It’s true. I’m a sucker for embroidered pomegranates!

The pomegranate has been around in the art world as a symbol for centuries upon centuries, thanks, most likely, to Proserpina, who couldn’t keep her little paws off those tiny seeds.

It’s one of those symbols that pops up unexpectedly in art and textiles, across cultures, religions, geographical regions, artistic eras and styles. Why the appeal for so many centuries? Most likely, because the pomegranate is a symbol of new life, and therefore, of hope.

I’ve always loved them. Not necessarily the fruit itself – though, when I was a kid, it was the zenith of “exotic” to actually have a real pomegranate, to open it and pick out those little tart, crunchy, juicy jewels from the innards of the thing. The fruit is abundantly available now, but it used to be pretty scarce when I was a kid in the 80’s.

I love coming across the pomegranate in art and textiles. Its symbolic presence has such a long and rich history – it’s one of those connecting threads that ties thousands of years of art together. I’m always on the lookout for pomegranates!

So it’s probably not unusual that the Modern Crewel kit I’m working on now appealed to me – after all, it’s another pomegranate!

And with pomegranates, come seeds. Today, I’m going to show you the seeds on this one, discuss a mistake and share a tip, and then we’ll take a pomegranate tour!