Stitches as Witness

I've always been fascinated with fiber arts' affinity for life transitions and milestones. Birth announcements, mourning scenes, a well fashioned hope chest, and wedding samplers commemorating a union. Not only do hand-stitched pieces adorn our homes and weave the fabric of our notion of home and beauty, but they take special care to usher in momentous moments in our lives.

My first wedding sampler was stitched for my sister and her husband. It completely consumed me: I stitched before my early morning bus to the distribution center where I worked, I worked late into the night in the late Covid months where upticks in case numbers would force us to avoid socializing. The running commonality throughout those months was the intention stitched into every cell of the pattern: the hopes and wishes for my sister's wedding.

Later, as close friends began getting married, stitching samplers for them became a no-brainer. If they would appreciate the craft and care, I began selecting patterns and got an idea for the direction. I have tried to select patterns - or customize patterns - to reflect their wedding colors, their story, or how they've made their home. In each sampler I have poured love and hope for the start of their journey.

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I have made five samplers so far, with three more in the works. Not only has it been such a powerful way to learn about the medium and history of community-making through fiber arts, but it has also been an incredible way to remain present during a tumultuous time of great (beautiful) change. For each of these samplers I not only can invoke a feeling of the ceremony and festivities, but I see moments of friendship and family captured powerfully. The sampler acts as a witness to this powerful transition in our lives and I hope will remain a treasured memory of these weddings for my couples for years to come.