I’m on a roll! I finished stitching February’s project with a week to spare! This month, I chose the George Washington pattern from The Prairie Schooler Book #155, Stars & Stripes.
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, so I picked this pattern to commemorate his birthday. When I was a kid, we used to celebrate both Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays separately in February. In 1971, they lumped them together to establish a new Federal Holiday called “Presidents Day” on the third Monday of February, creating a three-day weekend for the holiday.
Some interesting facts about George Washington:
- Washington actually has two birthdays! He was born in the British Colony of Virginia on February 11, 1731. When England and its colonies shifted from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, Washington’s birthday shifted to February 22, 1732.
- Washington was 6’3″ and very athletic, excelling at almost every sport, and was even known as a very good dancer. There are many accounts of his dancing late into the night at various balls, cotillions, and parties.
- Washington never attended college. His formal education ended when he was 15, so he is largely self-taught. At 17, his first job was as a surveyor in the Shenandoah Valley. At 20, he joined the British army and served as a colonel in the French and Indian War.
- His teeth weren’t wooden. His famous dentures were made of a mix of ivory, gold, metal, and human teeth.
- Washington was the only president who never occupied the White House. In fact, he oversaw its construction, and in 1791, he specified it as the location of the future presidential home. His successor, John Adams was actually the first president to live there.
- Washington never had any children of his own, but, after marrying the wealthy widow, Martha Dandridge Custis in 1759, he adopted her son and daughter from her previous marriage.
Below is my stitched piece. I stitched it on Light Khaki Aida with the called for DMC colors and added the years 1776 and 2026 at the bottom with the little symbol I use for my initials in between. I still haven’t fully finished January’s project yet. Right now, I’m just focusing on completing the cross stitching during their designated month and will finish them off when time allows. Maybe I will finish them all with coordinating fabric.
For March, I will be doing a pattern called “Our Flag Was Still There”, by Sweet Wing Studio, to commemorate the recognition of “The Star Spangled Banner” as our national anthem on March 3, 1931.
Happy stitching! See you next month.
HootOwl Handicrafts 