Stitchers

Carol Andrews is an embroiderer on the Pennsylvania tapestry panel. A resident of Pittsburgh, she has been stitching for over 50 years. Carol learned embroidery around the age of eight with a group of friends, being taught by a friend's mother. She has used a variety of surface stitches on the panel, including cross stitch, stem, cable, rice, Smyrna, Rhodes, Herringbone, and eyelet stitch. While working on the project, she has been "re-introduced" to a number of stitches and particularly likes the Smyrna and eyelet stitch effects. Carol has thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the history of the John Proctor flag, presented as a warning to the Crown that independent Ohio River Valley settlers expected to be treated with respect, resulting in the Proctor "Don't Tread On Me" flag. Carol saw America's Tapestry as an opportunity to invest in honoring the strong values of this country in the form of a tapestry as well as the chance to work with an outstanding group of women and men. While working on our project, she has come to appreciate just how many people of diverse backgrounds contribute to the creation of this country. Looking towards America's founding, she hopes for others to recognize that we all have something to contribute to ongoing freedom and it is worth the effort.