Laois community invited to jointly craft a 200th anniversary embroidery piece

A Laois town is making history, quite literally, with the community invited to unite and stitch a single new large piece of embroidery to celebrate 200 years of Mountmellick Embroidery.

'The Valentines Day Stitch', an afternoon of learning the art and enjoying tea and laughter on February 14, will kick off the project.

The hope is to inspire "a new generation of stitchers" say Mountmellick Development Association (MDA) who will host the stitching afternoons.

The MDA is home to the Mountmellick Museum where stunning historic and modern pieces of the unique white-on-white craft are displayed to visitors.

Mountmellick Museum.

The MDA describe it as "a historic community project: the creation of a new embroidery piece stitched by the people, for the people."

They are planning Community Stitching Afternoons, "informal sessions with tea, coffee, and biscuits fun and laughter".

Starting on Valentine's Day, Saturday, 14th February from 2pm to 4pm, the sessions will take place fortnightly, with dates confirmed as the project progresses.

The MDA is inviting every member of the community to show a bit of love for their local craft, regardless of age, gender, nationality, or skill level, and help bring this design to life. Experienced stitchers are also encouraged to attend to help mentor newcomers.

“We are not looking for perfection; we are looking to encourage a new generation of stitchers,” said an MDA spokesperson.

“Whether you are a master stitcher or have never held a needle, we want you to place your stitches in this piece and become a permanent part of Mountmellick history.

Mountmellick Musuem in the MDA, Irishtown, Mountmellick.

“This initiative represents a modern twist on a 200-year-old legacy, ensuring that the world-famous Mountmellick Embroidery remains a living, breathing craft for the next century," the MDA say.

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Unveiled by board members Elizabeth Moore and Janet Stewart at the Mountmellick Community Arts Centre, they say the new design was made possible through sponsorship from the Mountmellick Credit Union.

Inspired by the Credit Union’s ethos of "not for profit, but for service," the project aims to modernize the traditional white-on-white craft while honouring its deep roots in the locality.