When I was about 7 or 8, I remember my grandmother spending hours stitching designs on to her dish towels and pillow cases.  Because I was so enthused watching her and helping her with the selection of the colored threads, she taught me how to do it, too.  With a small wooden hoop to hold the white fabric taut, I began stitching along the pattern designs, being creative with the different color threads.  We would first select the pattern and then with an iron, press them on. It was tedious work but the enjoyment of looking at it everyday on things you used, was well worth the time.  There was great satisfaction when you finished the design!