Originally posted 2008-06-23 17:40:06. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Doing needlepoint to adorn a church is a dream for many needleworkers. Many people will seek out churches with needlepoint kneelers to see them and countless other stitchers volunteer their time to make these lovely works of faith, skill, and art.
Designing Women has just published a delightful guide that is a starting point for anyone considering making religious needlepoint. Keeping the Faith is a spiral-bound book that not helps you plan and execute your project, but includes charts for 50 different Christian symbols to get you started.
The book starts with a chapter on how to use the book, then it continues through all the steps of the church project, from forming the committee to cleaning and storing the finished items.
While many books on church needlework focus almost completely on kneelers,, Keeping the Faith looks at a wider assortment of items. One chapter even covers different methods of display, including ornaments and wall hangings.
Before the charts, there is a small section of color pictures of completed projects, giving you even more inspiration.
The charts and projects take up the remainder of the book. For the small projects, a common set of symbols is used, making it really easy to make many of these pieces. They include 18 different crosses, doves, monograms, and other symbols. All are lovely and easy to stitch. There are three charted Ethiopian crosses, which in the original feature complex silver geometric patterns. Next come 6 Mission Style Crosses, also using a common set of symbols. I love these pieces, and think they would be lovely done in textured stitches. There are also angels, borders and even a sample chart which shows a symbol with a border.
Finally, there is a charming small stained glass window ornament that is designed specifically as a simple way to introduce needlepoint to new stitchers to prepare them to work on the project.
Practical, inspirational, and fun, this book will be a great start for any church or faith-based project.
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Hi Janet,
I was interested to read that the book features 3 charted Ethiopian crosses. I’m currently in Ethiopia, and I can tell you that Ethiopian crosses are beautiful in real life too. We’ve bought a few to take home with us. Saw some wonderful ones at the Ethnographic Museum. Some were hundreds of years old. It is interesting that much embroidery in Ethiopia has taken its cue from their religious crosses (used in celebration of Ethiopian Orthodox faith), with motifs usually being intertwined crosses, in many ways not unlike Celtic crosses.
Yvette –
You’re right, they are stunning. My youngest daughter has one on a necklace her confirmation sponsor gave her and we have another, processional one that’s amazing we are keeping for my son’s godfather. I love the interlacing on it.
Keep Stitching,
Janet
[...] information you need, and lots of pictures for inspiration. Designing Women has a lovely book out, Keeping the Faith, which has charts and lots of ideas of their own projects to beautify their [...]