Embroidery with Children

Step 2 - Embroider Design onto Fabric
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

This is a pillow that Olivia (who is 6 years old) is hand-embroidering. She is doing the back-stitch for the entire pillow and her stitches are about 1/16" of an inch. Very tiny and precise for a 6-year old.

The image is one that she drew on paper and I transferred onto fabric with a blue fabric pen (the ink disappers when water is placed on it).

Olivia drew a picture of herself with Casey (a pet who passed away unexpectedly in February 2008 who she loved and was close to). They are standing by the apple tree in the backyard on a beautiful sunny day.

Doing this project on an almost daily basis has given Olivia an opportunity to process her grief, talk about Casey, and remember some happier times with her dog. She will have a permanent reminder of Casey which she can put on her bed and sleep with each night. It is a meaningful and practical activity that she did as part of her homeschooling this spring.