The middle outline uses the same thread as the vines, keeping the design visually cohesive. But what stands out to me more than the thread is the rhythm I fell into while working it.

Without meaning to, I ended up keeping to a historically appropriate schedule. I only stitched during the day partly because I prefer to see my work in natural light, and partly because my roommate has a strict 9:00 p.m. bedtime that turns our room into a monastery after dark.

It made me think about embroiderers a century ago, working by daylight or lamplight, their progress shaped by the sun’s movement. There’s something grounding about that. Something that makes the work feel connected to time in a way that artificial light can’t replicate.