Learning to Stitch!

My granddaughters were wanting to learn to cross stitch, so one day I gathered up some scraps of needlepoint canvas, perle cottons, big needles, threaders and blunt scissors.  (They are 6 and 7.)  We made some personalized scissors fobs with alphabet beads, which they loved.  My daughter in law stitches, so between the two of us, we showed them how to thread the needle, gave them a few tips and set them loose to play!

They both had a great time and pretty soon were using nice little straight stitches to stitch hearts, flowers, grass, and even their names!  They would want to get out their stitching whenever I came to visit.  One day I got an email from my son saying they asked to get out their stitching on their own one Saturday morning.  He sent this picture.

Aislyn and Alyse stitching. 

Aislyn, who will be 8 in October, started learning to make x's so we moved her up a step using a small pattern I used to use for kids in the shop.  Her Mom marked the pattern on 6 ct AIDA and yesterday, I got her started cross stitching for real!

Such concentration!

She's very proud of her progress, as she should be.  And notice how she learned to park her needle on the magnet?  Maybe she'll be ready for counting soon!

Aislyn's first real cross stitch.

When she finishes the piece, we're going to make it into a book mark.  Both girls love to read so I guess I'll always be able to spoil them with stitching projects and new books!