Neighbors: common threads

The Sarasota chapter of the Embroidery Guild of America welcomes any crafter who uses a needle with an eye to make her creations, but for club members, it would be “unseamly” to use anything else. There are about 100 members from all over the area, including Osprey, Holmes Beach, Bradenton and Longboat Key.

Typically 30 to 50 members meet every fourth Monday of the month, during which they have a special program and class. The group also holds stitching get-togethers, such as the one Monday, Oct. 17, at Fairway Bay Clubhouse, on Longboat Key.

The club is part of the Embroiders Guild of America (EGA), which started in 1958 in New York City; the Sarasota chapter started in 1980. They take correspondence courses, carpool to embroidery stores and have even traveled to Texas for embroidery classes.

They also do outreach, such as “Stitch for the Cure.”

Embroidery teacher Sue Kerndt, who creates her own patterns, created one called “Lil Lyn,” named after her sister-in-law, a breast-cancer survivor. For every Lil Lyn pattern sold, $15 benefits breast-cancer research.

The group also makes small “kissing” pillows for soldiers and their families. Either the soldier kisses the pillow and sends it to his family, or the family kisses the pillow for the soldier. They are made with red, white and blue material.

“This is the most wonderful group of ladies,” says Mary Lou Victor, a member of the club. “We aren’t just stitchers who get together, we are friends.”

And even though they are all serious embroiderers, they don’t take things “sew” seriously.

Clemmie Rounds is currently working on a naked Santa Claus, censored with a holiday bow, which she jokes is, “the other man in my life.”

It’s obvious the embroidery club not only learns stitches, but keeps each other in stitches.

BY THE NUMBERS
16,000 — number of members of EGA nationally
340 — number of chapters in EGA
100 — number of members in Sarasota Chapter of EGA
50 — number of members that attend meetings
35 — years Sue Kerndt has been a member of the EGA
4 — number of Santas Lynne Dale embroiders per year
1980 — year Sarasota chapter of EGA was founded