A dance so swirlingly portrayed,
A sensory feast for the eyes and fingers,
A callback to the beauty and interconnectedness of nature—
that’s the whirlwind of thoughts that hit me,
when I make or see embroidered nature.
For a newsletter called All The Threads, I don’t write about literal threads as much as you would expect. In this post, I’ll provide something of a remedy for that. While I’m far from experienced, I really enjoy embroidery—both when I make it and when I see the handiwork of others.
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Thread has always been filled with intention for me, emanating a mysterious and holy wonder. In the swirls of woven leaves, flowers, and creatures, I see a universe connected, a creation made whole, an interspecies society in true harmony.
To pull in religious language from my own practice, I see the Garden of Eden, the new heavens and earth, and the Wheel of the Year.
I see a natural rainbow of liberation, a celebration of difference, a real unity.
I see poetry in thread, and I have since I was small.
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With all of the above, it’s no surprise that I recently discovered and acquired a copy of Mystical Stitches by Christi Johnson or that I thoroughly enjoy the stitch stylings of Elizabeth Watkin’s Open Coven. Or that I’ve never been able to resist the embroidered tulle fabrics and trims at fabric stores. Another form of emergency wonder.
And so I ask you, dear readers, what threads—fiber or otherwise—connect you to wonder?
In Wonder,
Kandi Zeller (she/her)
I’ve seen that book - so lovely and magical! ✨ I love making things from felt (haven’t tried embroidery) and I used to cross stitch years ago - hand crafts are so comforting 🩷
I love every word of this piece, if for not other reason than it just felt magical and poetic from beginning to end. I don’t work with thread - that’s my wife’s special interest - but witchy people like you keep making me think twice. 💜