Thank you to everyone who has kindly contributed to help us fundraise for the RSN Stitch Bank and adopted a stitch.  The RSN Stitch Bank will be a digital database of all the stitches in the world, in one place. It will include a picture of the stitch, a video of how to create the stitch, illustrations of the steps of the stitch, a little about the stitch’s history and examples of pieces in which the stitch has been used, ultimately across time periods and locations.

Read more to hear what prompted stitch lovers to adopt a stitch and support this unique project.

Helen Miller, who adopted the Diamond Trellis Stitch, explains: “It was a pleasure to be able to contribute towards the Stitch Bank.  It’s a great idea.  I dedicated my stitch to my paternal grandmother, Rhoda, who I adored.  She was born early in the last century and so lived through two world wars.  She lived in Gloucestershire with her family in her parents’ home, nursing her parents and my grandfather whilst bringing up my father and my aunt.  At some point the house was used for groups of women learning to sew, and sewing. Out of necessity she was very resourceful.  She made all of the family’s clothes using her 1938 Singer sewing machine (it is still in use). She would pick up old jumpers at jumble sales, unravel them and knit new clothes. She saved all material scraps and old clothes and made beautiful circular plaited rag rugs and rag dolls as presents.  At Christmas she would go across to the village farm to pluck and dress the turkeys for a bit of extra money to spend on others.  She had so little, but helped so many.  My dedication is a thank you for her unfailing generosity and for fostering a love of hand stitching and resourcefulness.“

Alison Elliott, adopted Square Eyelet and said: “The stitch preservation initiative, as part of the broader development of the RSN, is exemplary. You are doing a wonderful job to both preserve and celebrate such a crucial area of our international heritage.  I am amused and gratified to be the person attached to ’Square Eyelet’. Eyelet, a vision onto our world. As a feminist PhD Art History student, I aim to offer a particular vision into portraits of women. Square, I am certainly not! Curvaceous, knobbly, and unconventional would be a closer description!”

If you would like to dedicate a stitch to a loved one and help the creation of the RSN Stitch Bank, click here for more information on how to ‘Adopt a Stitch’.