Handiwork

Remember when I mentioned that someday I'd love to learn how to embroider?

As of today, I'm learning.



This blog was particularly helpful. [If you're curious, follow that link and then scroll down. There's a whole series of posts where she teaches different embroidery stitches.]

I learned how to do the Satin Stitch, the Running Stitch, the Back Stitch, the Split Stitch, and a French Knot.

I've also discovered this is an inexpensive craft. I bought two hoops (is that what they're called?) at a thrift store for $0.99, the embroidery thread for $0.29/color, and some white linen for myself (which was a bit pricier, but I had a coupon!)

But I knew that if I came home with all of that and started embroidering, Ella would want to do it, too. So I found some inexpensive white fabric on the clearance rack at the fabric store.

Ella was more than delighted. I gave her a pencil and told her she could draw a picture on the fabric.


Then she chose the colors of thread she wanted and set to work. She needed a little help threading the needle and tying knots, but other than that she was on her own.




Ella loved this, and spent well over an hour today working on different pictures within her hoop.

Note to self: This would be a great gift idea for a little girl. Tuck inside a little basket or tote: a hoop, different colors of embroidery thread, some white fabric, a little pair of scissors, and a needle. You could even include some ideas for pictures.