INSPIRING PEOPLE
An interview with... Dawn Cook Ronningen
We sat down to chat with Dawn Cook Ronningen about all things antique when it comes to stitching tools – from vintage hoops to archival storage
Interview by Julian Odessa
“I consider myself a temporary custodian of my antiques. I use archival acid-free storage for most of my collection. The acid-free tissue protects the textiles. The boxes are kept in a climatecontrolled room.”
“This 19th century medallion quilt was the source for our Fig Leaf and Flowers appliqué quilt pattern. The maker was a genius with scale and balance.”
The women behind the history of needlecraft are often undocumented. This month we talk with Dawn Cook Ronningen, needlework historian and collector of antique needlecraft tools, about the rich history of needlework paraphernalia and her fascinating books that celebrate women as innovators of needlework technology…
What is the story of your relationship with needlework? Was your passion for the history of needlework born at the beginning of your stitching journey or did that come later?
When Iwas seven, my grandmother taught me to embroider, buying me my own embroidery hoop, threads, and a pre-marked dresser scarf. Iwas fascinated by the beautiful things a simple needle and thread could make.