This little sewing basket holds a needlebook and a small pincushion and it was inspired by the lyric “America the Beautiful,” and it is dedicated to my American friends. 
All stitched sections are worked with solid and overdyed six stranded DMC cotton threads over the beautiful 32 ct linen Etruria Nilo 47 by Sotema, Italy.
  
The basket side features three traditional American country homes: a Church, trees, plants, and American flags. Around the basket’s upper rim, the sentence “America the Beautiful…God shed His grace on thee….1910”, is cross stitched in green. The wall is mounted over a Skirtex band and finished with wool felt; the basket base, lined with finishing cotton fabric and wool felt, is mounted over matboard. The handle is lined with finishing cotton fabric and wool felt.  Final measurements of the basket are 4 x 6 ¼ x 3 in (7 in with the handle).
The needlebook features a little blue house with two trees and the stitcher’s initials. The needlebook sides are defined by Nun’s Stitch and the needlebook hosts a wool felt needle page. A green ribbon bow closes the needlebook.
 
A little pincushion completes the sewing set and features a boat with a sailor man and a little dog; the sun is shining, and a little bird is flying in the sky.
 
Stitches: cross stitch over two, back stitch, long stitches and Nun’s Stitch. 
Stitching and finishing instructions as well as information about this model will be included in the chartpack. The kit includes all stitching and finishing materials.
 
To bring in class:
Notebook, pen, and pencil
Embroidery scissors, sewing scissors. 
Preferred tapestry needle size 26/28
Sewing needle, strong canvas needle, curved needle
Measuring sewing tape
Reading glasses / personal magnifier 
Scissors for cardboard, scissors for fabric
Elmer’s Stick glue or other acid free stick glue
Craft cutting Mat Board (not less than 17x11 in)