Mary - those are wonderful! What size are they?
My SBS redwork was from a pattern book I bought at my LQS. The patterns are all ironed on. I embroider the outline only. Then the dresses have a gazillion french knots!
Aida cloth washes up fine, actually becomes softer after washing. The only thing is to make sure your floss is colorfast. I've read about people using hand dyed floss or specialty floss that ran with washing. ugh!
There are a lot of cross-stitchers who donate completed XS blocks to charity and then they are made into a quilt. Love Quilts and Cole's Quilts are a couple.