What a poser, tiny dancer...

April 15, 2008 12:50 PM

Please help me find a relatively easy, yet not cutesy, ballet-themed cross-stitch kit or pattern.

I gave my niece, um “Peaches Swan”, a cross-stitch bookmark kit for her 11th birthday and promised her that if she could finish it within a year I would give her a bigger, more complicated kit for her 12th birthday. Peaches is just about finished the bookmark and so now I need to find her a new kit. I would especially like to find her a ballet-themed one as Peaches is ballet-mad. I’m searching on the net and in craft stores for one but so far the I’ve only found this really elaborate one that would be too overwhelming for her, and others that Peaches will grow to feel are too cutesy and babyish before she even gets them finished. I’d love some help finding a ballet-themed kit (or pattern that I can print off and buy materials for) that is neither too elaborate or too little girl-ish. Thanks!

posted by orange swan to shopping (9 comments total)

No specific information, but the Spring CSNF is next weekend and you might find something there. $15 admission might be a bit much if you're looking for just one cross-stitch pattern, but they also have lots of knitting things.

I'm tentatively planning to go on Saturday if you need a ride out to airportland.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:00 PM on April 15

Hey Jacq, I've never gone to the Creative Sewing and Needlwork Festival. That would be fun!
posted by orange swan at 1:05 PM on April 15

Ah, it seems my link to the elaborate one doesn't work. Type "ballerina" in the search box on the linked page if you want to see the kit. It really is lovely, but it would take *me* a year to finish it.
posted by orange swan at 1:07 PM on April 15

This should do it.
posted by cereselle at 1:10 PM on April 15

I found this:
Wee Dance
that could work--she could just stitch the main part and not make the pillow. It might be too simple, though. And its pretty small.

Maybe this one?
Ballet Shoes

Or this, if you don't mind the mouse and ordering from the UK. I'm not sure what your timeline is.

Angelina

These?
Think Spring
Ballet for Little Ballerinas (the booklet on the right side of the screen)

You might also try calling a local needlework store -- they are usually very helpful and might be able to think of a pattern that you wouldn't otherwise find in a web search.

Good luck with your search!
posted by Mimzy at 1:26 PM on April 15

You know, back when I was a little girl doing cross-stitch, I would have loved a personalized pattern based on a photo, along these lines. Do you maybe have a ballet-related photo she might like? Maybe a picture of Peaches dancing, or her friends, or her own ballet shoes, or some ballet hero of hers. If you're worried about the photo ending up too cutesy-looking, you could always make it black and white, or various shades of one color.
posted by Greg Nog at 1:41 PM on April 15

Little Ballerinas? It isn't a kit, but any cross stitch shop would be happy to help you kit up the fabric and threads needed.
posted by xsquared-1 at 4:16 PM on April 15

I agree with Mimzy...you may have better luck going to a brick-and-mortar store than looking on teh net. It's easier to judge difficulty in person. Plus, the employees of needlework stores are generally very helpful and know where all the different things are tucked away.

Greg Nog's suggestion is nice, but photo-stitches tend to be very elaborate with lots of shading. It seems you are a stitcher yourself, so you are probably familiar with this problem!
posted by radioamy at 8:03 PM on April 15

None of the linked ones are quite right, though I do rather like x-squared-1's linked sampler. And radioamy, you're absolutely right about the photo-cross-stitch being too elaborate. Cute idea — but I wouldn't land that much work on anyone but an adult who lives to do cross-stitch.

I'm going to go to the library and browse through some pattern books. If I find anything better, I'll photocopy it and buy materials for it. If not, I'll fall back on the one x-squared-1 linked to.

Thanks, all!
posted by orange swan at 10:41 AM on April 17