A Love for Embroidery - My August Prayer Flag

After the relaxing and uncomplicated flag I stitched last month, I wanted to work with similar ease again. I walked around the property looking for color inspiration. Echinacea and Zinnias are blooming, but not too much else. There is a lot of green though. My color palette was chosen. I’d use pink, a bit of orange and green.

For the fun of it we planted two old sweet potatoes that had grown eyes in one of the garden beds. The entire 4 x 8 foot bed is covered with vines of dense green leaves. There are a few morning glory-like flowers that open in the morning popping up from between leaves.

I chose a piece of green fabric that has a leaf pattern on it. I thought this was fitting to represent all the greenery I’m seeing. I placed the fabric in an embroidery hoop and began free form embroidering my interpretations of Echinaceas and sweet potato flowers.

My husband and I were still recovering from our bout with Covid, so many of my prayers focused on healing. I also continued to contemplate the theme of ease. This flag reflected that too. Just embroidery on cloth. No pieces of fabric to attach.

Working with thread, remembering certain stitches, I was transported back to a time when I was young. I think I was between the ages of eight and ten. Somehow I had an interest in embroidery. I was given an apron that had a pattern on it, meant to be embroidered on. In those days we needed someone in the flesh to show us how to do anything – no YouTube then! My mother brought me to the neighbor of my grandparents, Mrs. Boenig. This kindly older woman taught me the stitches I needed – stem, satin, back, running and French knots.  I can vaguely recall Mrs. Boenig’s face and the living room we sat in. Did I visit her once? Twice? I don’t recall. It couldn’t have been too often; my grandparents didn’t live close.

A short time in my life that had a lasting effect on me. I’ve embroidered here and there throughout my life, always remembering her and her kindness to me.