Illustration by Valerie Rambach

MY GRANDMOTHER'S GIFT
by Rita Chiavacci 

          One of my passions as a youngster was embroidery.  Through the years, it has grown to include crewel and cross stitch.  I love sewing of any kind, hand or
machine, it doesn't matter.  I do not consider myself a master at what I do, but the hours of pleasure I receive are certainly time well spent.

             Mom bought flour and sugar in 100 pound sacks.  As the sacks emptied, they were bleached and set aside until a second one was ready.  Then Mom sewed a pair of pillowcases from the empty sacks.  Embellishing them was left to me.

            Mom had envelopes of embroidery transfers.  A hot iron was used to transfer the design onto the fabric.  I got to choose from among the flowers, baskets, teddy bears, puppies and kittens.  My greatest delight came in choosing the colors I would use for the designs. 

             At the store, I loved choosing from the blues, pinks, lavenders, greens, and so many other colors.  I had to have the right shades, nothing less would do.  I looked into drawers alive with color, pondering which colors I should choose.  Finally with a hand full of the perfect choices, I couldn't wait to get home to begin my stitching.

              Many an hour was spent during summer vacation sitting on the front porch or under the trees in the backyard with my stitching in hand.  It was such a thrill to see the pattern come alive as I stitched with the various colors.

            As years passed and I married and began my family, I had little time for my passion.  Having four little boys in 7 years kept me going from morning until night. I did find time to do, must do, machine sewing--patches on the knees etc.  I also made many of my own garments.  Machine sewing was fine, but I enjoyed the hand stitching most of all. 

            Once the boys were all in school, I was able to begin my needlework again.  I tried my hand at crewel embroidery, which I loved.  I learned to crochet and then I discovered cross-stitch. 

             Through the years many of my pieces have found their way into other's homes and offices.  I have been able to use my Labor of Love to touch people I love in a very special way.

                      What does all this have to do with my Grandmother's gift?

            This is the story I have been told many times by my Mom.

            I was born at home with my Grandmother in attendance.  She was a little Austrian woman who wove her own carpets and sewed for her children and grandchildren.

             I can still remember clothes she made for me as a child.  She tatted and smocked and did all sorts of needlework.  Her handkerchiefs all had tatted edges as did her pillowcases.  She believed the first thing you grasp in this life would be your talent.  I was only hours old, when my Grandmother searched for and found a needle.  Gently she pried open my little fist and carefully placed the needle into my palm and closed my fingers around it.  Needles were going to be my talent!

            I don't know if I heard the story so many times that I made it happen or if, indeed, Gram was right.  Needles give me so much pleasure and I see things happen with fabric with very little effort.  I will always give her credit for the gift I received at birth.  Thanks Gram!!  I only regret that I never took advantage of the smocking and tatting I could have learned from her. As I age, I only now realize the missed opportunities I had. 

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