In the loop with Lizzy

This month Lizzy Dabczynski–Bean celebrates her first stitch-iversary writing for CrossStitcher…

Hello, my Cross Stitch er friends. It’ s my Cross Stitch er Magazine one-year anniversary! This column and accompanying pattern marks one year since I began to write regularly for

Cross Stitcher! Can you believe it! One fullyear. My stitch-iversary!

What’ s great about anniversaries, is not only the marking of another year gone–an achievement in and of itself– but they allow an opportunity for the celebration of something longstanding. Anniversaries are important! I think I could go out on a limb and say that the number one thing Stitch People portraits are created for is anniversaries of all sorts.

Mother’s Day, forexample, is a sort of anniversary–they early celebration where them others of the world have done it yet again, for one more year! I think the same can be said for the winter holidays, and even birthdays. But even more ‘by-the-book’is the second-year wedding anniversary. This is something simply perfect for Stitch People gift giving. Why? Because traditionally, the second wedding anniversary is the‘ cotton’ anniversary.

If you’ re not familiar with it, there is a relatively international tradition of giving wedding anniversary gifts a theme by the year. Year one is paper, year two is cotton, and as the years progress, so do the gifts! Year 15 is crystal, year 25 is silver, year 50 is gold, and year 60 is diamond!

The history of these themed presents is rich. There is evidence that themed anniversary gifts have ties to the Victorian era, and even back to the Middle Ages! It’s a fascinating subject and worth looking up.

Now, seeing as most cross-stitched works are typically created on 100% cotton aid a fabric, using100% cotton embroidery floss, we have seen that wedding-related Stitch People portraits are often given as a second wedding anniversary present between spouses, friends, and family members alike, because of their cotton-y nature!

Stitch People portraits make excellent anniversary gifts in addition to their cotton content. They’ re a lovely and whimsical way to commemorate the wedding day, by portraying the couple. Plus, their handmade quality, and overall thoughtfulness, places them firmly in the‘ family heirloom’ category, one that is likely to be cherished for years and years to come!

If you’ ve ever done a wedding or anniversary portrait, be sure to snap a picture and post it on Facebook or Inst a grams owe can see your handiwork! Tag us@ stitch peoples owe can take a look!

As always, I hope you have a lovely day, and a sunny summer season!

Lizzy