Leaf and flower embroidery
Embroidery means decorating cloth with a needle and coloured thread. For it we use thick mouline thread. The cloth is stretched in a hoop so it stays flat. We make a flower pattern with straight stitches radiating from the centre: each stitch is a petal. For a leaf we sew several slanting green stitches side by side. Uzbek craftswomen are known for their embroidered cloths called suzani.
You need: felt or fabric (15x15 cm), an embroidery hoop, mouline thread (pink, yellow, green), a needle, scissors, a pin cushion. Steps: 1) Stretch the fabric in the hoop. 2) Mark the centre and 8 petal directions with a pencil. 3) With pink thread sew 8 straight stitches from the centre outward. 4) Add small yellow stitches in the centre and a green stem with two leaves. Safety: have an adult nearby while using the needle; put it in the cushion when done.