Cross-stitch for children
 

I want to teach my 9-year-old granddaughter how to embroider. When I was a child, I learned how to embroider by doing cross stitch on pillowcases and dish towels.

I don't want to do counted cross stitch. I want to teach her regular embroidery-type cross stitch. But I am having trouble finding cross stitch patterns that I could stamp onto a pillowcase. And all of the dishtowels that I've looked at that are plain cotton seem to be very loosely woven and don't seem like they would work for embroidery.

Do you have any suggestions of what kind of cross stitch project I can use with my granddaughter? Have any of you taught this skill to children? Do you know of a source for simple cross stitch iron-on patterns? I need some good ideas.

Thanks!

You can probably find some kits online at Mary Maxim or Herrschners. Some include floss, and some don't.

my 2 youngest DGDs are "stitching' as they call it. I get kits from estate sales and thrift shops and they get on Youtube with their dad. He asked me to send him some. He's seen a couple the girls don't want so he works on them. He had them in a sack then decided to get a tackle box to put them in. Works for them. No one questions him on his tackle box. They think it's for the girls. It's all things a guy would stitch.

Walmart now carries stamped cross stitch patterns.

I want to think I've gotten some at Michael's and/or AC Moore as well. There are several retail sources carrying these again.

Grandmothersatticquilts.Com site has transfer patterns you might like.

Sorry, Janecat, the correct website is www.grandmasatticquilting.com

I started my girls using Gingham. they had the little squares for guide lines. We used a simple tree form that I FRAMED AND USED FOR A Christmas decoration

Here's another website to try: http://www.jdneedleart.com/

What a great idea! My grandson wants to learn, and I'm having a devil of a time teaching him with a kit! I think he needs to get the mechanics down first, and then he'll be fine. This is a big help!

So glad you are teaching the little ones - I had to log in and share my couple stories: 1) I knew a gal from England once who learned to knit when she was four. She was able to knit crazy ski sweaters while conversing or reading a book when I knew her as a young 30 ish year old. She absolutely amazed me with her prowess!! 2) There was a cigar smoking painter who painted the house my dad built for our family in the early 50s. His hobby was embroidery, and he made gorgeous pieces. My sis was lucky enough to get a couple of his pillowcases when she got married - I was too young - I think he was gone by the time I tied the knot. He was a wonderful old fellow!! Follow your bliss!!