Explore Sewing & Needle Crafts

Explore our general needle crafting resources below, or choose a specific topic from the menu to the right. All of these needle craft resources offer free learning through free tips and techniques, step-by-step projects and downloadable patterns, articles, or other how to information.

General How-to Needle Craft Resources

Sophisticated Stitcher
"A Web magazine devoted to preserving and advancing the art of the needle. Here you'll find articles and information related to historical samplers, cross stitch, needlepoint, and quilting." Features free charted designs, color and conversion charts, and community discussion forums

Pomegranate Guild
When members of the Pomegranate Guild sit down to stitch, they are making more than just table linens and wall hangings. They are reviving Jewish traditions through their work with textiles.

Stitchguide.com
"The most complete online stitch reference. Whether you want to learn a new stitching technique or just need a refresher, you'll find our video clips, drawn illustrations and instructions exactly what you need to get your project going."

Denver Fabrics Sewing Tips and Techniques
Features an extensive learning section featuring popular sewing tips and techniques, sewing information sheets, current industry information, and library suggestions.

Wrights
Features an online classroom to learn all kinds of fun needle craft stuff! Includes dozens of holiday and event projects, home decorating, kids crafts, needlework and knitting how-to, sewing applications, and fashion ideas and projects.

Sewing at About.com
A solid resource featuring free projects, patterns, and other sewing information. Topics include: sewing techniques, beginners, fabrics, notions, machines, machine embroidery, and holidays. Features regular articles, projects, and community forums.

Sew-Whats-New.com
See, learn, do! A needle craft resource featuring a free weekly newsletter, sewing and quilting projects, expert advice, articles and book reviews. Don't miss their project library, free quilting and sewing lessons, and a whole lot of themed ideas.

Spotlight

Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Needlework

When members of the Pomegranate Guild sit down to stitch, they are making more than just table linens and wall hangings. They are reviving Jewish traditions through their work with textiles. Some create their works as heirlooms for their children; others stitch to recreate memories of ceremonial objects or perhaps of family members lost in the Holocaust. All their works are expressions of their heritage and their religious faith.

The Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Needlework was organized in 1977 by a group of professional Jewish needle artists in New York. These women shared a common interest in Jewish tradition and the desire to create new and beautiful ceremonial objects for the home and synagogue.

Because the Pomegranate is so frequently mentioned in the Bible and is reported to have 613 seeds, the number of required mitzvot (good deeds), it was chosen as a modern link to our heritage. The Guild takes its name specifically from Exodus 39, verses 24 - 25; “And they made upon the hem of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet and twined linen” which describes the garments of Aaron the High Priest. The Guild logo, designed by a founding member, is a stylized pomegranate with the stem transformed into a threaded needle.

The meetings are a rich blend of needlework, culture, tradition and religious practices as they relate to Judaic textiles. Members study the history of Judaic ritual objects in order to embellish their work with authentic symbols and motifs. Through these efforts we hope to perpetuate our Jewish heritage for generations to come, thereby fulfilling our Judaic teaching “As my father planted for me, so shall I plant for my children.” (Talmud)

In the Jewish tradition an item created by an unrecognized stitcher is as esteemed as one created by a master artisan. The Guild recognizes this tradition and encourages membership, beginner and professional, women and men alike, either as a Guild chapter member or as an individual member.

All members receive the Paper Pomegranate, our quarterly national publication, an educational tool which includes needlework techniques, Jewish holiday information and projects, ceremonial symbols, historical information and inspiration for contemporary and traditional fiber art. Our goal is to heighten Judaic artistic awareness in our communities and create a visual legacy to hand to our children in order to enhance their Jewish experience.

Visit the Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Needlework