See Jane Stitch: Jane Hray

See Jane Stitch

story and photos by Erin Daniel

Art surrounds us everywhere we go and can be traced back to the days of cavemen! It’s so versatile and can be comprehended by people of all different nationalities, no matter which language they speak. We can purposefully utilize art, such as, in a logo that defines our business, or use it to depict a hazard, such as a fire icon to warn us of a flammable substance. Art can also be used solely as decoration, for entertainment, or to evoke emotions! While envisioning art, we might think of more familiar media, such as, drawings on paper or paintings on canvas. Maybe culinary or performing arts come to mind. But let’s not forget about more tangible art forms as well, such as sculpture, ceramics or tapestries. Or in Jane’s case, embroidery! Meet Jane Hray, a resident of Sumter, who uses her knowledge in embroidery and cross-stitching to create beautiful works of art! Crossstitching is created using a grid-like pattern on woven fabric and is usually composed of “x” stitches. Hand embroidery involves more technique and is used to embellish fabrics of all kinds. About 6 years ago, Jane was helping her uncle organize his house when she came across a lineage cross-stitch created by her mother. Finding this gave her the creative idea to use it as the announcement to their family that she and her husband, Peyton, were expecting their first baby! After the birth of their second child, Jane had adopted this hobby and found that it was an easy, mess-free activity to pickup and put down when needed. Once their third child was born, she decided to switch over to embroidery. “Eventually I got tired of being boxed-in and I went “off grid” – into the world of embroidery. One thing led to another and now I hand-embroider exclusively.”

Just like other artists, Jane has her favorite pieces! She enjoys creating what she refers to as, “Funky Florals”. Using vibrant-colored threads, she stitches flowers in a painterly manner, similar to the style of an abstract artist! While most artists are more apt to stick with one style they enjoy, that’s simply not the case for Jane! She is able to shift completely and also embroider more structured house portraits.

Jane Hray

“Embroidered house portraits have a special place in my heart. They have several subtle layers and take months to create, but they mean so much to the recipients. The idea of ‘home’ means so much to me because I lived in parsonages and moved so often as a child.”

These commissioned works are done on a larger scale than most of her other pieces and are interpreted from a photograph of the commissioner’s home. They include hyper realistic details and true-to-life colors that will have you doing a double take! Her house embroideries have several subtle layers that give her works dimension and really bring them to life! Using different types of stitches, she’s able to create unique textures resembling brick, roof shingles and even different types of shrubbery around the home! Between her embroidery talent and her understanding of color, materials, scale and perspective, it’s clear that Jane is a skilled artist! Not only does she play around with stitching styles, she also likes to switch up the fabric on which she’s stitching! For instance, for more formal pieces, like her house portraits, she uses oatmeal colored linen. On other pieces, she’s experimented with denim, felt, or various colored linen, each lending a different look and texture! Her long-term dream is to one day develop her own patterns and curate embroidery kits to share her unique floral style with others! When asked how long each piece takes her to complete, Jane admittedly stated she purposely doesn’t keep track, but if she had to guess, a home portrait would range around 100 hours. This time includes everything from discussing the piece with the homeowner, sketching the design, stretching the linen, creating all the layers, stitching and completing the backing on each piece. While stitching, she enjoys listening to podcasts or being with her children while they play. Jane not only loves creating art, but she also loves sharing it with others! Since 2019, she joined in on an art movement involving other artists in her community, better known as Free Art Friday! She describes it as a “modern hide-and-seek”. Jane creates mini embroideries and hides them around town. These pieces are simpler designs than her commissioned pieces and are a chance for her to try out new techniques just for fun! After they’re complete, she hides them around town, and shares a quick Instagram post, revealing just enough clues for locals to find her art! “It has been so much fun to experience the joy of learning when others find my creations!”

To join in on the fun and see more of her art, be sure to follow Jane on Instagram at @see.jane.stitch or follow #fafsumter!