Meet Your Neighbors: Suzanne Abu-Sharr, Lee McKeel, Rose Rogers, and Haven Ward Stitch Together a Community

Written by Diane Helentjaris | Photos by Michael Butcher

At first, there was panic. Marcy Harris had announced her upcoming retirement. Her shop, STITCH, would close. No longer would sewing enthusiasts be able to buy their colorful needlepoint canvases, soft yarns, and other supplies from the store. Even worse, no longer would they gather twice a month in fellowship for needlepoint after-hours. 

However, four of Harris’ customers rose to the challenge, deciding to join forces and take the helm at STITCH. The four — Suzanne Abu-Sharr, Lee McKeel, Rose Rogers, and Haven Ward — had totally succumbed to the joy of needlepoint. Rogers and McKeel were local women, established in the community, but Abu-Sharr and Ward were newcomers. Wednesday nights at STITCH had not only offered the chance to share camaraderie and stitching tips, but had eased their transition to their new lives in Middleburg. 

This March, Abu-Sharr, McKeel, Rogers, and Ward oversaw a soft opening of the shop. In April, STITCH officially reopened under their management. They each have their own contribution and capitalize on their varied skills. McKeel is an accountant. Abu-Sharr, a former middle school counselor, describes her stitching style as “quite slow” and finds the needlework therapeutic and calming. Ward is a newly retired lawyer and a former cross-stitcher. She bought her first canvas from STITCH during a visit to Middleburg and “really got into it.” Rogers jokes, “I am a farmer.” She had worked part-time for Marcy Harris and particularly enjoys helping customers put together their projects, choosing the perfect hand-painted canvas, picking out colors of yarn, and looking for possible embellishments. “Many hands make light work,” she believes. The women split the workload and come together on decisions.

Needlepoint has been around as long as the pyramids, if not longer. The practice involves using yarn to embroider a stiff, open-weave canvas until the entire surface is covered. Patterns are created with varying types of stitches and thread colors. On occasion, pieces can be embellished with specialty threads and yarn, charms, or beads. Stitching can be freehanded on a blank canvas or done with a printed guide. Most of the time, though, stitchers follow a design painted directly onto the canvas. Popular uses for completed canvases include wall hangings, pillows, upholstery, and small items like eyeglass cases.

At STITCH, customers can purchase all necessary supplies. A plethora of yarns, threads, and canvases are on hand. The storefront even goes well beyond the basics by selling sparkly, variegated, alpaca, and fur threads or yarn along with silk ribbons, silk straw, beads, and more. So-called self-finishing pieces are available as well. These kits combine the materials and canvas needed to create a completed item. Examples might be a purse with a needlepoint panel or a wooden box with an inset canvas. The shop also offers finishing services, transforming completed canvases into framed pieces, pillows, and more. Though needlepoint is the shop’s focus, other needlework fans are attracted by its selection of unique threads and embellishments.

The team is buoyed by the resurgence of interest in needlepoint. Folks who are seeking productive ways to relax and unwind find one answer with a canvas, a needle, and thread. Doing needlework by hand is also being recognized for its meditative qualities. “It’s called ‘yoga for the mind,’” Ward says. She adds, “It’s good for kids, as it’s repetitive and keeps them off screens.” 

This March, McKeel and Ward traveled to Lake Buena Vista, Florida, for the national Spring Needlepoint Show. Over 200 exhibitors, buyers, designers, and teachers spent several days sharing the latest in the world of needlepoint. McKeel and Ward, energized by the offerings, are thrilled with the merchandise they brought back to the shop. 

STITCH has been updated to reflect the change in ownership. A new green and cream color scheme unites the décor. Rather than storing items in files or cupboards, the hand-painted canvases are out and visible on a large cork wall. A big table and comfy chairs promote sociability. The Wednesday night get-togethers continue, along with classes and community outreach. 

As Ward says, the shop has “a new and fresh feel. We are very [much] wanting to keep and foster the same community that drew us together, [and to] carry on the legacy with a little fresh on top.” ML

For more scenes from the grand (re)opening, visit MiddleburgLife.com. 

STITCH
103 W. Federal Street, Suite 130
Middleburg, VA 20117
stitchvirginia.com

Published in the May 2025 issue of Middleburg Life.