Embroidered Christening Blanket c. 1937

Phyllis Dorr made this embroidered christening blanket, a labor of love, sometime in the 20th century. Look at the way she stitches the various flowers, scattered asymmetrically. The process must have involved many trials, errors, and intuitive decisions. I wonder what Phyllis was thinking as she worked each flower—was she thinking about the child who would be wrapped in this blanket? Each rose and stem must have been stitched with love, a blessing for the child’s future. The texture and color, even the physical act of stitching, give us a sense of the blanket’s emotional impact. That single, errant stitch—a little off-center—communicates feeling, intention, and meaning. How did the artist choose these particular flower motifs? What other embroideries might she have seen? Artists have always looked at each other's work, inspiring new ideas across time. We all borrow and build upon each other's creativity. It is an embodied expression, full of ambiguity. What does it mean to be received into the world? This piece embraces that uncertainty, allowing for endless interpretations and meaning.