Our Permanent Collection lives at our headquarters and contains examples of a large number of embroidery techniques or anything that can be worked with a needle. The goal of the collection is to represent as many techniques, cultures, and historical eras as possible. Pieces from the collection are used for exhibition, reproduction, and study. Techniques represented include: appliqué, canvas, beadwork, counted thread, French hand sewing, lace, machine embroidery, metal thread, patchwork, plain sewing, quilting, surface (including all non-counted thread techniques such as crewel, silkwork, contemporary embroideries, and whitework.

The Collection currently consists of over 1,000 items and continues to grow through many thoughtful donations and purchases.

See a gallery showcasing a selection from our Permanent Collection

Browse our Permanent Collection on Collector Systems

The Dorothy Babcock Memorial Library at Headquarters consists of a lending library of more than 2000 needlework books and a non-circulating reference section of rare and historic materials. Members are welcome to borrow up to four books at a time for a period of six weeks.

We also have a Study Box program, providing members with a special way of learning. The boxes can be used as an introduction to a needlework technique, as an alternative to classroom study, or for advanced study.

Click here to browse the Library Online

We love showcasing needlework throughout headquarters! When our walls are not covered with breathtaking embroidery from our Permanent Collection, we showcase needle art from exhibits. Planning a visit? Please Contact Us to learn what is currently on display.

The Storr House is a three story Georgian-style miniature house on display at headquarters. The gorgeous house is decorated with tiny items stitched by our members. See a Gallery of the Storr Miniature House here.

Art from our National Exhibit Through the Needle’s Eye is also featured at headquarters. To learn more about our upcoming TNE exhibit click here. You can see a gallery from our previous TNE Exhibits here.

Our Asian Fusion exhibition in 2020 featured embroideries from China, Japan, India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, alongside modern and contemporary works by embroiderers who appreciate and reinterpret or reproduce Asian elements. You can see the gallery online here.

Complex: The Art in Mixed Media in 2016, was the third of the international embroidered art exhibitions sponsored by EGA. You can see items from that exhibit here.

The National Tapestry: America the Beautiful is on display at our Headquarters. Thousands of members of the EGA worked to fill every inch of the five panels with needlework illustrating the incredible diversity of life in America. The tapestry, an impressionistic piece, uses nature’s flora and fauna against the country’s landscape and it was designed and painted by member Judy Jeroy. Take a look!

Administrator Cynthia Welch, Membership and Financial Coordinator Tonya Parks and Electronic Media Coordinator Rand Duren are at headquarters ready to assist you.

You may contact us by email at egahq@egausa.org, by phone at 502.589.6956 or through our Contact Us page.

To learn more about each of the staff members visit our Meet the Team page.

We’d love to show you around! Our offices are located at 1205 East Washington Street, Suite 104, Louisville, KY, 40206, and we are open from Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM ET.