We created the EGA Stitch-a-long group on Facebook in 2017 to provide an open forum for EGA stitchers and needleworkers at large to gather, share their projects, ask questions, seek guidance, offer tips, and spread exciting news about the community. It also became a dedicated space for sharing one free needlework project every month—the EGA Stitch-a-long project—featuring a variety of techniques and seasonal designs.
Since its inception, the group has grown to include more than 8,500 members and now contains a library of 70+ free projects. Members post pictures and share links every day, inspiring and helping one another on their needlework journeys. The EGA Stitch-a-long group runs like a well-maintained sewing machine, but it wouldn’t be possible without the tireless efforts of our EGA Stitch-a-long voluntary administrators. Currently, we have Stephanie Murphy (Indian River Sun Region Chapter EGA), Helena Whyte (Pajarito Chapter EGA), and Dianne Stauber (Fort Worth Chapter EGA) to thank for designing and sourcing the free monthly projects, inspiring stitchers with fun links and information, and generally administering to the group.
The EGA Stitch-a-long admin position is volunteer based, so we’re always looking for interested EGA stitchers to help out. If you’re interested in stretching your design skills and engaging with the community, let us know by sending a direct message to the EGA Stitch-a-long group. They will reply to your message and get you started!
This month, we wanted to acknowledge the work Stephanie, Helena, and Dianne perform for the EGA Stitch-a-long group with a peek inside their processes. Let’s dive in!
Why did you decide to volunteer for the EGA Stitch-a-long Facebook Group?
Stephanie Murphy: I gained the majority of my embroidery knowledge through EGA membership in my primary chapter, Indian River in the Sun Region. I took every internal class, every group correspondence course, and every visiting teacher’s class I could get to or take independently. EGA is a fabulous educational and social organization. I appreciated how the EGA Stitch-a-long Group meshed into EGA overall. When the call went out for volunteers, I felt that I had to do some give back to the people who started the Group and to EGA.
Helena Whyte: I love the SAL group. I didn’t want it to disband, so I volunteered to keep it going.
Dianne Stauber: I love the SAL group, and when the volunteers who created the group needed a break and asked to step down… I volunteered. EGA is nothing without our volunteers, and I’d already gotten so much fun out of the SAL group it felt wrong not to step up. I’m so glad I did. Stephanie, Helena, and I have gotten along like peanut butter & jelly ever since day one.
Where do you find inspiration for the monthly EGA Stitch-a-long projects?
SM: I keep my eyes open. Sometimes it’s a color combination that’s special. Sometimes it’s a question that a chapter member asks me. If one person has a question, then that’s a good jumping off point for a project. I also do programs for my chapter and sometimes these become EGA SAL projects of the month. Sometimes I design something deliberately to work with the EGA Social Media group to highlight a teacher being spotlighted or technique being covered that month. That’s how the Deconstructed Bargello Owl was developed; EGA was interviewing Gail Stafford, a needlepoint teacher who has many Bargello courses. (Read our Community Spotlight on Gail Stafford for more.)
HW: Crewel is my first love. Surface embroidery comes in second. Sometimes the monthly holiday gives me an idea. Since I was born in New Mexico and spent most of my life in Montana and New Mexico, I am partial to Southwestern themes.
DS: In the past, I’ve looked at the holidays around whatever month I had – although right now I’ve had to step back from the project design part of my role. I’m still working full time and life is super hectic right now.
What do you consider when you design an EGA Stitch-a-long project—technique, skill level, etc?
SM: I am trying to mix up the techniques used in my months, so that group members can be introduced to all that EGA offers. Some projects are simple; some are more complex. Some have detailed instructions, some are just sketches. I try to use materials available to most people.
The hardest part for me is what I am going to include in the handout. Free drawing stitches is not my strong point. I have some graphics software that I use for the charting. I normally just hand draw the diagrams and then photograph or scan. I have asked other teachers’ permission to use a graph of their stitch (such as the pulled thread stitch in the June 2024 Home/Fish/Golf design). I feel great when I see members posting their versions of our projects; that is excellent feedback for us.
HW: I don’t have access to charting software so I want the design to be something I can photograph. I want the project to use materials that can be found in our stash and to be easy for beginners to complete in no more than 10 hours. Intermediate or advanced stitchers will enhance the design in their own unique way.
DS: First on my mind is the fact that the SAL group is full of stitchers of all levels, and many are not EGA members (yet). I want to create projects that are fun, modern, and appealing to all levels of stitchers.
Have you learned anything surprising as an administrator of the EGA Stitch-a-long group?
SM: I am amazed at the number of FB accounts that try to become members of our group (that we block) that are obviously fake. They don’t appear to be doing anything bad, but why? So I have to believe that they are going to be scamming our members or planning something bad in the future, so we have to block them now. My other surprise was that I am learning more and more about EGA National, our members, our chapters, and our regions. There is so much to learn and understand.
HW: I am amazed at the creativity displayed by our members. I was especially impressed with how members stitched up Sara Weld’s Little Piece of Art. I think that was the July 2022 SAL project.
DS: I am constantly amazed at the number of scammer accounts who try to gain access to this group. So many! Every single day!! Just call me the EGA SAL Police, because Sheriff Dianne does not fall for those fake accounts.
What is your favorite thing about being a part of the EGA Stitch-a-long group?
SM: The friendships created along the way. I have learned so much more about EGA National than I ever knew before. I love that we have so many giving people in EGA who are willing to share their knowledge. We have so many unsung chapters that get some facetime in the EGA SAL and I love that. It gets the word out that there are chapters and stitch-ins across the USA and around the world.
HW: I love the friendships I formed with my fellow admins and Wendy Lynn. And how members love to share photos of their finished projects.
DS: The camaraderie with my girls! Also seeing all the posts from the various chapters of EGA. I love that they come to our group to post their events and projects.
Each of you is a skilled and devoted needleworker. What are your favorite styles and techniques of embroidery?
SM: Oh, I don’t have a favorite. I mainly do cross stitch, needlepoint, surface embroidery, beading, and raised embroidery (stumpwork). I do many programs for various organizations, so I bounce across many different techniques. Since I took every GCC that came available in my chapter when I first joined EGA, I’ve tried EVERYTHING, which helped me determine what I like and don’t like. EGA’s GCC Lightning Rounds are WONDERFUL as it is hard to get a large group together to do one GCC.
HW: I learned the basics of surface embroidery as a Girl Scout. I developed a love for Crewel Embroidery and Applique work as a young newlywed decorating on a budget. I’ve taken EGA classes in gold work, Brazilian Embroidery, Beading, Ribbon Embroidery, and Crewel. Still not a fan of cross stitch and Counted Stitch Blackwork. I love the look of Blackwork but lose count. I am working on how to adapt Blackwork patterns to surface embroidery.
DS: I am madly in love with thread painting and surface embroidery, but also ribbon embroidery. And I’m a big history geek who works for an airline…so I love using my flight benefits to fly over to London and take classes from the Royal School of Needlework.
What do you wish needleworkers who haven’t joined the EGA SAL group knew about it?
SM: We have a fun, international group. You don’t have to belong to EGA to be part of the Facebook group, so if you have friends who aren’t members, have them join. Use some of the projects as programs for your chapter! Make some for gifts! It’s a great place to try new embroidery techniques. The projects, in general, are small and easily do-able quickly. Try the technique and if you don’t like it, at least you know what you don’t like in our vast embroidery field. Bring some ideas and post them on the site. Be part of the new online EGA. Be part of EGA Needle Arts (NA) articles by responding to posts from the EGA NA Editor.
HW: We are a fun group that promotes all types of embroidery.
DS: It’s such a fun community. If you love stitching of all kinds, you really need to be in this amazing group. I used to say I was “just a cross stitcher,” which is crazy… because cross stitch isn’t for everyone and it takes real skill to do well. Whether you consider yourself “just a cross stitcher/embroiderer/needlepointer/whatever”… this group is a wonderful community of stitchers.
What does the future hold for the EGA Stitch-a-long group?
SM: Having a project of the month ready for the first day of the month can be a challenge. The more admins we have, the more chances we have to take a break and get recharged. We have people step up sometimes to host projects—this is so wonderful. And I have reached out to people when I see interesting projects happening in chapters or online. We always need fresh blood to volunteer and be part of making the EGA SAL exciting every month.
HW: The future depends on volunteers giving us new patterns and sharing their stitching events with this lively Facebook group.
DS: I think this group goes on as long as we have the energy to maintain it. Right now, my role is reduced to Sheriff Dianne because of my work… so the group wouldn’t be possible without Steph and Helena. I love that we’re asking for more guest designers to come forward, which gives them exposure as well, and I hope to see more of that in the future.
What should volunteers who are interested in becoming EGA Stitch-a-long admins know about the position?
SM: When it’s your month, you need to be able to check on the EGA SAL group every day. You need to make some judgement calls. We want this to be a fun, friendly, educational site promoting EGA and all its members, chapters, and regions. So no politics, no nastiness, no sales that are not EGA or chapter-related. We co-admins keep in contact with each other via email, especially when we see a high-rate of bad attempted postings (so we all know to try to check the site more frequently) and if we are going to be unavailable (out-of-town) for extended periods. It’s a group effort.
HW: Admins need to be on Facebook daily. Watch out for contributors who only want to sell products. We really are an EGA community and not here to sponsor competitors.
DS: You gotta watch out for those spammers! Some of these profiles are ridiculous, but very obvious. I don’t know anyone in EGA who has a profile picture of themselves in a bikini top with a bowl of ice cream. Really? They couldn’t at least hold up an embroidery hoop? Seriously though, it is FUN to create a project and watch your online stitchy family stitch it up. And we’re a great group to work with!
Thank you to our EGA Stitch-a-long admins for sharing with us and for guiding the EGA Stitch-a-long Facebook group to success every month. Interested stitchers can review ALL of the past Stitch-a-long projects here.
Don’t forget to join the group, as members are the first to know about new projects every month. If you’re interested in volunteering to be an EGA SAL admin, send a direct message to Stephanie Murphy or Helena White in the EGA SAL group on Facebook. They will reply to your message and get you started!
