About Us

Welcome To Sew French!

My name is Jill but everyone calls me Jilly. I design original cross stitch patterns inspired by vintage French and flowers. Roses are my muse.

I hope you have a cozy time stitching my patterns. Put the kettle on, relax and create a heartwarming piece of hand-embroidered art. Personalize your home and turn up the soulful charm with soulful stitchery.

My goal is to provide you with pretty patterns that promote peaceful stitching. My wish is for you to discover the gentle beauty of hand-embroidery.

My patterns have been featured around the web and in Homespun Magazine and Boston Magazine. I find my bliss in cross stitch.

Have you ever vacationed in a small cottage by the sea with only the bare essentials? Did you feel free? I did. The experience left such an impression on me that I made it my life. I live with my husband, Tom, and rescued beagle, Ellie, in a tiny home. My husband is a scientist. I work part time as a counselor in a crisis center. We reside in coastal New England, on the North Shore of Boston.

I also enjoy riding my vintage bike in summer and taking my dog for walks on the winter-beaches. Ordinary days and quiet moments bring me joy. I never leave the house without lipstick. I love morning prayer and teatime. God, prayer, social justice and keeping a mellowness of heart are most important to me.

My Embroidery Journey

When I was little, I spent joyful weeks with my grandmother in her simple apartment in Brooklyn, NY. Each evening, we shared delicious dinners and watched the Lawrence Welk Show. Wavy-haired women sang songs, while my gram mended socks and slacks. She embroidered Christening dresses too. She always encouraged me to to learn hand-stitching. I adored her. As a product of divorced parents, my childhood often lacked peace and stability. Quiet time spent with my grandmother was a treasure beyond words.

Many years later in my late twenties, I had a friend who adorned the walls of her hallways with antique samplers. Schoolgirls, named Abigail and Emily, sewed hundreds of tiny X’s on linen. I was fascinated. I was also amazed when my friend said she cross stitched and it was easy. I still hadn’t picked up a needle. I tucked her words in the back of my mind. In my early thirties, my parents became ill and passed away. My sister and I spent months caring for them.

After that, I was diagnosed with a serious case of endometriosis, resulting in an operation that ended any hope for children. My husband lost his job too. When it rains, it pours. I felt lost, anxious and grief-stricken. I decided that I needed to learn to stitch. I drove an hour outside of Philadelphia, PA to a cross stitch shop called The Strawberry Sampler. A sweet sales lady gave me a lesson, warning me that I might sacrifice making dinner for stitching. I bought a piece of ivory linen, a French flower pattern and some rose-colored thread. I’m in my mid-forties now and I’m still hooked on cross stitch.

When I look back, learning to hand embroider during a difficult time in my life was no coincidence. With each pass of my needle, the cares of the world fade away. I’m grateful to God for leading me to this healing and meditative craft. I hope you discover the happiness of cross stitching too!

My great grandfather was a coal miner from Lithuania. As a hobby, he made clothes and quilts. My grandfather sold linens. Stitching is in my roots.

A BIG thank you to all my customers, around the world, who enjoy my cross stitch patterns. I’m truly grateful for your kind emails, your photos of completed patterns and your business!

Transition Of Sew French Cross Stitch Since 2024

From 2024, I have embarked on a new venture—writing an informative blog on the “Embroidery and Cross-Stitch” niche. This blog is an extension of my passion, where I share detailed posts and respond to queries related to embroidery and cross-stitching.

The blog covers a wide range of topics from beginner tips, pattern creation, historical insights, and the therapeutic benefits of stitching. My goal is to build a community where enthusiasts can learn, share, and grow in their embroidery skills, ensuring everyone can find their own bliss in cross-stitch just as I did.

Thank you to all my customers and readers who have supported Sew French. Your kind emails, photos of completed patterns, and continual encouragement fuel my dedication to this beautiful craft. Join me in stitching a world of beauty and peace, one pattern at a time.