Cross-Stitch & Plastic Canvas

     Last week at the library, I found a book about cross-stitching.  It was in a room where they sell retired books.  I used to love cross-stitching and I'd take it everywhere with me.  But when I had children, packing up the kids was more than complicated, so there was no taking anything else along.  Cross-stitching eventually faded into the past.  But I have fond memories of those days and I got really excited about the book.  It was the same book I checked out of another library over twenty years ago.  I made a pillow from one of the projects in the book.

     I don't have the pillow anymore, but I still like the pattern.  The book was only fifty cents, so I added it to our library at home.  I don't do much needlepoint nowadays, but I still like the idea of it and still have a box of cross-stitching materials.  I've tried to get my kids interested in some sort of handicraft, but so far nothing has stuck.  Finding that book, however, must have made an impression on my nine year old because she's been talking about learning cross-stitch ever since.  She even found the box.

     I wasn't sure if she was ready for it,  but she woke up this morning again talking about learning cross-stitch.  I hadn't even had my first cup of coffee, but if she was that keen on it, I figured we would have to open the box and let her have a look.  I had stuffed all kinds of needlepoint supplies in the box including yarn and plastic canvas.  Despite the morning brain fog, I had an Ah-ha! moment -- plastic canvas would be a great stepping stone into needlepoint of all kinds.  So we began learning how to stitch on the canvas, how to undo mistakes, and how to anchor and tie off the yarn.  She stuck with it longer than I thought she would and she did a great job for a newbie!

     About half way into our lesson, she was stitching along a lengthy section of canvas and talking the whole time about how she felt like she was meant to do this.  What a gift to know your life's purpose at such a young age! 😉  I'd like to think I may have a crafting buddy at last, but I can't get my hopes up yet.  We'll wait and see if it takes root.

     She is excited for her next lesson and has even picked out a pattern and colors.

      I have to say that I am excited to share this with my daughter.  You can do so much with needlepoint.