Bringing tales to life through needle and thread

Handmade heroes, dragon tales, and the joy of slow storytelling

June brings the green hush of early summer when roses bloom, days stretch long, and stories seem to shimmer at the edge of every breeze. It’s a time for outdoor adventures, for tales told in treehouse forts and under clothesline tents.

One of my new favorite stories to stitch into life this season is St. George and the Dragon: a classic tale of courage, compassion, and a gentle knight who tames with might and wisdom. And now, you can bring that story to life with your own hands.

Our St. George and the Dragon Craft Kit includes everything needed to make a poseable wooden doll and his fire-breathing counterpart. But even if you prefer to gather your own materials, we hope this guide inspires you to sit and sew alongside your little ones, letting the story grow with every stitch.

What You’ll Need

• 100% wool felt (red, light & dark green, red, orange, white, dark & light gray)
• 15 cm sisal bendy doll
• Embroidery floss in coordinating colors
• Embroidery needle
• Wrapping pipe cleaner
• (2) 9" - 1/4" dowels
• A small piece of wool roving for hair
• Wool yarn in green 
• Pattern (download below!)

DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN HERE

(free for a limited time!)

Why We Make

This is more than a craft. It’s a quiet rebellion against plastic and noise - a way to root childhood in stories, slowness, and imagination.

With every stitch, your child sees that stories can leap off the page and that their own hands are capable of making something beautiful.

 

We’d love to see your brave knights and gentle dragons! Tag us @thenestlingcompany or send a note with a photo. Your storybook stitches might just inspire someone else’s adventure! May this storybook project bring quiet moments of connection as you read and make, side by side.

 

With love,

Mae