© 2004 Mount Vernon product and copy. Design by The Posy Collection.

Mount Vernon Shell Cushion
Counted Cross Stitch Kit

This shell is adapted from a repeat pattern Martha Washington used for cross-stitch cushions now in the Mount Vernon collection. Mrs. Washington completed 12 of these shell-patterned cushions over a period of 36 years, many of which were used on Windsor chairs. Obviously, this was a tedious process for Mrs. Washington. In June of 1794, she wrote to her niece, "...send me the two bags that has my worked chear Bottoms in, as I intend to have them made into something if they are not spoiled and Eaten up with the moth..." One such "chear Bottom" is on display at the Mount Vernon Museum.