years ago now. My mum was very crafty so always had lots of materials, different wools and threads for making things. Mine was a very basic affair: a folded over piece of deep purple felt with an inner lilac felt for the needles. With cotton and embroidery thread I sewed and decorated it with blanket stitch and a pink flower, using a ridiculously large popper to keep it shut. I know the year because that Christmas I was given my own sewing box from my grandparents containing all sorts of goodies. I don’t have the needle case anymore, but I do have the sewing box and a lot of its contents. It looks very dated (it was the 70s afterall!) and is rather small and impractical as the plastic divider inside is cracked and broken, but I can’t bring myself to upgrade it. Even though I now realise my Mum almost certainly bought the box on behalf of my grandparents, it still makes me think of them.
      Jennifer France

      1211

1212. The first thing I ever stitched was a tea towel embroidered with dark red thread.
      I cannot recall the design but my Grandmother taught both my brother and I to
      embroider during one our summertime visits to her home. We always loved our time
      spent at Grandmother’s. Every time I read your newsletter it takes me back to those wonderful times. Merry Christmas!

      1212

1213. Hi Mary ~ my earliest stitching memory is sitting by my Nana while she crocheted, not sure why I never learned though! After that it was cross stitching after my son was born 26 years ago. Have a lovely Christmas!

      1213

1214. The first thing I embroidered was a small sampler with basic embroidery stitches. It was in school and I was in grade 5. I remember being fast to master the stitches ans I finished before all the other girls. I had been seeding for at least 5 years so having a needle in my hands was not new to me.
      Merry Christmas to you Mary. Keep safe!

      1214

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