Martha Washington's Shell Cushions

Mount Verson has posted an interesting short video about Martha Washington's dozen shell chair cushions.  I didn't know there were so many or that they were stitched over such a long period or that they included so many colors.  Fascinating!

https://www.facebook.com/HistoricMountVernon/videos/1202864078239885

You can see reproductions of the cushions in place at Mount Vernon and learn a bit more about them here-

https://www.mountvernon.org/the-estate-gardens/the-mansion/little-parlor/furnishing-the-little-parlor

Here are two more links from Mount Vernon's website.  I haven't found the video posted to Facebook on the Mount Vernon website yet but maybe it will end up there eventually.

https://emuseum.mountvernon.org/objects/1294/chair-cushion?_gl=1*umuakk*_gcl_au*NDAzNDUyMDIyLjE3NDg5NTYzODU.*_ga*NDg4Mzc2OTU2LjE3NDg5NTYzODU.*_ga_Z7H51J8C80*czE3NDg5NTYzODMkbzEkZzEkdDE3NDg5NTY1MTUkajU5JGwwJGgw

https://magazine.mountvernon.org/2020/Spring/object-spotlight.html?_gl=1*umuakk*_gcl_au*NDAzNDUyMDIyLjE3NDg5NTYzODU.*_ga*NDg4Mzc2OTU2LjE3NDg5NTYzODU.*_ga_Z7H51J8C80*czE3NDg5NTYzODMkbzEkZzEkdDE3NDg5NTY1MTUkajU5JGwwJGgw

Mount Vernon sells two cross stitch charts of this iconic pattern if you are interested.

https://shops.mountvernon.org/collections/cross-stitch

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright June 3, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.