Beginning Embroidery and my 8 Year Old

Since I have decided to start learning and refining things I already knew my 8 year old daughter Emma has decided she wants to learn as well. That has prompted my 2 year old daughter Abby to insist that she must learn to because whatever mommy and big sister is doing she must be doing. In order to cause as few tantrums as possible I gave her a plastic dull yarn needle and some yarn and off she went happy as a clam.

I wanted to practice and learn more about hand sewing so that when I make garb it would make it seem more period. Also I really do need more practice as it's been a long time since I've done much hand sewing other than just putting a button back on a piece of clothing. I think it was in middle school when I took Home Economics. I'm 33 so that's really showing my age! I always looked at embroidery as one of those impossibly beautiful things that I could never do but as I looked around some more and saw a few online tutorials I decided to try it. To my surprise it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought and it was really fun! Also it was surprisingly calming which I could use when my toddler decided that she wanted to take all her food dump it on the floor and then do a Celtic sword dance on it. 

When Emma saw me doing the hand sewing and the embroidery she insisted that I teach her. I did my best and showed her a few videos and here are the results!

This is a little heart pillow she sewed for a neighbor friend of ours who recently had surgery.

A set of spirals that I did in imitation of Viking style. It was intended to be a Jorvik hood but it didn't fit my toddler.

Emma's first attempt at embroidery using the split stitch. It's a little girl playing under the sky.

Helm of Awe is a Seiðr which is a magic sigil. This one is used to strike fear into your enemies. I have ring it with the Younger Futhark Runes.

Embroidery found at the 10th century Mammen grave.

A pretty Triquerta that I'm going to finish eventually.

It is a Valsgärde motif. I've only partially finished it.