Cross stitch embroidery - need help
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
February 26, 2008 6:38pm CST
My first craft learned was cross stitch embroidery. Every family in my family had a set of the 7 day kitchen towels and at least one set of pillow cases all cross stitched. Well, 43 years later (I started when I was 8), I am looking for something similar to teach my 8 y grand daughter. Her mom's birthday is in May - money is tight and then mommy is rather hard to buy for anyway, so since GD LOVES to do crafts - any craft - at Nanny's house (that's me!) I thought sewing would be a good place to start and embroidery cross stitch so she learns the technic and all. Not counted cross stitch, just the regluar XXXXXX to follow.
I went to Joanes Craft store today and they had nothing but baby related stuff. NOthing else! i couldn't even find a iron on pattern to do a table runner or something like that. I has to be rather "minor" or beginner in skill level as it is her first and something usable.
QuestioN: I guess I could sit her all night and search Ebay or Amazon or some place else, but do you guys know of anything, place where i can get some nice beginner embroidery stuff? Any suggestions?
7 responses
@roniroxas (10560)
• Philippines
27 Feb 08
why not teach her the counted ones.... or for starting yu count it for her leave a mark where she will put the cross and let her be the one to put the cross. there are simple patterns here
http://www.free-cross-stitch-pattern.com/cartoons/index.php
since you started when you were 8 and now that she is 8 i think she can do the simple ones as long as you are there to guide her. goodluck
i just finish one pattern take a look
http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1412432.aspx
hope you can leave a comment.
1 person likes this
@roniroxas (10560)
• Philippines
27 Feb 08
http://www.freepatternsonline.com/xscharts/page/tiny1.htm
you can check out this one too. i hope it helps
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
27 Feb 08
Appreciate the suggestion. Guess I should have said I don't do counted. I tried so many times, and as good at needle work as I am, I couldn't get the counted. IT sure is nice tho!
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
27 Feb 08
Why not teach her counted cross stitch instead of stamped? I know there are kits for kids out there to do, sometimes they have part of the picture already colored in and you only do a little bit of the stitching to highlight and such.
Maybe you could find a nice simple picture for her to do like that, that didn't require much stitching, but was still 'home made'.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
27 Feb 08
I tried counted, and as good as I am at needle crafts, I couldn't get it down. So I cna't teach her that, plus, she loves crafts, but I think that one as her first will "challenge" her patience! But thanks for the suggestion!
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
27 Feb 08
Ahh, I see. I loved regular ol' counted cross stitch myself. I had several of those plastic boxes of thread, all lined up real pretty like.
At one point I hadn't done any in a couple of years and needed money real bad, so I sold most of my stuff on eBay. I knew at the time I had to do it, but now I look at what I gave up, it saddens me.
I hope you find something that will work for both of you. How about plastic canvas?
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
27 Feb 08
Good idea. My grandma taught me when I was six, but she taught me to make my own patterns at the same time. Maybe this site will help you:
http://www.allcrafts.net/needle.htm
There are many free online resources for cross stitch patterns, from programs that convert your own simple drawing to a cross stitch pattern to sites where you can download already made patterns for free and tutorials on how to make them using PhotoShop or whatever. Have fun. I agree that simple is best as you don't want her to lose interest before the first project is finished. Have fun!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
27 Feb 08
That is an amazing site! I'm going to research there! I'm sure I'll find something. I can do the "make your own"...at least I think I can and will certainly try! Thanks so much for it! It'd be great if she could do mommy's face or hers on something! I''m excited!!!
@my52cents (569)
• United States
27 Feb 08
I would look at Wal-Mart. The craft sections at our Wal-Mart is pretty good and really has a lot of choices, though I haven't specifically looked for embroidery recently. I'll bet you can find something that she can do, though.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
27 Feb 08
Yeah, I'll check it out. I thought with Joannes big fabric department they'd have something, but they didn't have anything but counted. I can't do counted.
@5SCPapaLou1 (143)
• United States
27 Feb 08
Do you have a A.C. Moore store close to you ? They have an excellent selection of arts and crafts. If not, you might can find them on the internet. Also, Michaels has a fair selection. If you can't find what you are looking for, have you considered string art. You can usually find that at a number of stores.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
27 Feb 08
Never heard of AC Moore - I'll look on line. When I was little I wanted to do string art so bad, but mom would never let me as she said "what are you gong to do with it when its done?" I guess now I understand where she was coming from? PRoblem is that between me and her mom, we are rather, how shall the best nanny in the world phrase this....over stocked with her crafts ..as they have no "use" and ust sito n the shelf and although I love them all, it is getting a bit crowded! So I was hoping to do things with a purpose or that she would give as gifts - she gets the fun of the craft, but they go elsewhere to be used.
@jesiear (53)
•
27 Feb 08
Maybe you can find it in EBAY.Or delivery some informations on the inter net .
Now I am in China,I am aslo interested in the cross stitch.all the pictures on my wall all is done by myself.I aslo know many Stuff in China,I don't konw wheather I can help you?
