Creating a Custom Embroidery Kit for the Henry Ford Museum's Fabric of America Exhibit

Earlier this year, I attended a trade show in Las Vegas. While I was there, I connected with a group that curates and buys products for The Henry Ford. We chatted about custom embroidery kits and exchanged information. A month later I received an email with an exciting proposal: Could I design an embroidery kit for The Henry Ford's upcoming Fabric of America exhibit? Long story short, I said yes!

The Custom Embroidery Kit Design Process

Through February and March, I reviewed photos of some exhibits that were to be included in the Fabric of America showcase. This exhibit explores deep connections between textiles and our shared history. And asks viewers how fabric shapes who we are as people and a nation.

Some of the pieces that stood out to me were the patchwork quilts. I loved the varied colors and interesting shapes that each incorporated. I knew I had to use them somehow in my design. As I delved further in, I also came across an ancient sewing machine- it looked more like a cutting saw than a sewing machine at first. While the exhibit sewing machine was a point of inspiration, I chose a slightly different and more recognizable sewing machine for the final design, which combined the sewing machine and quilt.

With my design elements in place, my next challenge was how to combine them into a pattern that was approachable for a relatively beginner embroiderer, use enough colors to emulate the exhibit quilts, and stay within a specific cost per kit price point. Initially I had grand schemes of a 3D quilt, but I quickly tamped that down, knowing it would be rather daunting. Instead, I used a piece of felt for the sewing machine to give it a slightly raised effect and keep the design simpler in the process. Figuring out how to combine each of these elements was a fun challenge. If you look closely, you'll see the rays of the circle pattern from the quilt on the left in the final embroidery kit's quilt.

The Final Custom Embroidery Kit Design

All the hard work paid off, because my design was approved and these kits are available at The Henry Ford gift shop along with my custom Cotswold Cottage embroidery kits.