Embroider a Globe

From about 1804 until 1844, young schoolgirls at Westtown School, a boarding school in Pennsylvania established by Quakers in 1799, embroidered globes, both terrestrial and celestial. Used to teach geography in the early decades of the nineteenth century, real globes were expensive; thus, a stitched globe was an economical way for a young girl not only to learn her lessons but to practice her needlework. For more details, see Judith A. Tyner's article "Stitching the World: Westtown School's Embroidered Globes" in the September/October 2004 issue of PieceWork.

Our embroidered globe is based on ones available between 1800 and 1840 and features place names in use during that period. Placing the finished globe on an egg cup, a low candlestick, or an acrylic base are three options for display. Personalize your globe with your initials and the year you made it.

Materials

• Broadcloth, 100% silk fabric, ivory, 12 x 22 1/2 inches (30.5 x 57.2 cm), 1 piece
• Medium-weight canvas, 100% cotton, ivory, 12 x 22 1/2 inches (30.5 x 57.2 cm), 1 piece
• YLI Thread, 100% silk 1000-denier thread, 22 yards (20/m)/card, 1 card each of black, ivory, and red