When I plan an interview in a field I know nothing about, I get online to read about the subject.

Coincidentally, when I searched for “needlepoint,” on my computer, I read about the person I was going to visit: Diana Bosworth of Cleburne.

As we talked in her home and I touched the intricate, textured stitches she has done, I saw why she is well known as a needlepoint market instructor, published author and stitch guide creator.

Needlepoint today is more than your grandmother’s footstool.

“Today an artist creates and paints absolutely any design on canvas,” she said. “There’s no limit to how it may be interpreted with threads and

rative stitches.

“As a stitch designer, I choose thread to bring out the colors in the artist’s canvas, grid the design on computer and prepare a stitch guide. I do most needlepoint at home and place it on display at the French Knot in Fort Worth, where I work part time.

“The customers can then see what the project will look like after they buy their canvas and follow the guide, using the thread and ornamentation I’ve chosen within the kit.

“When they finish the work, they return the project to the shop, and it is sent to a finisher.”

Because it is a time-intensive project, the customers may choose to have it stitched for them, she said. That decision is made carefully, as a single Christmas stocking can be an expensive endeavor.

“The artist’s canvas, alone, can cost up to $500,” she said. “When you add the thread, stitch guide and our stitching it for them, it can total $2,000. Most of our customers have children or grandchildren. Teenagers are not typically attracted to needlepoint.”

Diana’s mother learned handwork as a child when she was schooled at a convent in Galveston.

“Her stitches were so perfect that they looked like they had been sewn on a machine. I learned embroidery from her as a child. My mother wasn’t overly critical, but I felt that I couldn’t meet her expectations.”

Diana’s husband, Dr. Charles Bosworth, was in medical school when the couple met at Oklahoma University Hospital in Oklahoma City in 1958.  She worked as a medical technologist in the hospital laboratory.

“My friend and I had recently graduated from Medical Technology School at Harris Hospital,” she said. “I considered moving to Saudi Arabia to work with an oil company where my sister was living. Instead, my friend wanted me to go with her to Oklahoma City. If I had not changed my plans, Chuck and I would have never met.

“While Chuck was a resident at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, I ran a kidney metabolic research lab.”

Chuck’s years in the U. S. Navy took the new family to San Diego. When they moved to Texas from Wisconsin, where he had a medical practice, Diana picked up the study of needlepoint in a Waco shop.

“We moved to Cleburne in the fall of 1977. Marilyn King and Carol Rose, who owned Fancy Stitches in town, asked me to help them out. They were both members of the same bridge club and wanted someone to be there at the shop for them.”

Eventually Diana bought the shop with Susie Hernandez and later became its sole owner. During this time she designed and individually painted each canvas for the theater seats at the Layland Museum.

“I understand that the seats are not going to be used any more. It would be nice if each piece of needlepoint could be returned to the family who stitched them----perhaps made into a pillow,” she said.

Many lasting friendships were made during those years.

“When I owned Fancy Stitches, a customer came in on her way home to Breckenridge from a Methodist Conference Meeting in Waco. She talked to her friends and some drove regularly to Cleburne with her to buy from the shop.

“They came to the shop once a month to take classes. Then, they asked me if I would come to them if they paid my expenses. I’ve been going every other month for over 20 years. They have become some of my dearest friends. We share memories of our children, and now our grandchildren, and have even traveled together several times to Europe.”

The Bosworth’s sons were involved in swimming. At that time, there was no instruction available in Cleburne, so Diana drove them to Fort Worth daily, experiencing thousands of hours of waiting time.

“While other swimmers’ moms ran stop watches and agonized over their child’s progress, I did needlepoint. I figured that my adrenalin wouldn’t help them, anyway, so I just relaxed.”

Diana sold her Fancy Stitches shop to Sandy Bailey 14 years ago.

But she was recruited by others who knew of her needlepoint skills.

“A previous customer came to me and asked me to help them out at the French Knot in Fort Worth. I have never tired of the work. I get to do much of it at home. It is my passion.”

For the past several years Diana has taught at needlepoint markets across the nation upon invitations by artists. This month she will lead a class at the Dallas Market for a designer. She has taught at the Chicago and San Diego markets and her stitched work has been featured in four national publications to date.

Free-standing needlepoint series are of interest to collectors, she said.

“Artists paint canvases in a series, and they are eventually displayed together. For example:  nutcrackers, Thanksgiving, animals, Christmas nativities, Santa Clauses, etc. They are introduced by the artist at intervals. An entire nativity of shepherds, camels, wise men, angels, Mary, Joseph and the Christ child could be a $5,000 investment.

“I’ve worked over 150 Petei Santas — from an artist in Alpine. Eight Santas are introduced during the year and we’ll sell around 60 kits of each model. The stitched Santa is sent to a finisher who makes it free-standing. We have a very skilled finisher in Tyler who is originally from Holland.”

Bosworth’s book, “Beards That I Have Known,” has photos of Santa beards she has stitched with instructions on how to achieve the desired textures. She said her skill has been enriched by tours of European factories of designer’s lace and makers of tapestries and threads. One particular trip followed the life of Mary Queen of Scots who was an ardent needlepointer.

“Diana did interior designing for a few years,” Chuck Bosworth said. “She has always been organized; she’s a planner. Now when she stitches while we watch television, she carries on a conversation. But I’ve learned that when she is counting off threads that I should not ask a question.

“That’s inviting disaster,” he said with a grin.

Dr. Bosworth practices medicine part time, after retiring in 2003. They are celebrating 50 years of marriage and are being treated to a trip to the Oregon coast in June to enjoy a few days with all their family.

The Bosworths have four sons: District Judge Bill Bosworth of Cleburne; Dr. Bob Bosworth, a dentist and prosthodontist in San Diego; Brian Bosworth, an artist in Marfa, and U.S. Navy Commander Bruce Bosworth in Portland, Ore. The Bosworths have eight grandchildren.

 “I appreciate Chuck’s support and interest for something I love to do,” Diana Bosworth said. “Each of our sons has a complete nativity scene and each grandchild has a stocking. It’s fun adding a Christmas ornament every year.”

Said Chuck: “I’m so proud of Diana. What she creates are heirlooms, they are true treasures.”



Larue Barnes may be reached at laruebarnes@yahoo.com.