20 Days of Play: Stitch (Ink Blot Stitch)

The kids love handiwork that involves fabric, wool and thread.
We've touched on a variety of fabric arts (knitting spools, loom work, embroidery) but have yet to introduce cross-stitch. There are cross-stitch kits available that provide the artwork, colour combinations and instructions, but Waldorf education encourages Ink Blot Stitching (creating your own art and replicating it on grid cloth).
More beautiful examples of cross stitch art, from Natalie Miller
https://www.nataliemillerdesign.com/
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/AV64J-N7dsPxjsukaOwjqE1pzQJxvUDOqNcVd59JFAbYXULF6QulUsM/

We began by cutting out small rectangles of grid cloth and a similar size of watercolour paper.
Then we taped off their paper, for some simple line watercolour work.

They selected embroidery thread that matched their artwork and duplicated their painting on the grid cloth (Waldorf educators suggest skipping this step to see if children can duplicate without the guidance of paint).

Then they decided if they wanted to stitch in small or large squares.

We have a lot of ongoing handwork to choose from, while chapter books or audiobooks are being read aloud.
It keeps hands busy and minds open.

Afterwards we read about Louise Bourgeois through the book The Cloth Lullaby.