One slightly more complex cross stitch pattern for children to make -- you can skip the words at the bottom to make it more simple.

To learn more about cross stitching, check out our "How to Cross Stitch" directions.

When I do these projects with the girls, I encourage them fill in the white backgrounds with white cross stitch instead of leaving it unstitched.  The long rows of single colored stitches are terrific practice.  But it's completely up to you!  It does make the project take a lot longer.

Materials:

• printer,
• paper,
• Embroidery Floss Used:

  

  • feel free to substitute colors!
    • If your child wants a green shell don't get stuck... just substitute green floss for the grey
    • If you have left over floss lying around you can use that too (ex:  green for the eyeball instead of blue)
• Aida cloth with a low number (6 count Aida is 6 stitches per inch while 10 count is 10 stitches per inch...  The lower the number, the bigger the project ends up being and the easier it is for a beginner to complete)
  • 6 count would give you a 6.7 x 9.5 inch finished project
  • 8 count would give you a 5.0 x 7.1 inch finished project
  • 10 count would give you a 4.0 x 5.7 inch finished project

  OR

• plastic canvas,
• embroidery hoop (a must! unless you're using plastic canvas),
• needle (20 or 22 work well, but any that fit 3 strands of floss will do).

Instructions:

• Print out the template of choice.
• Fold cloth in half and then in half again to find the center.
• Place hoop around cloth.  Start as close to center as you can.
• Cut about 18 inch pieces of floss and divide in half (so you have 3 strands of floss to work with).
• Start cross stitching!  To learn more about cross stitching, check out our "How to Cross Stitch" directions.

Templates:

• Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
• Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).

Turtle Cross Stitch Template   (color)   or   (B&W)

Print friendly version of these instructions