I’ve been enjoying a bit of stitching recently. Not only have I sewn some linen for around the house, I’ve worked on modifying a T-shirt per some instructions (still haven’t figured out the shirring yet), and I’ve started cross-stitching again.

I find myself relaxing if I have my hands working while my mind and mouth is free to engage in the conversations happening around me. I like to work on my cross-stitch while listening to David read to the girls, or while we’re having friends over and we’re just sitting around chatting.

Five-year-old Aisha has been watching me at sew, playing with my pins and pretending to do her own sewing. The other night, as she watched me work on my latest cross-stitch pattern, she kept asking for a chance to sew something.

We found a scrap of material, and I threaded a needle for her. I didn’t think a five-year-old would have the dexterity or the perseverance to sew for very long, but I was wrong.

Late at night, when her sisters are all fast asleep, Aisha begins stitching.

Aisha stitched a straight line along the length of the fabric, and then asked to do something more. So we overlapped the edges and she stitched the strip into a band, a hair band to be exact. (By some miracle, it fit exactly on her doll although I didn’t measure it.)

But that still wasn’t enough. Aisha asked for a more sewing. So I traced out some shapes on the cloth for her to double-stitch over. She did very well with the lines, handling the needle deftly and only sewing from the wrong side once (which I could easily correct).

First time sewing, and she did so well! (I traced out the letter A and a heart for her to stitch.)

This experience encourages me to not under-estimate the powers and determination of my children. They may be small and immature, but they can probably do whatever they set their mind to, including learning a new skill in about ten minutes!

Here's Big Baby modelling her new hair band.

Brioni joins the picture with her babydoll.

And Calista squeezes into the shot with her doll too.