Space geek extraordinaire Rachel Hobson live-embroidered the space shuttle Endeavor’s de-orbit pattern as it returned to Earth this week. She’d already covered the Endeavor’s launch for MAKE: live from Houston, but welcoming it back with live-crafting is taking it to the next level!
How could I not stitch the deorbit map of the first shuttle I’ve seen launch? I didn’t want to jinx her landing, though, by stitching the first deorbit map only to find that she was delayed or rerouted to some other location.
Just more than one hour before she was set to land, she was given the all clear for weather and the go ahead to execute the deorbit burn that would commit her to landing. I literally jumped out of my chair, ran to my craft room and gathered my supplies. I had one scrap of black fabric, perfect for the background. I grabbed one of my many containers of embroidery floss, and it just happened to have every color I needed. I printed the map, transferred it with carbon paper and was off.
Aw, thanks! It was so much fun to stitch it *as* she was returning to Earth. That just made it extra special. It was such a fun adventure, and I feel luck that I got to share it with others! :) XOX