Hand embroidery is quickly becoming a lost art. And I've done nothing to preserve that art - yet. I learned to embroider at the knees of my maternal grandmother. She had me practice on dishtowels and pillowcases. I have wonderful memories of spending time with her doing things like knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and tatting. OK - I must admit the tatting was a total failure because I never figured it out.
So why didn't I teach my girls how to do any of these things? I don't know but I'm guessing their lack of interest, busy activity-filled lives, and my lack of patience probably had a lot to do with that. Thankfully one of my cousins (who also spent lots of time with Grandma Johnson) taught my daughter Laura how to knit the summer after college when my daughter lived with them for a couple of months during an internship.
I'm doing a simple block with embroidery and as I gathered things this morning a few memories of Grandma began to flit through my brain. So I've been thinking that I need to spend a little time with my granddaughters as they grow to teach them to sew and to embroider. Auntie Laura can teach them to knit.
Sounds like a good plan. Like you, they will learn more than just the craft you teach them. They will learn about family, patience, and many other things. I hope you'll schedule a regular time to sit with the Grnads and stitch.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother taught me to knit when I was little, but I didn't do much with it until I was older. My mom started teaching me to sew when I was 8, but I, like you, didn't teach either of my daughters. One had no patience for it and the other has trouble with her fine motor skills. Maybe I'll have a granddaughter one day who I can teach. :)
ReplyDeleteI learned to embroider from my babysitter when I was five. I can't believe she taught me while babysitting so many kids. She also had all of us memorize verse John 3:16. What a great babysitter. I tried to teach my girls but they couldn't careless. Although it has been a decade since I tired, maybe I'll try again. You have chosen a nice background for your project. It's going to look great.
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ReplyDeletexoxo
"That Cousin"
Have fun grandma. Since my kids don't have a grandma to teach them, I'll try to do my best.
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