Welcome to March Needlecraft, and hello to spring! The daffodils and crocuses are showing their beautiful, fresh colours, and the sun is beginning to peep through to warm up the air. We’ve selected some gorgeous, new needlecraft beauties for you this month: come in and take a look – we think you’ll find something you’ll just have to get creative with!
Let’s start with two new wonderful needleminders from Caterpillar Cross Stitch! Made from sturdy enamel, and with strong magnets securely attached, these two are an explosion of colour, as well as being a very handy tool for all of us stitchers! When you need to pop your needle down – to look at the pattern, to change your podcast, or to fetch a delicious drink – rather than losing sight of it in the carpet or the sofa cushions, just attach it to one of these little accessories and you will always know exactly where it is! Whether it’s the adorable sewing machine with the bold dials and bright spotty fabric, or the jolly watering can with its colourful array of blooms, these are both a safe place to put your needle and a delightful addition to your stitching tools!
If you’re a seasonal stitcher, the beginning of spring might be just the time to pick up one of the beautiful flower design cross stitch kits, new from Orchidea. Small and cute, at a finished size of just 11cm by 11cm, each design could be completed before summer arrives – or perhaps both, displayed together in celebration of the season! The red and pink tulips, on the left, are lush and plump, and the shading of colour on the leaves and petals gives a gloriously rich realism to the design; whilst the crocus picture, on the right, is a riot of purples and white, and just the hint of a golden flower centre. The bold lines of the designs combine beautifully with the carefully placed colour changes in the petals, gving these kits a winning combination of simplicity and delicacy. Both of these kits are stitched onto aida pre-printed with the design, so there is no need to match symbols to colour as you follow a pattern – just match the coloured square on the aida with the corresponding thread, and away you go! Full instructions are included in both kits, as well as DMC threads, a needle and instructions. Either would be a perfect choice for a crafter at the beginning of their stitching journey, but also for the more experienced stitcher looking for a small, simple project.
We couldn’t resist including two new designs from the very popular Bothy Threads crew! Mainly composed of cross stitch, these two also feature back stitch, lazy daisies and some french knots, all coming together to give such detail to the cute mice enjoying life in the countryside! Stitched onto pre-printed, full-colour 14 count aida, the background is already provided for you, so you can just concentrate on having fun adding the mice and the small motifs and details which bring the designs to life in all their delicate charm. The Woodland Waltz kit, on the left, and Meadow Moments, on the right, both include all the pre-stranded cottons you will need, as well as clear stitch diagrams and instructions, and are both based on original artwork by Sarah Summers. It will seem almost like you can hear the sweet music, taste the delicious cake and feel the warmth of the sun as you stitch these Bothy Threads cuties!
And finally, we circle back to Caterpillar Cross Stitch for two new, fabulous cross stitch kits. Caterpillar’s designer, Sally, dreams up charming, quirky cross stitch creations and then, with the addition of bright primary colours or soft pastel shades, transforms them into the delicious kits which we know you already love. And these two new additions to Caterpillar’s kit collection are not an exception! Easter Eggstravaganza, on the left, is perfect for spring, with its floral and bird designs, shaped into three charming egg outlines. The soft mustard and teals, along with the pops of pink, really work beautifully with the butterfly and leaf motifs – and we love the way the designs trace out the egg shape, without any backstitch border, softening the edges of each egg, letting the three flow together as one, harmonious picture. And we are loving the contrast with another of Caterpillar’s new releases – Oh Sew Crafty, on the right. This one, framed beautifully in the hoop it was stitched in, is a riot of primary shades and crafting motifs, and we love it! Featuring a treasure trove of arts and crafts, it will surely bring a handmade touch to your room, or as a perfect gift to a crafter in your life! Whether you’re a quilter, a cross stitcher, a crocheter, or all three, this little design will celebrate all that you love about creativity and colour. Both these Caterpillar Cross Stitch kits include Zweigart aida (pale pink for Eggstravaganza and sand for Oh Sew Crafty), all the DMC threads you will need, pre-sorted onto a thread card holder, easy-to-follow instructions and pattern, and even a needle – you won’t have to delay at all before you’re ready to get caterpillar stitching!
That’s it for our March choices in the needlecraft department here at Wool Warehouse – don’t forget to visit Vic’s fabric choices and Alex’s top picks in yarn this month!