Service to the community is one of the most rewarding goals for members of a chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Inc. The New York Capital District Chapter has been involved in many service projects in which we use our needlework skills to help organizations in the community.
America’s Tapestry
America’s Tapestry is an embroidered piece to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America, with one panel for each of
the 13 original colonies. The New York panel, pictured above, designed in collaboration with the Fraunces Tavern Museum in New York City, illustrates the Birch Trials, which emancipated nearly 3,000 Black Loyalists for their service to the Crown and sent them to Canada.
The top left depicts a man advocating for his service to the British Crown to a table of British and American generals. The center motif depicts the various roles enslaved people played in the British Army: fighting in the Ethiopian Regiment, building barracks, and making shoes. The lower left motif illustrates the harbor of New York City and Fraunces Tavern. The family on the ship in the bottom right depicts a family, now freed, boarding a ship to begin their new lives in Nova Scotia.
Members of our chapter are developing a stitch guide and will do the embroidery on the New York panel.
Creative Stitches 2015
Creative Stitches 2015 at the Bethlehem Public Library.
Creative Stitches 2015 at the Bethlehem Public Library.
Ten Broeck Mansion
Chapter members stitching together at the Ten Broeck Mansion.
Chapter members stitching together at the Ten Broeck Mansion.
Lap Robes for Veterans
Chapter volunteers made fleece lap robes for hospitalized veterans. 
Chapter volunteers made fleece lap robes for hospitalized veterans.
Ornaments
Beverwyck Retirement Community’s holiday tree decorated with ornaments stitched and donated by chapter members.
Beverwyck Retirement Community’s holiday tree decorated with ornaments stitched and donated by chapter members.
Wall Hanging for Beverwyck’s Country Store and Cafe
Members of the chapter individually embroidered squares which were then assembled into a wall hanging for Beverwyck’s Country Store and Cafe.
Members of the chapter individually embroidered squares which were then assembled into a wall hanging for Beverwyck’s Country Store and Cafe.
Albany Public Library Bookmarks
Bookmarks stitched by chapter volunteers for the Albany Public Library’s inner-city children’s reading program.
Bookmarks stitched by chapter volunteers for the Albany Public Library’s inner-city children’s reading program.