Why I Always Stitch Something Patriotic This Time of Year

Some Traditions Stay With You

Last week at EGA, I brought several patriotic pieces for Stitch Parade.

They weren't recent finishes. In fact, they represented nearly seven years of patriotic stitching.

As I talked about them, I found myself thinking about Fourth of July celebrations growing up.

The Fourth of July was our family reunion.

My grandmother invited everyone she knew. Family, friends, neighbors. The day started with the parade and then the gathering lasted most of the day. There was always food, conversation, and people coming and going.

Looking back, I realize those celebrations left their mark on me.

Even after I married and moved away, and even after those family gatherings changed, I found myself reaching for patriotic projects around the Fourth of July.

Almost every year, something red, white, and blue finds its way into my stitching basket.

As I looked through those patriotic finishes again, I noticed something else.

Many of them used the same fabrics and colors over and over again.

Apparently I have favorites.

The same linens. The same reds and blues. The same supplies I reach for when I want a project to feel right.

I've gathered several of those favorites on my My Go-To Linen & Thread Picks page.

Looking back, I'm grateful that stitching has become one more way to carry those memories forward.

Every summer, something red, white, and blue still finds its way into my stitching basket.

If patriotic stitching is part of your summer tradition too, you'll find a selection of patriotic charts, fabrics, and threads here at Maple Grove Needleworks.

Do you have a stitching tradition that returns year after year? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.