MFE Flosstube Ep. 5: The Forever Piece... with Yamir (aka AlmondMnMs) 

I am soo happy that we were able to share with everyone! Your video editing skills are tip top! So glad that you were able to finish your 56 count to compare with a larger count. It is a big size difference. It looks sooo good! I will have to stitch that one myself as well🙂. I look forward to hear from everyone on their thoughts on a forever chart, hopefully we are not the only ones that think this is possible. My stitchy fingers are already itching.

I am always inspired when I watch your videos. The information you provide gives life to the pieces you chart and reminds me that they were once done by someone who lived long ago. The beauty and complexity of each piece is what gives it the appeal to challenge me in seeing if I can stitch it with the same beauty. Every time I pick up a needle, the piece I stitch empowers me to do more personalizing whether it is specialty stitches or changing the design slightly to something I see in my mind that I want to transfer to the fabric. I love the idea of a forever piece. I was fortunate as a small child to live next door to an elderly lady who did embroidery and crochet and took the time to teach me how to do both. To this day, when I stitch or crochet I am reminded of the times I spent with her teaching me. We would sit on her front porch in the morning or late afternoon on the glider swing talking and working on our projects. The roses would climb up the trellis and give off the most amazing fragrance. This is something I would like to see translated into a design on fabric with thread. I am not a designer but would love the opportunity to try and capture a moment in time that gave me the opportunity in life to be able to create something with my hands. I envision a woman and child sitting together stitching and roses growing up a trellis on either side. Wish I could design it. Good luck with your projects and look forward to another wonderful video.

Jacob, the best and most engaged floss tube experience I’ve had the pleasure of attending! Bravo to you and Yamir for the lively brainstorming and sharing of ideas: I’ve stitched for many years and as a retired gifted teacher, yearned for a way to share my life experiences. I read an article about a stitcher who documented her life by decades, As a writer, I document by years and once our granddaughters arrived; there was lots to record! A journey sampler is what we really need. I envision several alphabet choices, numbers,Roman numerals, botanicals (growth),symbols of historical reference, and lots of imagery,. I’m working on Two Quaker Sisters for our girls and will include me and my sister ...all initials.as well. Continue to share and thank you again for the informative session! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

What a wonderful chat to watch to you interact and grow ideas....create. It's so exciting to watch lovely Yamir (what a beautiful girl) her heart for this world of needlework is amazing. So thrilled she picked it back up and found her own rhythm and technique. Quite interesting that I was thinking last evening that I wanted to do a long horizontal piece, so many things are like vertical band samplers. I was going to wander up to my stitching cubby and look through some of your designs that are smaller and work to integrate several into a piece. Fits into telling our stories.... You both brought much happiness to my day....thank you.

Thanks, Jacob and Yamir! I love the idea of the "forever piece," and think it would be lovely to have a tree of life design on it somewhere, that could be customized for each individual - like a family tree but a bit more abstract. One recent finish of mine is a 50th-anniversary sampler for my parents, based on your Secret Sky pattern. I have the two large birds on the sampler to represent the two of them, and have incorporated four medium-sized birds to represent myself and my three brothers, and eight small birds to represent the grandkids - with one just hatching from an egg. :) I also appreciated the discussion of "the imperfect is perfect." I think there is a lot of beauty in our messy uniqueness as humans, and I was reminded of the "Verso" projects of the fiber artist Cayce Zavaglia. If you haven't yet seen this beautiful video about her work, you may enjoy it. Cheers! www.thisiscolossal.com/2018/02/interview-cayce-zavaglia/

This was absolutely amazing, Yamir's work is exquisite and breathtaking. I, also, have started doing 1 over 1 the last several years. This amazing to me because I am 78 yrs and have eyes to match. I, however, only have been doing this on 28, 32 or 36 count, and understand that it does take a while to refocus the eyes when moving between the sizes. I would like to see something in your Forever Piece that I could start and hand down to my daughter and/or my grand daughter to add to the design. I have incorporated information of my family history in one of my over one. Woodland animals, flowers and symbols of different nationalities that could become a family-type tree. No matter what you come up with, it will be amazing. I enjoy the history tidbits that you incorporate into your videos, so much knowledge and wonders. Thank you for all you do for us. Stay well, safe and inspired. Stitch everything you love.

Jacob, this flosstube was the most thought provoking to date! The idea of a forever piece is nothing less than genius and the thought of it took my breath! I've pondered for over a day and made pages of notes. What would I want to incorporate in such a piece? The one thought that kept returning was a time capsule of our life. Motifs of events, historic or otherwise (the death of John F. Kennedy, Diana, Princess of Wales, Mother Teresa, The Challenger Disaster, September 11, 2001, the world wide Pandemic, Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon, and etc.) Motifs of things that once were in our life but no longer are such as baby diaper pins, film cameras, typewriters, ash trays and cigarette machines, chalkboards, library cards/card catalogs, Sears catalogs, nurses hats, digital watches, slide rule, rotary phones, garter belts! The list is unbelievable! Discoveries of new planets, stars, Galaxies. Movies and music that shaped our lives. Family events, memories; personal memories of things such as grandma's apron, pin cushion, her Siamease cat, "Achoo". Animals we love, instruments we play, places we visit. This would indeed be a forever piece. How one would organize such a project is beyond me. It makes that periodic table look easy :) I would love to hear more about where you would like to go with this idea of a forever piece and what it will look like. Thanks for a wonderful, thought provoking episode. I absolutely love all you do!

Oh my goodness, I must stitch the Zimmerman Coverlet. I am Canadian, born and raised in Toronto, and would love to support the charity and of course stitch that beautiful piece. What a wonderful thing you have done here. I will follow keenly on the large project you are planning to see how it turns out. I am so glad you are on flosstube Jacob. I love you and your designs.

Hi Jacob, you are so talented, I am looking forward to your new idea how exciting, I would love to see the four seasons, spring followed by summer , summer followed by autumn and so on , a never-ending cycle, enjoy your new adventure . Xx

First - I adore Yamir. She is extremely generous and just a beautiful person. In responding to your question about ideas for your "Forever Piece": when I think of family I think of a huge tree that has roots below the surface, a wooded textured trunk, fingered branches of all sizes, and a halo of leaves. The leaves change color, wither, and fall away - only to bud and bloom beautifully the next season. This is my vision of a forever family.

Lots of great ideas! Some years ago The Drawn Thread designed a Souvenir Sampler, which is still listed on their site. It was full of areas which could be personalized, as well as small framed spaces intended for keepsakes to be attached, such as bits of lace or clothing. It was fascinating! The only thing I would like to see in the way of an overall design on a ‘forever’ piece would be that it was structured into pages rather than one large design. Fabric counts, types, colors, types of threads, design elements, etc, change as we progress, and what worked early on in a stitching journey will change over time. How wonderful it would be to have a small portfolio of needlework ‘pages’ from another stitcher-also a way to try out some edging stitches!😁 Looking forward to seeing what you design!

Wow! I don't know what to say other than Wow!!! Thank you so much for sharing your conversation with Yamir and I will be checking out her flosstube channel soon. I could see the excitement sparking off both of you. I haven't ever stitched 1 over 1 but I had thought about trying with a 32 count to start with before I go to a finer linen as I think it would be too much of a shock to my 61 year old eyes! I have stitched your 2020 SAL very successfully using Sulky 12 weight cotton thread but I don't think it is quite as fine as the thread you used. Thank you once again and happy stitching from a very wet Herefordshire!

Definitely another super video. Just so inspiring and interesting. Thank you for sharing.

What and inspiration this video was. Loved watching. I have cross stitched for years and have just within the last two years really got interested in samplers and started stitching them. I love hearing the history behind them. Love your flosstube and thank you for introducing Yamir to us. I will be following her on instagram and her flosstube. I look forward to more patterns and flosstube. You both have inspired me to try stitching one over one.

Sitting down tonight to catch up on a couple of weeks of Flosstube and enjoyed this video immensely. Yamir is inspiring and I admire her choice to stitch teeny tiny items, it is a challenge. Jacob, I am stitching a forever project. I call it the Christmas Heirloom tablecloth and I stitch a square to represent the Christmas gathering every year since 2004. I have 7 or so years left to fill this up, then will move onto some blank areas. I have 2 daughter in laws who will be competing to stitch on it when I pass on. I think family is an important theme to include on a forever project - streets and pathways to houses, modern motifs such as cars to show the current day. I look forward to seeing what you achieve.

Hello from northern Maine. I just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying your videos on flosstube. I love how you talk about the history of the pieces you find the fabric that may have been used at the time the different regions of the lands of where the needlework came from. Your presentation is just really enjoyable to watch and listen to. This one with Yamir was fascinating on how she does her work with the 56 count linen. Thank you so much. Stay safe.

The Gift of Stitching is available as a PDF. I saw the advertisement on Pinterest for a mere $39.95. Excellent magazine for finding your next stitch. Enjoyed your video so much. Thank you!!!

I'm not much of a text stitcher (I have only one wip where I'm using text creatively) but I think you are converting me Jacob! You are so right that text on old tapestries, and the unique and different ways that it's incorporated into the imagery, is fascinating and definitely contributes to the beauty of the piece. I love the idea of stitchers having a variety of alphabets in order to be able to stitch their own stories into pieces. Yamir's coverlet is stunningly beautiful. You are a queen of tiny stitches and color choices, Yamir! This was fun, thank you.

Wonderful interview. I very much enjoyed watching the interaction of two people who obviously love their craft. Thank you for introducing me to Yamir. Post watching the interview, I went to watch her channel, and amazed by her stitching, personality and look forward to her future contributions to the FlossTube community. I am also looking forward to catching up with all your videos. Best wishes for a safe and healthy New Year.

Jacob I enjoyed your conversation with Yamir. 56 count is out of my league. I have not found what is my so called sweet spot yet. I am jus back into cross stitch recently after many years away from it. You are talking about a forever piece. I would offer that it is also a journey piece. We are all on our own personal journeys in life. Our journeys can overlap, such as cross stitching in the same time period, which is what you are trying to bring together for us. It is so good to see you making accommodations in your designs to please others. Thank you for a great floss tube again!

I loved this stitchy chat. It was so fun. Yamir, your stitching is beautiful. I love the idea of a forever sampler. I collect hedgehogs so would love to see one of those. And other animals too. Loved seeing your adorable heart.

This was so incredibly delightful! Thank you!

Hi Jacob. I can't wait to see that forever piece come to fruition! Butterflies and flowers would be nice on there. Really enjoyed this video. Can't wait for the next one!

I actually prefer small to medium sized projects. I enjoy the process but I also enjoy the completion! It’s nice to finish a piece and see it being used. Many of my projects finish as useful objects rather than framed wall hangings. As to imagery, there is a plethora of florals and gardening themes available but it would be great to see other topics; how about nautical themes, musical instruments, needlework, spinning and weaving tools, or something as universal as food and cookery? I’m often inspired by antiquity: the images on Greek vases, the mosaics from Roman villas. To see these themes translated to cross stitch would be wonderful! While I’m an experienced needleworker, I’m quite new to cross stitch. I recently purchased a couple of your designs and I’m eagerly awaiting the arrival of the linen to begin. I’m really enjoying your blog! Thank you!

Thank you so much for sharing....always learning, studying and taking your needle to the next level...take care and be safe

What a wonderful idea! I think this is going to be such a fascinating project. Something that comes to mind for a "forever piece" is the concept of the four elements (wind/air, fire, water, earth)... just because they are technically with us "forever". Thank you for sharing your ideas! Can't wait to see what the final result will be! 💖

Thank you for all of the hard work that you put into your videos. They are so inspiring! Shary

The smallest I can find is 56 count !!! I am just flabbergasted. You go girl. I’m a follower!! 🤩🤩🤩🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

When my mother showed me cross stitch as a child I was shown the "rules", you always Stitch a color top to bottom, always go left bottom to top right first in a row then come back and finish your stitch. I only knew Aida fabric, and I stitched into my late twenties following the rules. There were three brands of floss, J.P.Coats, DMC, and Anchor. Life happened I stopped stitching until jan of 2020. I got a kit and started in on the adia that came with it but then i found flosstube. I found out about linens and that you could stitch on them, and omg the floss you could get. And many people on Flosstube were not following the "rules". Ive learned so much more in the last year then i did in the 20 years i had been stitching. And the biggest thing i learned was there were no rules. So im sorry this is so long but i totally get what she is saying about not knowing cause apparently I knew nothing of cross stitch before 2020 and Flosstube.

My first idea was a house - mine on a hill, trees, horses, dogs, animals in general that would have been a part of my life in America.Dogs and Horses play a big part as well as cattle, deer and tons of birds. My Mother's signature piece was always a butterfly, broaches, embroidery.... along with flowers and plants. My grandmothers played a huge part of my life one the amazing cook, ran a wonderful home on a large farm in Kentucky, Scolding us constantly for bringing the horses into to her yard and garden, trampling her peonies and lilies! My other grandmother was way ahead of the earth Mother era...in her garden with old brogans and a ragged straw hat on desperately trying to grow strawberries. Feeding her pet sheep, 6 or so, just because she loved them, always wanted a donkey! Was a horrible cook, but could quote poems all day. OK, so I see I have carried on a bit, but I think you get my point...Thank you again Jacob...exciting to watch how this evolves...Warm Regards

Wow - that was so inspiring! Thank you for bringing Yamir on your FlossTube. I love stitching one over one on 25 count, but you both have made me think I should try experimenting with smaller work. Looking forward to trying! On the Forever Piece - I would want to stitch our family history in there - so house options, cat and dog options, love the text box idea, and beautiful borders that lead the eye all around the piece. - Sheri

I so enjoy your videos! I learn so much about the historic periods when these samplers were made. As a new cross stitcher (I’ve been quilting and sewing much of my craft life) I am drawn to the samplers as Family Heirlooms and historic reporting of events. But I’ve yet to jump into this well. I’m still improving my stitches of Aida and even weaves. TY for your instructions and encouragements. I look forward to your next “Class”.

That was a WONDERFUL discussion between yourself and Yamir. She is one of the loveliest people I've met. I had so many "aha!" moments during this video. Bring on the "Forever Project". Like you, I love words on my samplers; they don't usually feel complete to me without a saying. I also really enjoyed Yamir's idea about being able to personalize the forever project with family heirloom ideas, a recipe, a favourite saying, things like that. And then as if this video weren't already amazing, you said Quaker Craftivism. I can't WAIT!

I will never complain about frogging 40ct over 2 ever again 😉 Gigi R and some other inspiring (French or Italian? Renato Parolin maybe?) needleworkers did a few amazing projects on sheets many years ago. They combined many individual samplers into a single project. I can't even get my head around stitching something like that, just awesome 🤯 Great video 💕

so beautiful two artist dreaming/ talking about a work of art. Looking forward to see the finished project.

I am looking forward to the fruits of this collaboration! I really like personalizing pieces and have finished Elizabeth Gee which I personalized for my husband for our anniversary. I mentioned this to Jacob a while back and once I get it framed I will share a picture with him. Just minutes before I started this video I was looking at the long dog piece I am stitching on at the moment and realized there was a hidden fish in it! Really enjoying these modern folk embroidery videos.

This truly is the most enjoyable floss tube video I have ever watched. You complemented each other beautifully in your talent and creativity and an enormously large collaboration from the two of you would be spectacular. Thank you so much for a wonderful video.

I am 70 so a huge, long project does not sound appropriate for me but if I was younger. I have enough to stitch till I am 500! I do not think I could ever see 56 count but I love small and miniature items! I would like domestic and variety of wild animals...love them all. Buildings, architecture designs, alphabets, landscapes and plants. Endless and personal. You can stitch your family history! I like the recipes also. They are great painted and penned in porcelain painting for kitchen tiles also. Love everything!

I promise you, people will buy it. If for no other reason, but to own such an epic design. There will also be several souls who will be only too excited to attempt to finish such a piece...I guarantee Caroline and I will be right behind Yamir in line to take it on. I encourage and support you and CAN'T WAIT to see what picture your mind's eye paints. What a wonderful video. Thank you so much.❤❤

Thank you for sharing your interview with Yamir. I have always wanted to stitch some type of tapestry that would represent my family history as well as precious memories in my life's journey. May I suggest that you also check out Tapestree Stitching. She shared her first floss tube in August of 2020. In her very first floss tube she shares a tapestry that she has designed herself and has been working on for several years that depicts her life journey. My grandparents were immigrants from Italy and lived with us until they passed. As is very common in European families. Some similar icons that I can see being put into a tapestry chart that others could customize would be, Cooking, recipes, garden, travel, maybe an area where the shape of a country or state could be insterted, various hobby or trade icons, animals such as cats, dogs, birds, horses. Various landscape icons, such as bodies of water, mountains, deserts, fields, forests. Various buildings such as churches, courthouses, houses, cottages, barns, schools. These are some of the things that are a common thread in all of our lives. I look forward to seeing this project come to life. I certainly would be one that would purchase this templated design. Of course it goes without saying that this design would encompass your Modern Fold Embroidery touch.

A forever piece sounds very intersting. Definetly flora and fauna and trees. I just love trees. Woodland creatures, insects, bees etc. like a forest scene. Or a totally different direction would be quakers or flowers, like a Wildflower meadow. I always enjoy all your projects. I am allready very exited to see what you will come up with.

I’m catching up on FlossTube and just watched this episode-I LOVED seeing AlmondMnMs’ awesome work and enjoyed hearing you both talk about designing a “Forever Piece.” I’m heading off to watch some of AlmonsMnMs FlossTube. Thank you for introducing us to another Flosstuber!

Jacob, I love the idea of a legacy piece. As I have aged I am feeling an urgency for family stories, memories, etc. to be passed down through my family. I am planning a journal of short stories but wouldn’t it be wonderful to have an accompanying piece to see Grandmother’s Pound Cake Recipe, or the family lineage, a stitched picture of a favorite pet. I am so excited about the possibilities. Thank you!!!! ❤️

Absolutely love the idea of a forever piece. I always enjoy natural motifs ... it would be interesting to contrast the styles from different cultures and parts of the world ... a Greek floral motif along with a Quaker floral motif in different "chapters" I just started the 2018 SAL on 26 count Greek ground cloth and it's like a blanket:) My husband asked if I was making a rug:) Now I am so inspired by Yamir's gorgeous tiny pieces! Great conversation!

I like videos and the stuff that young lady was showing was beautiful I would love to stitch some of the stuff you have but I can't afford to get them so I'm just going to have to watch your videos and watch you do them cuz everything that's happening today so stay safe stay warm stay true to yourself and happy happy cross stitching and enjoy yourself and I love the video I'm going to keep watching

Really enjoyed the two of you! Thanks for encouraging me to try smaller counts. I am enjoying 36 count and may get brave and try smaller!

The thought of a forever piece is intriguing. I just received a book of family history about my paternal grandmother. It has been fascinating to read. So thinking along those lines, it would be interesting to have a family tree or something similar that could be personalized. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work. Looking forward to more videos.

Your cross stitches are STUNNING!!

I love stitching large pieces and I love the idea of a forever piece. I would definitely buy the pattern and stitch it. I'm very excited about this idea!

What a fantastic video. I enjoyed your conversation and love the idea of creating a forever piece. I spent several years travelling through Asia and have long thought about documenting my trip on linen. I became somewhat overwhelmed though at how to design it. Some initial ideas for your piece could include architecture from around the world, significant moments in our history, flora and fauna motifs, the list is endless. For my piece, I was planning on stitching natural and manmade landmarks, food, means of transport, fashion, etc etc. I think your biggest problem will be limiting yourself! I really look forward to following this idea. Thank you so much for sharing.

I love the idea of a Forever piece. I have been interested in doing something like this since I saw Rachel from Tapestree Stitching doing her life story. I would like to be able to incorporate my family history, travel and I also like anything that is medieval. Look forward to seeing what ideas you create.

I can't thank you enough for the idea of stitching a family recipe!!! It is a wonderful wonderful idea. My next project will be a family recipe 😊. Martha from Southeast Georgia. (And you know in the south there are many family recipes)

Very interesting guest. I'm am definitely going to make the jump to higher counts, one over one, for some of my larger projects (Future plans).

Absolutely astounding. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to listen to your podcasts. So inspirational. What a wonderful talented lady.

Dragons, lions, griffons, lots of medieval lettering, phenomenal video.

Very interesting video Jacob! I loved the recipe idea... perhaps on a recipe card motif. Some of my ideas to throw into the hat are: A Bible or a book design that favorite Bible verses or quotes could be stitched on, maybe a map of where you could put where you live and places you’ve traveled, different flag designs to stitch as a representation of ones heritage, motifs of sewing/stitching related items since that is the hobby that we all have in common. Aside from family, country and religion another thing that defines most people is their trade so perhaps various motifs to choose from that might represent someone’s job/trade. Hope this is even the tiniest bit helpful. I can’t wait to see what you eventually come up with.

Awesome video....made me think of all the times that I went to visit my mom or grandmother and wanted to see if they were still working on a project that I saw the last time I was there. Wonderful idea to create a forever piece to pass on. Currently, I’m loving samplers with little cottage scenes, alphabets, and flowers. And yes, love the idea of inserting text...I recently inserted a quote from hamlet into blackbird designs Christmas garden. The idea of a Christmas garden made me think of an English garden and then it morphed into the hamlet quote. 🤣

Just a fantastic video. Thank you.

I think your channel is fabulous - very professionally and expertly put together. Yamir was lovely and yes, so inspiring and full of amazing ideas. I have just subscribed to her channel too!

A great video, thank you. If I were to stitch a giant lifelong sampler I would like to include all my favourite things, from food recipes, to animals, to quotes, to music, to flowers... it would be never-ending and a lifetime's history of loves and inspiration. It would also include lots of cats 🙂

This was so interesting to watch. I’ve done a little bit of 1 over 1 on 32 count but this is definitely taking it to the next level- very inspiring. The forever piece sounds like a fabulous project. I’d love to see motifs depicting fundamentals of life, perhaps representations of childhood, food, nature, death. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

I love the idea of the "Forever Piece" and would offer that it would be lovely to have a way throughout the piece of signing, as it were, one's name or initials for the part that one has completed, and maybe even adding something along the lines of, "And now I pass this on to my (insert daughter/friend/etc.'s name) to continue with this work."

Simply fantastic!

Lovely to meet Yamir ☀️TY Jacob.. I love seeing her tiny stitches, it looks like a fabric painting . A universal crossstitch piece likened to a quilt, each piece from all over the world 🌍. GigiR has a similar piece done years ago. Always a joy watching.. Now I’ll head over to Yamirs pages. Blessings ~ Sharon 🇺🇸

Such a lovely video. Thanks for sharing!

Very inspiring. You are lucky to have young hands and eyes to stitch on fine fabric and in hand. For my old arthritic hands I can't hold the rolled up fabric for any length of time so need to use a hoop or frame on a stand. Then I am only holding the needle and have one hand below fabric and one hand above.

I'm a bit late with my reply but I would love to see animals (forest animals are my favourites) and trees and flowers on the forever piece. I would also like to see stars and planets. I think the idea with the forever piece is absolutely gorgeous. Your videos are so so good, I really love to watch them. The way you dress is fantastic and inspiring.

I would need bionic eyes and a microscope to stitch over 1 on 56 count, lol! I am in awe of you. 🙂

Jacob thank you for this interview and your knowledge. I would love China patterns from old tea cups or dishes. They all have a story.

Really interesting interview and the project sounds really exciting. For me definitely flora and fauna would be good also anything depicting Hares and the mystical qualities surrounding them and pollinating insects particularly bees and the part they play in our glorious planet. Thank you Jacob and of course Yamir

Hi there, love your Videos.. just wanted to say.. I was so happy to see you working on the little round hoop. So many times I say to myself I need to get into working on a frame.. but all the years whether cross stitch or Embroidery I have always used a 3" round hoop.. Ive tried and tried frames, bigger hoops and so on.. but never felt happy.. in it goes.. and out out it comes, and back to the small hoop.. so I know once and for all.... one must use what you comfortable and happy with.. and eventually I got over it all and just use my 3" hoop.. I have many .. one in each project!! Once again.. love love your blogs.. best wishes from Sunny South Africa

I like the idea of a huge project that would include stitching by family members throughout the years. When I sew quilts or stitch samplers, the reality in my world is that my daughters may not want many of my pieces; my grandchildren may not want any, and quite possibly my great grandchildren may not even know me much less want something so dated. A lot of us quilters and stitchers joke that our pieces will end up in secondhand shops. But we stitch and sew anyway because we love the handwork.

Thank you for sharing this wonderful conversation. So enjoyable. I have often thought about an epic stitch of a life span. For example infancy, childhood, educational time frame, courting, marrying and procreation. Then career-oriented icons, middle age with grandchildren and finally growing old with lots of room for personalization and texts. Generic icons or depictions of the stages of a life span would be combined with the personalization. Just a thought for a really big project that would unwind over the years.

Thank you both for such a great video. It is lovely to see people talking with such enthusiasm about the thing they love. I would love to see a pattern that has an outline structure with borders and linking motifs and then a selection of motifs, icons, texts that I can choose to insert into the panels in an order / manner that fits with my own story. So I might use the same birth announcement panel or something to represent a trip etc as someone else but mine appears earlier / later in the bigger piece. I might insert a dog or a ferret into a panel with something else to represent the family pets / combine smaller elements into larger spaces. I would probably be sewing pieces of aida together just so that it is not too cumbersome to work with (and because I can imagine finding a huge single piece in 1 go would be difficult and quite costly) so would like to see convenient places to split the pattern to accommodate this. Thank you again

Hello Jacob! I've been enjoying your videos so much, but hadn't yet commented. This video is so exciting and inspiring! If I'm understanding your intention correctly, the Forever project sounds like something we might personalize and add to over time? It reminds me of the "Winter Counts" that the tribes of the western plains of the United States would make. At the end of each year, they'd pick the most significant event of that year and paint something that represented that event, so that over time there was a historical record of all the years. Something like that could be passed down to other generations to continue. Or maybe the project would be more of a snapshot history of a family, with various motifs to represent people, occupations, birthplaces, etc? In either case, I'm envisioning having a library of alphabets and motifs to chose from, with several possible layout ideas - for example gridded, random, or tree shaped. I look forward to seeing all the ideas and how they take shape! I really liked another commenter's idea of having lots of different cultural styles of stitching represented. Maybe even a few special words, "peace," "hope," "family," for example, in several different languages. OH! A companion project to this might be a huge community piece. You would set up a large piece of fabric in a museum or other public place and invite the public to stitch little motifs on it. You could have volunteers there to help people stitch, and a giant catalog of little motifs that could be done quickly. Or heck, larger motifs might be worked on by multiple people passing through. The piece could travel the world and get stitched on every where it went - the largest Round Robin ever! Ok, I'll stop now. LOL

The “forever” project is very exciting. In the Winds of Autumn book there’s a piece called Mighty Oaks. It reminds me of our house and I’m planning to stitch it as a way to memorialize where we have lived for 45 years. In a “forever” design, I’d like to be able to tell a story about our pets, our travels, our work, our religious beliefs, some of the historical events and technologies we’ve experienced...

Thank-you for the introduction to Yamir, I am beyond impressed with her work and really enjoyed your whole conversation so look forward to now following her channel and Instagram .. I love to stitch over one on 25 & 28, with my favourite completed like this being your 'Real Comfort' .. The lifetime project idea reminded me of the burial shroud a friend of mine is making .. It's an idea come out of her Death Cafe group ~ do they have them over there? A google search would describe it much better than me, but essentially it's a casual get together to discuss death, with the idea that it needn't be taboo or morbid, and open talk can decrease fears and encourage appreciation of each living moment .. Anyway, they came up with the idea of decorating their own death shrouds, so some are painting and others embroidering etc, and my friend has actually asked me to cross stitch her a lion (she is a Leo) to put on it .. I have looked and found quite a few, but none that feel appropriately ornate .. Personally I think flora and fauna of all seasons and regions of the world would be my chosen subject to stitch on an extra large piece, with a lot of beautiful frames for text ..

Loved the energy and excitement the two of you projected throughout that chat! Listening to creative folks be creative gets your own creative juices flowing!

I was born in the European continent. Raised in the southern hemisphere, Latin america, and became an adult in the northern hemisphere, the US. I would love to see a piece that would unite us all.

Amazing, So inspiring, thank you.

Wow it’s all I can say about stitching on 56 count. How exciting to hear the plans for a forever piece. I would love to stitch that. Now! I’m a big lover of florals and just adore a floral border and motives. When I was watching you guys what came to my mind was to cross stitch a bed through, that’s how I imagine my forever project. I would also like to stitch some of my favourites bible verses on my pice for sure.Feeling excited about all the possibilities. Thanks Jacob for sharing and been awesome. I’m huge fun🥳😘😘💚🌻

That was just a wonderful chat! While you were talking of the Forever Piece, it reminded me of the beautiful Apocalypse Tapestry in Angers France or the Bayeux Tapestry that you can read like a story book. I could be an ode to all creatures big or small that makes this beautiful planet of ours what it is with all it's amazing diversities with a touched of different embroidery styles from around the world.

The project sounds amazing and Yamir, your WIPS are simply breath taking! Thank you both so much for this flosstube.

What a great interview to listen to! You both have such great ideas and I appreciate the sharing and collaborating. I use a hoop, but keep my fabric very loose in the hoop. I've tried stitching in hand, but without much success, but loose in the hoop works well with the sewing method. The idea of a purposely long term project is great - something you can add to as you age and your life changes is a wonderful idea, like a photo album you add pictures to each year.

I really enjoyed this video. Thanks.

Very enjoyable Jacob and Yamir! I would consider a Forever Piece but I have nothing to contribute as far as ideas, I do turn 60 next January so my 'forever' is shorter but I like the idea of finishing something or passing it along. Unrelated, but I use a magnifying light and am very tempted to do a 1x1 stitch on a higher thread count for a small project. Thank you for the inspiration.

I would love to see a collection of all stitching styles, including Traditional, Quaker, Vierlande, etc. I would also love to see the inclusion of stitching from various cultures, like your Japanese Hiragana sampler. A piece that pays homage to all kinds of stitching with nods to stitching from cultures across the globe. I am a big fan of the intricate motifs from Vierlande samplers... I just think they are so detailed and gorgeous. Whatever you envision will be fabulous, but that's my two cents. ❤

Thank you both so much for this video and for an amazing idea of a forever project! I would love to see animals and plants on it that are currently endangered and hopefully will be saved for the next generations. And maybe a space exploration projects, showing what ideas and dreams human kind has in this time of history? Or maybe milestones in science? I also have a question: you Jacob, work with hundreds of years old samplers. As I would love to make sure my finished pieces last for as long as possible, is there any certain type of fabric and threads that preserve longer than others? For example, does linen age better than cotton material? Do silk threads last longer than cotton? And what about colours? Naturally dyed compared to chemical? What is the best way to frame projects? I know many people choose their projects to be framed without glass? And what are the prons and cons of museum glass compared to a "normal" glass? Thank you and happy stitching xxx

Hi, Jacob, I have enjoyed all of your videos and stitching your designs (one, so far!). I have several thoughts about the “forever” design. I think a pattern record of designs would be nice. It could be a history of many different motifs and bands from a particular continent (perhaps English Samplers as they progressed in time. ) It could be one large sampler or even divide the piece into many different rectangular blocks for a miniature sampler from each style/era for each rectangle. This could also be done with many different sampler styles from around the world. Just a few ideas. I love your designs and can’t wait to see what you come up with. This video has inspired me to stitch some one over one. Thank you!

Yamir and Jacob, no one is going to be able to sleep after watching this. Our minds are going to be whirling and whirling thinking about what we each will want on our forever album samplers. A very inspiring discussion. Thank you😊

I absolutely loved this and the idea of a Forever Sampler. I think it would be important to honor all the stitchers from all over the world. So maybe include designs from all over the world, cultures and from previous times. For example, maybe an eagle from the Mayan culture, a modern Chinese dragon, a historic Viking ship, an African Axum obelisk, an Incan puma (or linework, like the Nazca), or an Aboriginal kangaroo. You don't necessarily have to stick with animals, but something that represents the various cultures, current and past.

Hola Jacob! Me gusto mucho la conversación con Yamir, que increible que borda en tela 56 count! es increíble! no la conocía, voy a ver su trabajo en instagram, muchas gracias, saludos!!!

Two of my favourite flosstubers together. How wonderful. I would like to stitch the project you were talking about. A tapestry of my family story. So, a pattern with different panels or motifs that I can choose to customize, including a space for meaingful text. Many of our human stories are universal no matter where we live or when. Stories of love. For example, children, spouse, gardens, cooking, pets, faith (no matter the religion), birth, death, weddings, birthdays, etc. All different kind of love. A quaker perhaps? Also, at my age, I don't have 20 years to sitich a BIG piece though I like BIG pieces. But with panels, I can create something smaller. As you can see from the length of my comment, I find the idea of this project very exciting. You are the perfect person to design it.

Lovely interview! Your tiny work is awesome Yamir. Thank you for the introduction Jacob.

I would LOVE a forever piece. I could get various family members to put a few stitches in so that you have something to memorialize them forever. With options for personalization you could add family names or dates from family gatherings. Something that can be handed down as a family heirloom. I personally love flowers, birds, bees, and horses. I would love something that took samples from other cultures, places, and/or different time periods

Yamir needs to contact Jeane at The Attic needlework store in Arizona. She regularly stitches on 56ct and I think they even sell 60ct linens.

That recipe idea is so unique. I love it. Please do one smaller in size as well. Not all over us are 30 and in excellent health.

This is such a wonderful idea!! I would love to stitch a forever chart like this. My son is 7 and has started getting very interested in my stitching so we were actually just talking about incorporating some stitching time into his homeschool day while we listen to an audio book. (We're currently hand sewing a little pouch for some of his playing cards while we listen to The Wind in the Willows.) Thank you for this interview, I can't wait to see the patterns that you come up with for the forever piece! ^_^

This floss tube specifically I have found most fascinating and inspiring. I have never even considered trying over 1 on any count, and now I am most anxious to try it right away. My imagination, when considering a work of massive proportion, would for it to be a collection of different stories personal to me on a consistent count, purposefully not all the same color, just the same count sewn together like a quilt. In the film "How to make an American Quilt", a group of women each contribute a block for a quilt on the theme of what love is to them, and them sharing the stories of their lives that inspired their blocks. Cross stitch could be used in a similar way, with each contributing person expressing their interpretation of the chosen theme, or different blocks all by one person combined to tell the highlights or adventures or experiences that have shaped them into the person that they have become. The same thing for a group of different people contributing on a common theme or historical event (such as the past year and living through a world-wide pandemic, for example). All of the blocks, when combined, could be an incredible achievement worthy of being called an heirloom, either for a family or a society. Thank you so much again for this amazing sharing of ideas and inspiration.

Samples of old always to me reflected happenings in the time period in which it was stitched. I would love to see a pattern reflective of our time, with so many events taking place it should be noted and preserved for future generations. Full of hope, color, diversity, seasons, a story woven in truth. I throughly enjoyed your chat, 56 count is an amazing feat. Thank you for sharing.