young at heart

It is a traditional form of stitchery that our resourceful colonial grandmothers used. They reused calico sugar and flour sacks and the cord/ thread used in candles for the wicks - thus the name. It is a simple form of embroidery using mainly the colonial knot with a few other simple stitches. Traditionally it was cream on cream with crochet lace added but now of course we have a wide choice of threads. I find it enjoyable as it doesn't strain these old eyes as much as the finer work- I can watch t.v. with my DH and work on my quilt at the same time. I use a special hoop on a small stand. The designer Margaret Upston has these on her site also, and they are easier to use than the simple hoop. BTW Margaret suggests homespun rather than calico as there is less, and more even shrinkage.