July 2025

Our President called the meeting to order.  We started the meeting with a moment of silence in memory of one of our founding members who died as a result of a car accident.   We are accepting donations and will put the money towards conservation of a sampler in her name.

New members were welcomed.

Minutes from the prior meeting were shared by email to all members.  Committee Reports were shared.

- Patrick reminded all about keeping an ongoing list for your 2025 finishes.   At the end of the year, stitchers will submit their list to be added to our “Green Book”.    Seventy-three members participated in 2025.  

- Members were encouraged to stitch on patriotic pieces between now and July 1, 2026.   We will have a slide show of all the pieces in July 2026.

- A new feature for our Zoom Meetings will be a Show ‘n Tell Slide Show.   Watch your Guild Newsletter for information of where to submit your photos.  Thank you Kelly E for doing this.

- Rehoboth Needlework Show will be accepting needlework pieces until September 5th for their annual show.

- Amy Mitten will replace Margarita Hogue at the Chester County/Penn Dry Goods Days Classes in May 2026.

- Secret Stitcher - Participants should be preparing their big reveal and sending their last Secret Stitcher gift.  Sign up information for the next session will be in the Guild Newsletter. 

- Number of the month for your focus is - No. 4

- Hobby House Retreat - We have 22 signed up to attend the retreat.

- Guild Fall Retreat at Salty Yarns will be November 14, 15 and 16.   Information and sign up form can be found in your Guild Newsletter.

Programs - 

August - Jennifer Richardson of Violets & Verses will be our guest lecturer.   Jennifer is very knowledgeable about samplers as well as Shakers and Shaker life.   She will be sharing new releases of two samplers from sisters.   More information will be provided via your Guild Newsletter regarding purchasing options of the chart, fibers and fabric.  

September  - Teresa Miller Primitive Designs.    Sign up due by August 1st.    The class will be during the September Meeting and Away Stitchers are welcomed.  We will have the room until 3 p.m. on that day.   Please bring your own beverages and a packed lunch.   We will be ordering pizza at a cost of $5 per person if you would like to have pizza instead of packing your lunch.  Sign up for pizza for lunch with be on the day of the class.  If you are an Away Stitcher, you will receive your kit in the mail directly from Teresa.  Becky and Amy will have the Delaware Tapestry there to work on for those not taking the class.  

October - Garage Sale - There will be no Zoom for this meeting.   Bring in your unwanted charts and needlework supplies to sell.   Bargains will be found!

November - Catherine Theron Classes - Class limit of 30.   Please check with Stacy if you are interested to check if there are any seats available.  For those who have signed, they have been notified if they made the cut off.

December - Holiday Exchange and Luncheon.   If you wish to participate in the exchange, please bring a  wrapped sampler related small.   You need to include the guild’s initials, the year and your initials on the piece.   The Guild will provide sandwiches and members should their own beverages and a covered dish to share.  

September 2026 - We will have Jackie DuPlessis share her Berlin Wool Work Spot Motif Sampler.  This sampler uses 36 different skeins of French wool.    A $50 deposit will be required by September 2025 so the fibers can be pre-ordered.  Please check your Guild Newsletter for sign-up form.  This sampler is filled with beautiful, vibrant colors. 

Today’s Program

We were thrilled to welcome Dawn Ronningen as our guest speaker.    Dawn designed the Jane Harris Huswif for the Guild.   Charts were pre-ordered but they are still available by contacting Dawn directly at cwaneedle@gmail.com.

Dawn is a historian, a needle worker, a quilter, and a published author of needlework specialty books.  All the samplers she shared are from her book “sewing Rolls, Needlerolls and Huswif”.   She is a retired IT analyst.

Dawn explained the difference between sewing pockets and sewing tools.  In the 18th and 19th century, textiles were expensive and needle rolls and such were passed down through generations.  

Needle rolls are smaller, more sentimental and varied widely.   Dawn had over 500 in her collection.  One includes a Hawthorne thorn needle.  These rolls were somewhere to store your precious sewing tools in a small handy case with was often secured with a ribbon tie.  They vary from what was practical to what was more expensive.  Not all are embroidered but do show fine hand sewing.

Needle rolls can be non-embroidered, have interior pockets that are flat and/or gathered and often had a theme.

Orphan Sewing Rolls are from the early 1800’s.  They are typically English with fine detailed stitching and embroidery.  Stitched Biblical verses were common.

Tambor Embroidery - sewn with chain stitch - it is unknown where this type originated.

Some have full coverage using the flame stitch.  This group of needle rolls is called the “Parker Series”.  Examples are on display at Chester County History Center and at Winterthur where the Lydia Parker, stitched in 1763, is on display.

Another variety is solid ground embroidery such as the Ann Marsh needle rolls.  Elizabeth and Ann Marsh were mother and daughter.  This style is recogonized by the green binding and the smaller size.   The original is also available to be seen at the Chester County History Center.

Pockets or Waist bags were also popular in the 18th century.   These pockets were tied around the waist and were  worn under a woman’s skirts with access through openings in the side of their skirts.     Late in the 19th century, waist pockets got smaller with the advent of reticules and pocketbooks.  

Thank you Dawn for the wonderful program packed with information.   If you haven’t seen her books, pleased check them out.  

Please check out our Facebook page, under files, to see the 2026 Program Calendar.  Stacy has all of 2026 planned already and is starting work on 2027.   If there is a class you would like to have or a demonstration you would the Guild to offer, please reach out to Stacy and, if appropriate, she will work to add it to the schedule.  She is already planning 2027!

73 members were present during Zoom

Next meeting - August 9 - Zoom only -  Jennifer Richardson of Violets and Verses - 10 am to noon.