Needlework

Needlework is almost a lost art. You have to look hard to find a good piece of work done with great care from your great-great grandmother. Way back when times were less hectic it was nothing for the matriarchs of the family to make works of art out of some material and thread. One would needlework a certificate for the birth of a child or a family list of all the children. These included birth dates and parents as well as those who had died in the family. It was a way of keeping the family tree going. Some were made to commemorate a special holiday.

Others were so talented that they would stitch pictures of different scenes or animals. These pictures took a lot of work and would take a long time to finish. Each stitch would have to be small so that it would look like an actual picture. One had to have patience and good eye sight to make one of these treasures. There are a few of these that are still around and they are worth a small fortune.

Needlework can be very relaxing and quite rewarding for the one who is doing it. It is a craft that can be learned by trial and error and it can also be taught to your daughters and grandchildren once you know what you‘re doing. This is how they did it back in the early days of stitching. Women always had their baskets of threads and needles within reach when they had their daily household chores done and Dads would play their instruments.