Stitchers

Melody McMath is an embroiderer on the Virginia tapestry panel. A resident of Williamsburg, Virginia, she has been stitching for 60 years off and on. Melody first learned to embroider at the age of four, working on pot holders and pillow cases. She continued stitching through school, then joined the Navy and traveled extensively. While living in Puerto Rico, she discovered Brazilian Embroidery and taught herself, before going on to explore needlepoint and more exotic forms of embroidery including gold work, thread painting, and white work. During two years living in the UK, Melody earned a certificate in Technical Embroidery at the Royal School of Needlework. After retirement, she discovered Japanese Embroidery and became a teacher.

While working on the panel, Melody has utilized padded satin stitch, tapestry shading, thread painting, Japanese techniques, crewel technique, and surface stitches. Originally from California, Melody was asked to help dress the slate frame for the Virginia panel and stayed for the stitching. Since joining the project, she has found the history of the lead mines and the contributions of the Welsh and enslaved people in Virginia to be particularly fascinating.