of yesterday’s stitchers and their work.

First, here’s Anne and her leaf, embroidered on the coif. Thanks to Robbin for this great picture.

Here are a couple of pictures of Tricia, Sarah and Susan. I love how Tricia curls up in a chair to work on these big frames. No matter how huge they are, she looks cozy and comfortable, not like she’s wrestling with a bulletin board (which is how I feel, and probably look.)

We had another Sarah in stitching yesterday. Sarah R is 11 years old and was in the office trying on period clothing - she’s going to portray a young colonist in the Village occasionally this summer. She was fascinated with the embroidery and Tricia explained just what was going on and why. Then Tricia got her a doodle cloth and some floss, and this is what she did! The bear face and the “S” are Sarah’s, and they were her first embroidery. The Project once again inspires a newbie to pick up a needle.

We’ve got a birthday and an anniversary coming up. May 15 is the blog’s birthday - one year since we started this online community. We’ve got an embroidery and lacing session May 16-19; I think we’ll be having some birthday celebrations!

The June 20 - 23 session is our anniversary - that weekend last year was the first time we gathered to work on the jacket. It seems so long ago, especially judging by the pieces. Back then, those first embroiderers really had to take their courage in hand to make the first stitches on the huge blank linen pieces. And then, after a whole day’s work, or a whole FOUR days’ work, there would be . . . two buds and a trefoil. Or a bud and two leaves. What a leap of faith on all our parts, believing that others would come after and keep filling in, that the Gilt Sylke Twist thread would get made, that the lacers would join us, that the spangles’ mysteries would be revealed. . . . I think there will be some festivities that weekend as well.

There’s still room in both sessions. Email me. jhall@plimoth.org

Last session Linda joined us for Saturday. She lives locally, but not too local, so it was a bit of a drive each way. Linda used to work at Plimoth, about 35 years ago, before the program was consistently first person (which is when the interpreters pretend to be people from the past).

Linda took a walk through the Village in the afternoon and was a little dismayed to see how very different everything is now. We’ve learned so much about the past, the architecture, the material culture, the clothing, the world view, the foodways, in those years, that of course the exhibit would change, but it was a little disappointing nonetheless, not to find anything familiar.

I was very glad Linda had come, and she brought some great show & tell embroideries. Here are just a couple of photos, of a counted thread huswife and the stitched accessories that go with. I think it was the “L” pincushion (or maybe something else?) that started a discussion about whether each of us could find our names on those displays of personalized key chains and pencils and bicycle name plates that were so popular in the 70s. I could occasionally find “Jill” but so often not that those few times were a real treat. I remember Abigail said she never could find her name, which is funny given how common that name is now. I think Bryce said she never even expected to find hers. All sorts of interesting topics come up while your hands are busy with the embroidery and lace.