Mandora Young
“I was born in Vientiane, Laos. I came to the United States in 1979 as a refugee to California. I
learned Hmong embroidery from both my mother and grandmother who are skilled in cross-
stitching, reverse applique, and story cloth stitching. I enjoy teaching Hmong embroidery to
students, adults, and anyone who wants to learn about Hmong paj ntaub (flower cloth). Making
paj ntaub is a way to preserve and continue the Hmong needlework that has been passed down
from generations to generations through memorization and continuous paj ntaub making.”