PieceWork

How did you first learn how to stitch? When I flipped through the pages in this issue, it made me realize that the way needlework is taught can be as significant as the finished product. Whether the method is hand-to-hand education as portrayed in Sarah Pedlow’s story about traditional Hungarian ĺrásos embroidery or learning to knit from one’s mother as Meg Swansen learned from Elizabeth Zimmermann, we learn more than a skill—we also create a bond. Knowledge is a gift. Prepare yourself to be moved by the contagious joy that leaps from the vivid images photographed by young weavers in Peru; I know it brought a smile to my face. Directed to capture local customs on film, these children grant us a precious glimpse into the culture that they are learning…

A Gem from the Web I enjoyed reading your article on the Piecework website about needle lace (Katrina King, “What is Needle Lace?,” pieceworlanagazine.com/what-is-needle-lace). I have been fascinated by it for years, ever since I read the book Raskin Lace and Linen Work by Elizabeth Prickett, and eventually I was able to see a video on Ruskin Lace. This is my chatelaine and needle case, well-worn and well used. I backed the linen with felt to absorb sweat and oils from my neck. It’s only basted, so the needle lace can be removed when washing. Virginia Martin Via email Persistence Pays Off! There are wonderful stories about mothers and grandmothers patiently teaching young children all kinds of handcrafts. My mother sewed and tailored clothing for herself and all six of her children, knit designer sweaters and…

Editor’s note: Meg Swansen is the daughter of the late Elizabeth Zimmermann, the knitting-world luminary whose bestselling books and educational television series have taught generations of people how to knit. The photos shown come from Meg’s personal collection, and she has penned the captions for this profile. Tell us how you learned to knit. My story is a common one: I learned to knit at my mother’s knee.. .literally. I have quite a vivid memory of my first few stitches: Mum was sitting in a chair, and I stood with my back to her on our porch overlooking the Delaware River. She had her arms around me, guiding my hands and repeating the moves for each stitch, “in, over, under, off.” Just as she had been taught by her mother. How did you…

Note from the Editor: The author follows the Hungarian practice of referring to people by their last name, followed by their first name. A visit to the Museum of Ethnography in Budapest in 2009 opened my eyes to the world of Hungarian traditional clothing and embroidery. There was a large display of dowry goods, which included painted furniture piled high with pillows, sheets, and ceremonial cloths, all covered in thick lines of embroidery. I was intrigued by the threedimensional quality of the lines and the monochromatic color scheme used to render floral patterns, and I wondered if women were still stitching in this style. Three years later, I traveled to Romania, hoping to support and share this tradition by learning from local embroiderers. “Written” embroidery, írásos in Hungarian, holds a prominent position…

Based upon my lessons with these women, I eventually gained the confidence to teach workshops on this tradition. After three years of making bags and pillows with the women’s embroidery, I shifted my focus entirely to education. I now teach workshops and lead tours to help preserve and share the tradition at the source. In my workshops, I demonstrate the stitch in two different ways: a beginner’s method, which breaks the stitch down into steps (see the accompanying tutorial); and the way of the Kalotaszeg women. In my beginning class, I use simplified forms and focus on creating consistent stitches and even lines. In Level II, I share the supplemental stitches people use to fill spaces, the lace stitch, the needle-lace edging, and I dissect how the patterns were stitched.…

The main stitch of Kalotaszeg írásos is known as the open chain, and it creates a wide line of ladderlike stitches. Each looping stitch overlaps the previous one. Írásos differs from the basic chain stitch in that the needle and thread pass through two points in the fabric rather than one. The stitched lines of the open chain are called zsinor in Hungarian, which translates as “cord.” MATERIALS ♦ Sportweight cotton yam in red, blue, black, or white (see designer’s notes below) ♦ Short darning needle ♦ Mid- to heavyweight linen fabric (approximately 7 oz/198 g) ♦ Water-soluble or heat-sensitive pen ♦ Ruler Designer’s notes: I have used heavier, looser-weave linen in my photos in the instructions. The embroidery thread DMC Article 89 Matte Cotton (Retors Mat), 100% long-fiber cotton, while slightly thinner, is…