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.
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 evaluation center and an advocate for the homeless. We reside in coastal New England, on the North Shore of Boston.
Ordinary days and quiet moments bring me joy. God, prayer, social justice and keeping a mellowness-of-heart are important to me. I'm addicted to red lipstick.
My Embroidery Journey:
When I was little, I spent many 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 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 supper for stitching. I bought a piece of ivory linen, a French flower pattern and some rose-colored thread. I'm in my forties now and I'm still hooked on cross stitch. With each pass of my needle, the cares of the day fade away. I'm grateful to God for leading me to this meditative craft.
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 who enjoy my cross stitch patterns. I'm truly grateful for your kind emails, your photos of completed patterns and your business!
View my other patterns and lots of tasty recipes by visiting my
Blog.
Please contact me at:
sewfrenchembroidery@gmail.com
or call 267-481-5725
Thanks For Visiting!
Happy Stitching, Peace and Blessings!
