Registration and Mail-In Dates

2027 registration, mail in, and pick up dates will be announced in November 2026!

First time Entrant? Need a Refresher? Read through this first:

EXHIBITING INFORMATION

IS MY PIECE ELIGIBLE?
The Needlework Show is judged, but not juried. We look forward to including a variety of pieces at all levels. 

REQUIREMENTS:
Each entry must be the work of a living person, stitched with hand-held, threaded needle, and appropriately finished. Unfortunately, any items entered previously, as well as crocheted, knitted, macramé, woven and hooked items are NOT eligible.

JUDGING:
Each entry will be classified and judged by Division first, Category second, then by Technique. Entrants must include their classification on their submission form. Woodlawn and its judges reserve the right to reclassify entries, if appropriate.

Click here to read the criteria that the judges use in critiquing each piece and determining award winners.

CLASSIFICATIONS

DIVISIONS

Adult: For stitchers 18 years and over 

Senior: For stitchers 70 years and over 

Junior: Three divisions: up to 9 years; 10 to 13 years; and 14 to 17 years

CATEGORIES

ORIGINAL DESIGN:
A design which is solely the creation of the stitcher. A brief artist’s statement must accompany the piece to be included in judging as an original design. Changing threads, thread colors, the ground fabric or other changes to a commercial design do not make the piece an original by the stitcher.  

ADAPTATION:
A design whose source is a medium different from that of the entry. The inspiration may come from a painting, a photograph* or other source. A scanned image or photograph of the source material must accompany the piece to be included in judging as an adaptation design. Changing threads, thread colors, the ground fabric or other changes are not adaptations to a commercial design.

*If the stitcher has staged the image and taken the photograph, this would be considered an original design.

COMMERCIAL DESIGN:
A design created by someone other than the stitcher. It may be a chart, painted canvas, or printed graph. It may come from a kit or a class project. Changing threads, thread colors, the ground fabric or other changes are not considered an original work by the stitcher.

Techniques

(click here for a more detailed look at techniques)

  • Beadwork (not stitched on ground fabric/paper): Including but not limited to Bead Weaving and Bead Looming

  • Canvaswork: Traditional (needlepoint) or Multi-Stitch (4+) on needlepoint canvas

  • Counted Thread: Stitched on a counted ground fabric (e.g., Aida, linen), techniques include but not limited to:
    Assisi, Blackwork, Cross Stitch, including Samplers (traditional or multi-stitch (4+), Drawn Thread (e.g., Hardanger), Pulled Work

  • Miniature: Counted ground fabric of 32-count or higher and stitched over one thread

  • Surface Embroidery: Including but not limited to: Brazilian, Crewel, Goldwork, Japanese Bead Embroidery, Sashiko, Silk Ribbon, Stumpwork, Temari, Japanese Embroidery

  • Fine Hand Sewing

  • Needle Lace: Including but not limited to Needle Tatting and Battenburg

  • Quilting: Size limited to 144 inches in perimeter

  • Smocking

COST OF ENTERING A PIECE

Adult (18+) entry fee:
$20.00 for first piece, $16.00 for any additional pieces.

Junior (under 18) entry fee:
$10.00 for first piece, $8.00 for any additional piece.

Sets of multiple pieces:
$30.00 flat fee for 2+ items in a set, $25 flat fee for additional sets of multiple pieces.

  •   If you are entering a set of items, all components must be thematically related to each other. The pieces will be judged as a set, not individually.

Payments will be taken by credit card through the online form. Refunds will only be issued on a case by case basis.

Entrants receive one free admission to the Show (a $20 value). You will receive a code to use for our online ticketing system, OR you may check-in at the ticketing desk as an entrant.

Insurance coverage is the responsibility of the owner/depositor.

SUBMITTING YOUR WORK

Entries to the Show must be submitted through the online form (linked above). Once the form is completed, please plan to deliver your piece by mail, through a designated needlework shop or gallery, or in person. See details below,

Submitting Through a Guild

Check with your local shop, group, or guild before you go to ensure they are accepting entries for drop-off. In Stitches will NOT accept walk-in registrations. They are ONLY handling the mail-in entries.

Read these instructions carefully to ensure the safe delivery and return of your piece!

  • All entries must remain at Woodlawn for the duration of the exhibition!

  • Storage fees of $5 per day are applied for any item(s) remaining on the property beyond pick-up dates.

  • Entries requiring hanging must be wired. No sawtooth or other hanging devices can be accepted due to the historic nature of our house walls.


    ENTRIES BY MAIL

  • Entries must arrive by the specified date (to be announced in November 2026) - No exceptions

  • In Stitches Needlework will process all mail-in entries. They must be sent in strong, reusable containers, which can be mailed and insured by your carrier of choice. Mail-in entries MUST to be accompanied by the submission confirmation emails, a pre-paid return mailing label, and any insurance fees.

  • All mail-in entries will be out of entrants possession from the date they are mailed in until they are returned in mid April.

  • Send all mail-ins to the address below:

    In Stitches Needlework
    8800 F Pear Tree Court
    Alexandria, VA 22309

    (ALL mail-in entries must be sent to this address. Please do NOT mail to the Woodlawn historic site)

In Stitches will NOT accept walk-in registrations at this time. They are ONLY handling the mail-in entries.

Individual walk-in entries must be brought to Woodlawn from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm on one of the following dates:

  • Dates to be announced in November 2026

    Walk-in entries will not be processed at In Stitches.


All entrants must complete an online submission form before dropping off the pieces. Please have the submission confirmation with your item(s).

Needlework shops, groups, and guilds with group entries must make arrangements for bringing in multiple entries. When dates are announced, please contact Deb Kempton at kemptonda@icloud.com or at 703-989-1222 with your preferred times. You will receive a confirmation email from Woodlawn staff to confirm your appointment.

Submitted pieces will be returned only to the depositor unless Woodlawn is notified in writing to the contrary.

RETURN OF ENTRIES

All needlework pieces can be picked up by individuals or shops, guilds, and groups during the following dates and times:

·Dates will be announced in November 2026

Please bring your pink slip from drop off. If someone else will be picking up your piece please contact needlework@savingplaces.org for coordination.

Woodlawn will not hold submitted entries past these dates without approved in advance. Any needlework picked up later than the last day of pick up is subject to a $10/day storage fee. Any pieces not picked up one week after the last pick up date will be considered abandoned.

Questions?