Rare Caswell Carpet Folk Art Style Embroidery Kit Cat

In the first quarter of the nineteenth century, young Zeurah Higley Guernsey received, and accepted a proposal of marriage from a handsome sailor; who then returned to the sea to earn their fortune. Determined to make good use of the long months til his return, Zeurah planned to add to her hope chest embroideries to use in the home they would make together.

As every properly raised New England girl knew how to do, she sheared wool from her fathers sheep and washed, carded and spun it into thread. Then, using leaves and berries and the secret ingredient of the dyers art, she colored it the blue of the sky, the gold of the summer sun, the green of the pines, the rose and poppy of the flowers in her garden, and the brown of the earth in which they grew.

Sitting before her fire in winter, or in the sunshine of a summers day, Zeruah waited for her betrothed, painting with her needle and wools on handwoven squares. Cats, lovebirds, flowers, fruits and snowflakes; all so carefully planned, all to make her home a garden of color during the long Vermont winters in the future of her dreams.

Poor Zeurah! Her sailor never returned. Untrue? Drowned? Perhaps she never knew. That all her efforts not be wasted, she gathered all the squares, so patiently embroidered, and made of the a carpet so beautiful it hands today in a famous American museum, testament to the skill and effort of that long ago girl.

The designs in this series have been inspired by Zerah’s carpet styled for today’s homes, and made of long wearing materials. They will lend warmth and beauty to traditional or con temporary interiors. As you work, remember Zeurah and her lovely heirloom; you are making one too! So reads the story on the inside of these long out of production designs for the crewel embroidery enthusiast.....

But there’s more! Antique Textile enthusiasts KNOW Zeurah; and her embroidered carpet is the famous CASWELL carpet. You can read more about Zeurah and the gentleman she eventually married with a simple search, and can enjoy the Caswell carpet inspired design pieces in your own home when you purchase designs in this series!

This piece is simply titled Cat

Size: 14" x 14"

Kit contains: 100% cotton monks cloth printed with the design to be embroidered, 100% Acrilan acrylic yarns, Complete directions for working the embroidery and Glossary of Stitches. Made in the USA

Artist: Rhodes Associates Inc Inspired by Zeurah Higley Guernsey Caswell Carpet

Manufacturer: Rhodes Associates American Heirloom Collection

Year/Condition: 1975/ Vintage New