Erica Wilson

Erica Wilson

I just learned of the death of Erica Wilson in December last year. Erica’s books and television series changed my life by introducing me to crewel embroidery at age 15. What my teenage years—and all the years since—would have been like I had not discovered this wonderful art that has brought me so many hours of joy, I’ll never know. I only know that because of her they’ve been filled with the satisfaction of mastering stitches used in the creation of wonderful works.

Just two weeks ago, I put a gold and blackwork piece featuring a snail, that my mother always had hanging on her bedroom wall after I finished it at age 19, aside to take to a framer in Georgetown to get it properly mounted and framed. It’s been in the horrid frame that came with the kit all these years.

In addition to crewel, Erica Wilson created stunning needlepoint. I’ve tried several times to master needlepoint in the hopes of one day doing one of her projects, but if years of stitching with fabric and fibre has taught me anything, it’s we all have limitations and to accept that there may be some skills we just can’t master.

I was reminded of that lesson yesterday when I tried, again, a knitting project featuring double yarn overs. I frogged it; frustrated; found another pattern, and cast on.

Some of Erica Wilson’s pieces are in museums and she leaves behind a shop and a needlework empire, but I think her greatest achievement is the joy, satisfaction and accomplishment she gave to by expanding the world of stitchers like me.