Michelle Remenik of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter (CRVC) stitched this gorgeous piece featuring an adorable fox and swirling florals.
Author: Tina
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“Christmas Tree” stitched by Bonnie Zink
Bonnie Zink of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter (CRVC) stitched this playful and fun Christmas Tree.
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“Swirling Rainbow”stitched by Lisa Green
Lisa Green, of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter (CRVC), stitched this beautiful colorful design.
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“Elephant” stitched by Judie Solomon
Judie Solomon of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter (CRVC) stitched this adorable elephant!
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Needlework News: October 2025
REGION DAY UPDATE
Region Day is Saturday, November 1st, at the Doubletree by Hilton in Nashua, NH. Both classes have sold out, but you can still be part of the fun—registration for Studio Time is open through October 10!
Many thanks to everyone who has registered for classes and Studio Time—it’s going to be a wonderful day!
We have recently confirmed that all four New England panels from the America’s Tapestry project—Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island—will be available in the Region Day Studio Time room! Everyone is invited to stop by to view and stitch on any of the panels. The state coordinators will be available to answer your questions about the stories depicted in each panel.
To learn more about and register to attend Region Day, click here!
Questions? Contact Deb Damrell at ard1nerega@gmail.com.
NER EGA Surveys – Thank you for your feedback!
The NER EGA Education Committee (Deb Damrell, Beth Lindsay, Natalie Feilchenfeld, Lisa Green, Martha Roberts & Carol Wood) sent out two surveys this past summer to all EGA members in the New England Region:
- The Event Interest Survey asked for your input on events such as stitch-ins, retreats and seminars
- The Technique Interest Survey collected feedback on techniques you’d like to explore and workshop skill levels
Over 25% of NER EGA members replied to each survey! This is a tremendous response! Thank you, everyone, for your feedback and suggestions. We are using the information you provided to plan future education events for the New England Region.
Watch for details soon on Stitch-in-Public Day 2026, virtual stitch-ins, and a region seminar in 2027!
UPCOMING EVENTS
“Zelda the Zebra”
Hosted by Connecticut River Valley Chapter.
Dates: January 31 & March 7, 2026
Instructor: Toni Gerdes
Format: In-person at Thistle Needleworks in Weathersfield, CT and Zoom (hybrid class)
Registration Deadline: November 24, 2025Get ready to fall in love with Zelda – an exuberant patchwork zebra whose colorful stripes and flirtatious “false” eyelashes will steal your heart! This whimsical design combines a stunning jewel-tone palette with sophisticated stitching techniques to create a truly captivating piece.
“Sherry for Jack”
The Southern Maine Chapter (SOME) is pleased to offer “Sherry for Jack”, a series of four surface embroidery Zoom classes taught by Hazel Blomkamp, beginning on January 7th, 2026. The design is as featured in Hazel’s book, Crewel Intentions. Registration closes October 15th, 2025.
Show & Tell
Kris Andrews: Gold Medallion Sampler
Deb Damrell (Mayflower Chapter) finished Kris Andrews’ Gold Medallion Sampler. This fun piece was offered by the Merrimack Valley Chapter in July 2025 to all NER members. It was an excellent introduction to goldwork.
“Swirling Rainbow”stitched by Lisa Green
See this precise, colorful piece up-close! Stitched by Lisa Green of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter.
“Christmas Tree” stitched by Bonnie Zink
Bonnie Zink of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter (CRVC) stitched this playful and fun Christmas Tree.
“Fox and Vines” stitched by Michelle Remenik
Michelle Remenik of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter (CRVC) stitched this gorgeous piece featuring an adorable fox and swirling florals.
Looking Back
The Connecticut River Valley Chapter (CRVC) recently posted this interesting bit of history on their website: CRVC Pre-Internet!
If you have, or remember once owning, a CRVC 3-ring binder like this one then you will remember when it held a copy of the CRVC By-laws as well as the membership list.
And…………… you might have kept your copies of the newsletter in it, since it was published in 5.5″ x 8.5″ form, hole-punched, and mailed to every member.
The newsletters had cover art and “spacers” between the paragraphs of news that were drawings from member Lynn Payette.
Help Get Your Chapter Online
We need information from each chapter so we can build pages just for you. For an example, see the Connecticut River Valley page and the Southern Maine page. Whenever anything relating to your chapter is published to the website, it is tagged with your chapter’s name. In addition to appearing on our main pages (News, Events, Show & Tell), these tagged posts will automatically appear on your chapter page when they are posted.
If you happen to have the time, please submit your chapter’s most recent information via this form. If you have any trouble with the form, you are welcome to email us the information. We will reach out to chapter leadership once the page is drafted to confirm everything is accurate and correct.
Submit Your News
If you would like us to add content to this newsletter (and to our website!), please submit the information here (or email us a link to your registration form). We update this site every Tuesday and Thursday and are always happy to add content for our chapters!
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Kris Andrews: Gold Medallion Sampler
Deb Damrell (Mayflower Chapter) finished Kris Andrews’ Gold Medallion Sampler. This fun piece was offered by the Merrimack Valley Chapter in July 2025 to all NER members. It was an excellent introduction to goldwork.
Thank you, Kris!
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“Zelda the Zebra” Workshop with Toni Gerdes
UPDATE: Registration for this event has closed.
Hosted by Connecticut River Valley Chapter.
Dates: January 31 & March 7, 2026
Instructor: Toni Gerdes
Format: In-person at Thistle Needleworks in Weathersfield, CT and Zoom (hybrid class)
Registration Deadline: November 24, 2025
Meet Zelda!
Get ready to fall in love with Zelda – an exuberant patchwork zebra whose colorful stripes and flirtatious “false” eyelashes will steal your heart! This whimsical design combines a stunning jewel-tone palette with sophisticated stitching techniques to create a truly captivating piece.
What Makes Zelda Special
Dazzling Materials:
- Rainbow Gallery metallics for shimmer and shine
- Luxurious Caron threads
- Silky Straw Silk fibers
- Planet Earth specialty threads
- Beautiful beads for added texture and sparkle
Sophisticated Techniques:
- Classic favorite stitches alongside exciting new surprises
- White-on-white diagonal background pattern that enhances Zelda’s personality
- Advanced color and texture combinations
Design Elements:
- Multi-colored stripes that showcase various thread types
- Playful “false” eyelashes that give Zelda her flirty charm
- Jewel-tone palette that makes this zebra absolutely exquisite
Workshop Details
This two-session workshop allows plenty of time to master the various techniques and fully develop Zelda’s personality. Whether you join us in person at the beautiful Thistle Needleworks shop or participate via Zoom, you’ll receive expert instruction and support throughout the creative process.
The background’s white-on-white diagonal pattern provides the perfect foundation to make Zelda’s vibrant colors pop while adding sophisticated visual interest to the overall design.
Registration Information
Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Kit Fee: $175Questions about materials or techniques? Reach out to organizer Linda Berry for more details.
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“Water Spiral” and “Earth Spiral” Stitched by Kathryn Lord
Our talented New England stitchers at the Connecticut River Valley Chapter have been creating stunning “Water Spiral” ornaments – the beautiful companion to last year’s popular “Earth Spiral” project! While both are spiral ornaments, the Water Spiral brings its own unique character and challenges.
About the Project
Ground Fabric: 28-count Cashel White linen
Thread: Cottage Garden Thread Dark Yew in sizes 8 and 12These elegant 6.5″ Hardanger spiral ornaments start as 12″ long by 1.25″ wide strips worked in various traditional Hardanger stitches. The design alternates between intricate ship stitch motifs and delicate filling stitches.
The magic happens in the finishing – the completed strip is carefully wound into a spiral and joined using Ukrainian Insertion Stitches, specifically the two-step Boikian Joining technique. The result is a sophisticated ornament that showcases both precision stitching and expert finishing skills.
Techniques Featured
This intermediate-level project incorporates classic Hardanger techniques including:
- Wrapped bars and woven bars
- Satin stitch and ship stitch
- Dove’s eye and eyelets
- Greek Cross filling
- Ukrainian Insertion (Boikian Joining)
The Learning Experience
Taught over two sessions (February 8 and March 8, 2025), this Zoom class allowed students to master thread cutting and needle weaving techniques while working with the precision required for 28-count linen. The instructor guided participants through each step, from the initial stitching through the complex spiral joining process.
Each finished ornament is a testament to the stitcher’s patience and skill – a beautiful keepsake that demonstrates the timeless elegance of Hardanger embroidery.
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Blue Hills Workshop with Dawn Donnelly
THIS EVENT HAS PASSED. This page is archived here for recordkeeping (and sentimental) purposes.
Date: October 4th and 5th, 2025
Location: Seabury Retirement Community, Bloomfield, CT 06002
Instructor: Dawn Donnelly
Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Workshop Description
Explore the art of handmade paper manipulation through painting, wetting, tearing, and cutting techniques to create unique textural elements. This intensive workshop combines paper arts with advanced embroidery stitches for a truly distinctive piece.
Project Details:
- Design Size: 6¼” x 8¾”
- Ground Fabric: 14 Count Mono Canvas
- Final Result: A unique mixed-media embroidery piece combining handmade paper elements with advanced stitching techniques
Techniques You’ll Learn:
- Reverse Square Herringbone
- French Knots
- Branscombe Edge
- Criss Cross Hungarian
- Butterfly Chain Stitch
- Oriental Stitch
- Rhodes Stitch
- Creating a fake Bullion
Registration Information
Kit Fees:
- NER Members: $150
- EGA Members: $170
Class Fee: Covered by Connecticut River Valley Chapter using funds granted by NER Region from 2023 National Seminar profits.
Registration Deadline: July 25, 2025
Meals: Plan for Saturday and Sunday lunch! Saturday dinner will be announced soon.
Ready to Register?
Download the registration form and submit by the July 25th deadline. This advanced workshop fills quickly, so don’t wait!
Questions? Contact event organizer Linda Berry.
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“Butterflies” Stitched by Kathryn Lord
Kathryn Lord, of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter, recently completed “Butterflies,” a spring pattern by Susan Jones.