Larchmont Needlepointers Show Patriotic Pride

Inspired by needlepoint art depicting firefighters at Ground Zero, a Larchmont store is displaying other patriotic works through the month of September.

Betty Scanlon, who co-owns Stitch by Stitch on Palmer Avenue with Madalena Bruno, said she was moved by the needlepoint created by Denise Bleidner in honor of her cousin Frank Palumbo, who perished during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The needlepoint shows firefighters raising a flag at the ruins of the World Trade Center. In the background Bleidner stitched the names of firefighters who died at Ground Zero.

"That piece was so special that I started making phone calls," Scanlon said, to get other needlepointers to create something of a patriotic nature.

The results are displayed on the walls of the shop, located at 1971 Palmer Ave.

Among the other needlepoint works is one of an American flag with a dog in front of it.

Jane Kiernan, of Greenwich, said she made the needlepoint because her son, after escaping from the World Trade Center that day, found the dog on the street and took him home.

"That was my grand dog," Kiernan said.

Anne Ryan, also of Greenwich, said the shop that she comes to frequently to work on needlepoint projects gives her a feeling of community spirit.

She said she could tell the projects were done with "time, effort and love."

Stitch by Stitch is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.