Stitchers

Jill Johnson-Martin is an embroiderer on the Virginia tapestry panel. A resident of Williamsburg, Virginia, she has been stitching since kindergarten. Jill learned to embroider in school in Stockholm, Sweden, where the Swedes taught every boy and girl how to sew, weave, and do handwork. Prior to joining America's Tapestry, she practiced cross stitch and rug stitching, and worked on a variety of projects including pillows and household items. She also sewed clothes and curtains.

While working on the panel, Jill's best stitches are the satin on the grass areas and the long and short on the clouds. She has also learned one new stitch through the project: the railroad stitch. Jill's family originally settled in Virginia in the late 1600s, giving her a deep personal connection to the state's history. She was inspired to share in a historic undertaking celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary, and to work alongside such talented fellow stitchers. Since joining the project, Jill has learned about lead mining in Virginia and its role in supporting the Revolution.