Every parent knows the school holiday question: what can they do that is not a screen? A tapestry kit is one of the better answers, because a child can do it alone and has something to be proud of at the end.
It works just as well for adults who want a craft that asks nothing of them after a long day. There is no chart to follow and nothing to count. The picture is already printed on the canvas, and you fill it in with wool, one colour at a time.
How tapestry works
Video: DMC
A tapestry kit uses one stitch, the half cross stitch, which is a single slanting stitch over each hole in the canvas. Where the canvas is printed red you stitch in red wool, where it is blue you stitch in blue. That is all there is to learn.
Why it suits children so well
No counting
The printed canvas shows exactly where each colour goes, so there is no chart to lose your place on.
A blunt needle
Tapestry needles have a rounded tip and a large eye, which makes them safe and easy to thread.
Thick wool, big holes
The work grows quickly, which keeps a young stitcher interested.
Easy to put down
Ten minutes here and there is fine. The picture is always there to show where to carry on.
DMC tapestry kits in our shop
Each kit comes with the printed canvas, the wool and a needle. The designs are bright and friendly, and sized so that a child can finish one over a school holiday.
| Design | Price |
|---|---|
| Owl | KES 3,300 |
| Ladybug | KES 3,300 |
| Princess castle | KES 3,300 |
| Turtle | KES 3,600 |
| Toucan | KES 4,100 |
| Mika the llama | KES 4,100 |
We only have a couple of each
These kits come in small quantities, so if one design is the favourite, it is worth ordering sooner than later.
Tips for a neat finish
Make every stitch slant the same way. This is what gives tapestry its smooth, even surface.
Work with lengths of wool no longer than your forearm, so it does not fray or tangle.
Finish one colour before starting the next.
Do not pull tight. The wool should lie on the canvas and cover it, without bending it out of shape.
When the picture is complete it can be framed, or sewn up as a small cushion front for a bedroom.
Choose a design together
Bring your young stitcher to our shop on the 1st floor of Sarit Centre and let them pick their own.
Shop tapestry kitsOr call us on +254 798 316860
In Stitches is the authorised DMC distributor in Kenya.
Prices correct at the time of writing.
