Because it suits our personality and serves our larger goals, our library is not just a depository of books, but also a “non-coop, coop.” In other words, we offer a wide variety of classes and clubs on an a la carte basis for our patrons.
Our Easy Embroidery Class is one of those offerings — and we have our sweet volunteer and branch owner, Morgan Maternoski, to thank for it. Morgan’s passion for handicrafts has blessed us abundantly and nurtured our vibrant crafting community. When teaching embroidery last year, she often said, “The hardest part of embroidery is threading the needle.” And, for entry-level embroidery, she’s exactly right!
For our beginners, we’ve found that plastic hoops are far superior to bamboo — sturdier, more comfortable to work with, and only slightly more expensive.
We’ve created our own patterns in Canva, and each participant will reserve two designs for their class: one to complete with us during the session and one to take home. The patterns are simple line drawings of charming subjects like bees, flowers, boats, and swords. (We’ll update this page with photos of all the designs once they’re finalized!)
What’s included in the class kit:
- Plastic embroidery hoop
- White fabric square with pattern pre-transferred
- Embroidery floss wound on bobbins
- Small bird scissors
- Embroidery needles
- Needle threader
- Zippered pouch to hold everything (correct size for the hoop)
We purchase our embroidery floss in bulk from Amazon — it’s soft, vibrant, and very easy to work with, almost as nice as the pricier DMC brand. And winding bobbins in the evening while watching a TV show has become one of our favorite quiet rituals.
When a participant reserves their patterns, we prepare the fabric and transfer the design using carbon paper. We also choose 1–3 coordinating floss colors for their project based on skill level and design choice, winding each onto bobbins for convenience.
During class, we’ll go step-by-step through threading, basic stitches, and finishing touches — and by the end, even our youngest stitchers will have a project they can be proud of. The second design can be stitched at home with their included supplies, keeping the creative momentum going.
It’s a simple, peaceful craft that builds skill quickly — and, thanks to Morgan’s vision, it’s one more way our library celebrates the joy of making things by hand.