An acrostic is not a cross stick or even a Cross Stitch which is one of the oldest forms of embroidery. Curiously Acrostic Poems/Prose are popular subjects for embroidery when a Cross Stitch will be used! Acrostic Puzzles are also very popular.
The more common form of acrostic is a poem where the first letter of each line forms a word (often a name, or a religious slogan) when read vertically. The term itself comes from the Greek word acros which means “at the end” and stichos, a line, such as a line of poetry. A word square acrostic is where words or phrases read the same vertically as horizontally, rather like a crossword puzzle.
Valentine Acrostic
Vows are forever.
Age will not impede your beauty.
Love is ours for a lifetime.
Embrace me in your arms.
Never let me go.
Tomorrow is ours.
I will always love you.
Near to my heart you will stay.
Every day with you is a treasure.
TREE by Ryan Healy
The branches stretch wide overhead,
Revealing patches of blue through the green.
Everyone should lie down beneath a tree and
Enjoy the view from here.
Stroud (A town in England (of Cider With Rosie fame)) by Paul Hansford -
Set among hills in the midst of five valleyS,
This peaceful little market town we inhabiT
Refuses (vociferously!) to be a conformeR.
Once home of the cloth it gave its name tO,
Uphill and down again its streets lead yoU.
Despite its faults it leaves us all charmeD.
Acrostic Puzzles are very common where you find the answer from the vertical letters (not necessarily the first character)
Acrostic Sampler (Embroidery/needlework)
Acrostic Sampler
The Sampler depicts trees and grapevines and a floral vine border surrounding an acrostic verse for “virtue.”
ref http://www.hawthorneinsalem.org/
Samplers were embroidered by teenage girls to show their domestic skills they usually had a religious or moral theme. They are often collectors items