If you live in the DC metro area, or in the tri-state area of  Md, Va, and Del.,  and do any form of Needlework you probably are aware of the Woodlawn Needlework Show that is held annually through the month of March.   If not and you stubbled across this blog,  then my little history might be of some help.  I’m a native with a family history that goes back to 1700′s but I won’t bore you with that…. Okay, Instead let’s talk about….

Woodlawn the home of the Nelly Custis (George Washington niece), which he gave to her  as  a weeding present.   At one time Nelly could of looked out of her window and see her Uncle’s house down the road. Take a look here, if you want to see on the map.  To get to Mount Vernon, you just go out of the drive across Rt 1, then straight down Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, which is what we do every year after visiting the show,  have lunch at Mount Vernon.  After lunch we head up Rt1 just a bit to InStitches (take a look here on the map). All in all it makes for a pleasant day.

I have been attending the Needlework Show since its inception in 1963.  I have only missed twice (the year my mother died and the year I was recovering from surgery).  When it started in 1963 I was only 10, but my interest was  growing more towards needlepoint.   My grandmother did needlepoint and crochet, my mother did some (not much).   Well the show really took off,  and they had alot of celebrity needlepointers enter their work,  such as a screen done by Julie Nixon Eisenhower (a piece she designed herself),  pillows by Rosie Greer and Mary Martin.  If you want learn more about celebrity needlepointers back then, I recommend hunting down this book “Celebrity Needlepoint”, by Joan Scobey. It was published in 1972, but it features alot of well known women actresses, writers and politico’s that do or did needlepoint.  You can read more about here. I recommend it for your needlework library.

Then during the late 80′s into the 90′s cross stitch came on to the horizon, and we began seeing a new entries of angels and other lovely pieces.  However the entry submissions were getting less.   We started seeing less work submitted by men.  In the beginning they used the library or study as the “Men’s Room” .   I have to add here, that from the beginning they grouped entries by theme for each room.   An what has changed for the years has been  the re-categorizing of these themes.   Now the “Men”s Room is fantasy or heavenly creatures, Angels and Unicorns and such, and work submitted by men are placed in areas based on the theme of the piece.  So I guess you could say that the show has gone “Unisex”.

Submissions started lagging at this time, but also the needlework industry was taking hit as well.  More women working, busy with family and children and that left less time for stitching, which was a shame when actually needlework keeps one sane.  Another thing happen in the 90′s and on in to today, the price of things started going up.  But at the same time the variety also increased, we started seeing silk threads, variegated threads, linen, and other items.   But the shops still took a hit again.  Take InStitches (my local shop, even if it takes a hour to get there; also original owner was my mother’s secretary), which started in the 80″s.  They had a small shop a few blocks up from where they are now.  It offered some canvases and cross stitch.  Then after sometime they moved to where they are now, with two big storefronts and offered classes.  Then the late 90′s and early 20′s hit, with costs on the rise and less patrons, InStitches closed one part, and began offering knitting (as so many others have to stay afloat).  Now they are one of the few shops that are left in the metro area.

As I said when I started Needlepoint in 60′s my mother went to the Tapestry Room, which was in the middle of the historic part of Fairfax City, write across from the Old Courthouse.  It closed in the 80′s however, they tried to stay on with quilting but that faded as well.  There was a lovely shop in Old Town Alexandria, that my uncle went too, that closed in 80′s as well.  There were a few in the District, but I think the only one still open is the “Point of it All.  Down in my hometown of Fredericksburg, there is only a cross stitch store, so that is why I still look forward to going to InStitches.  However, like many now I shop on-line if I know definitely what a color or thread looks like, and to get blank canvas (since I have been designing my own canvases).

However something has changed..for the past few years when we would notice only a few people coming in after the show,  (Now I must say that we go sometime during the last two weeks of March every year.)  there has been more and this year there was a really good crowd.  Also this year they had 125 entries  that is getting back to the good ol’ days.

Now here are my perceptions of why this… the economy!! (now don’t laugh) even in the DC area who’s industry is “The Government” that is what we do.  But yes things have slowed here as well.   Therefore, I think stitchers are finishing those UFO’s and now have entries, (how many blogs or messages board have you read about stitchers using up their stash and setting up a plan for finishing up those UFO’s)  So stitchers are sticking around the old homestead more and not running up and down I-95.   While talking to a few of the docents they felt they would see even more next year, boy I hope so.. at least that’s my goal… how about you!

PS:
I hope you found m my little history interesting.   Here are some links you might want to keep to get ready for next year.. Also check my book list links on the side.

Entry Information (Thanks to Jane @ Chilly Hollow)

2009 Winners

Coming up thoughts this years exhibit.

Advertisement