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Yarns
Debra Scala Giokas
Nov 9, 20243 min read
How Did Florence Harding Advocate for World War I Veterans?
On November 11, 1921, the unidentified American soldier who died in France during World War I was buried at Arlington National Cemetery...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Jul 20, 20244 min read
The 19th Century's "It Girl"
Frances Cleveland was an "influencer." At 21, she took the country by storm when news broke that she was to marry President Grover Cleveland
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Debra Scala Giokas
Apr 21, 20244 min read
Remembering the First Ladies
National First Ladies Day, to be celebrated on April 27 this year, honors all First Ladies of the United States, to commemorate when...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Nov 24, 20233 min read
Remembering Rosalynn Carter
In 2019 when I was still researching my book, I wrote to former first lady Rosalynn Carter to inquire about her sewing and other...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Nov 17, 20233 min read
A Thank You Note For My Readers
I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to my readers and those who have attended any of my talks, whether virtually or in...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Jun 4, 20232 min read
World Wide Knit In Public Day
In 2005, Danielle Landes began World Wide Knit in Public Day ("WWKIPD"). Since knitting is a solitary act, the idea was to bring knitters...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Apr 3, 20233 min read
The Pennsylvania Avenue Zoo
First Lady Grace Coolidge and her husband, President Calvin Coolidge, made a cool couple. He was shy, and she did much of the talking....
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Debra Scala Giokas
Feb 20, 20232 min read
Abigail Fillmore and The First White House Library
Abigail Powers Fillmore grew up poor but had thousands of books she inherited when her father, a Baptist minister, died when she was only...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Jan 27, 20234 min read
Sayville: A Gem by the Sea
Some years ago I published this article about my hometown -- Sayville, New York -- for a local publication, the Great South Bay...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Jan 15, 20233 min read
How Crocheting Can Calm Our Minds
My grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was seven, and I stuck with it for a few years. I would make granny squares, and she would...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Dec 23, 20222 min read
Barbara Bush and her Needlework
If you love to craft and give your handmade gifts as presents during the holidays, then you have something in common with First Lady...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Nov 11, 20223 min read
Florence Harding: Champion for Her Boys, the Veterans of World War I
On November 11, 1921, the unidentified American soldier who died in France during World War I was buried at Arlington National Cemetery...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Sep 24, 20222 min read
Grace Anna Coolidge
The First Lady of Baseball I recently attended a Mets game at Citifield, and I couldn't help but think of Grace Coolidge. The Coolidges...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Sep 15, 20223 min read
First Knitter of the Land
How First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt Encouraged Volunteers to Knit One Million Sweaters On September 30, 1941, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Sep 9, 20224 min read
International Crochet Day
The idea for an International Crochet Day began in 2007 with Jimbo, the author of the blog called “Jimbo’s Front Porch,” who hand carved...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Aug 30, 20224 min read
Who Is Claire McCardell?
How I learned about the American Fashion Designer Claire McCardell
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Debra Scala Giokas
Aug 27, 20222 min read
Crocheters Live Twice
"Writers live twice," said Natalie Goldberg in her book WRITING DOWN THE BONES. I can attest that after crocheting 120 squares in one...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Aug 23, 20222 min read
Me and Mrs. W.
So that's me in the front of the line with the red book bag and that's my kindergarten teacher Mrs. W in the red dress. In the 1970s I...
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Debra Scala Giokas
Aug 23, 20223 min read
The Story Behind LADIES, FIRST: COMMON THREADS
I was almost at my halfway mark when I was writing about Edith Roosevelt. She had once lived at Sagamore Hill, the Summer White House,...
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For those who enjoy a good yarn and a needlework project (with a cup of coffee or tea).
Stop by often to stay in the loop, get hooked on history and let me know what you're making!
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