Notes on Teaching Cross-Stitch

Once children are 10, they can start cross-stitch in Handwork. A favorite project here is the cross-stitch pincushion!


How to Sew Up a Cross-Stitch Pincushion

My notes from my AAP Handwork teacher training for this are buried in my Handwork Teacher Training - Spring 2021 post, so I'm putting them here!

cross-stitch

6 count Aida cloth from Paper Scissors Stone
size 3 DMC pearl cotton
size 20 tapestry needle

this is not a counted cross-stitch kit with pre-made design
they create their own designs (4-way or 8-way symmetry)

designing a pattern on paper and then stitching it is a different skill; we want to focus on one skill at a time

top & bottom make a difference! mark the top of your cloth with ribbon (the "red bird" can't be on the side)

have the students walk the cross-stitch pattern using large dots on the floor before they ever begin to stitch it

*** right handed children ***

situate yourself on the righthand edge of the cloth

you will be heading LEFT

then place the needle behind the fabric
in the lower lefthand corner of the square you want to do

"up and to the right, over 1
down and to the right, and you are done"




*** left handed children ***

situate yourself on the lefthand edge of the cloth

you will be heading RIGHT

then place the needle behind the fabric
in the lower righthand corner of the square you want to do

"up and to the left, over 1
down and to the left, and you are done"


enjoy that feeling! there stands the X

then think, what is the next square I'm intending to do?

after a while, they begin to be able to look forward to the next thing and anticipate where the needle should be, so you can then say "down to the right (or left) and over 2"

note: it is actually "over" when you are walking the dots on the floor but when you are sewing it you are really going under the fabric at that point! the "overs" are where you are traveling on the backside of the fabric, and it makes a tidy little row of lines

the "up (or down) and to the right (or left)" is the part of the verse where you are working diagonally on the front of the fabric

we began with a 20 square piece of 6 count Aida cloth

first make the border (across top and bottom edges) as a chance to practice the stitch (if you do this correctly, on the back you will have only straight bars and no X's) and then do the border on the sides

do the outside edge in a strong color!

for the symmetrical design, divide your cloth into four quadrants ("backyards") and start in the square closest to center of the cloth, staying in whatever "backyard" you're in (remember, the needle goes in the lower L hand corner for R hand children and the lower R hand corner for L hand children

we want the design to unfold for them... do 7 squares in that floss color (they must be touching in some way) and then match it in all four backyards

switch to a new color... do 7, 8, or 9 squares (remember to start in the center again)

don't plan it! just let it happen

Once you learn how to cross-stitch there are all kinds of wonderful projects you can do!

How to Sew Up a Cross-stitch Pincushion

In Waldorf grade 4, the Handwork theme is cross-stitch. Unlike purchased counted cross-stitch patterns and kits, Waldorf children create their own symmetrical designs. You can do one line of symmetry, two, or even four!

plant-dyed silk embroidery floss

plant-dyed wool felt

6 count Aida cloth

Of course, children can also create patterns of their own design, like this adorable chicken!

Important Note:
Waldorf teachers buy a special size of Aida cloth for children: 6 count.

After you've cross-stiched the pincushion top, sew on a piece of sturdy wool felt backing using this stitch:

make a stitch in the Aida cloth from one hole into the next

put the needle into the BACK of the felt

come out on the front of the felt, then go back into the same hole
in the Aida cloth before heading to the left again

We like to stuff our pincushions with natural fiber yarn odds-and-ends that are leftover from knitting projects. They are perfect for this! I also like to insert a square of cardstock in the base before stuffing it (to keep needles from traveling through, sticking out the bottom, and poking the children).

In my Handwork teacher training in July 2021, we also made 4 1/2 x 7 inch sewing kits out of wool felt with a cross-stitch cover (and sweet felt pockets designed for all the different little items). I decided to make a toiletry kit instead! It has a nail file, clippers, tweezers, and a pocket for a small comb.

A few ambitious teachers created very large cross-stitch journal covers. They're wonderful.

Here are some beautiful pictures I would like to share from that training:

Nicole placed gems on a board to help us visualize the lines of symmetry