Hello from me and my thoughts on hand dyed threads

Hello! 

I thought I would do a little blog to keep you updated on what I am up to, new designs, linens and so on, and just a general natter about stitching and life!

So, just to introduce myself. I am Sarah and I am the cross stitch designer of The Stitchery Sisters. I have been doing this for just over 2 years now, so I am new to the cross stitch designing but have been stitching for most of my life. I have worked with my sister in her business The Stitchery for the past 9 years doing a whole range of things over this time. I put all the thread cards together for her kits so my DMC knowledge is pretty extensive (Nicki likes to jokingly test me - “name 10 dmc pinks” and we laugh at how many of the colours I know!) I have model stitched for her for lots of designs she has done. This has all given me a lot of experience in working with colours and understanding colours that work together and those that don’t. 

As I began designing my own projects, I delved into the hand dyed threads range and fell in love. I have used lots of hand dyed threads but I have to say Weeks Dye Works are my favourite. I love the colours, the variegation in each one, the huge range that they come in. This is why I chose to stock these primarily in my shop as I am always pulling from these to do my own designs. I love putting colours together and seeing how they work and how different a thread will look like from one linen to another. I also love how smooth they are. There are many hand dyed threads and some for want of a better word are “fluffier” than others. I love the silky smoothness of weeks threads, putting a collection of weeks threads together really gives me that dopamine hit! 

A close second would have to be Classic Colorworks. They again have a large selection and some beautiful colours in their range.  Weirdly one of my favourite things about them is the names - “Bahama Breeze”, “Colonial Rose”, “Cinnamon Toast”. How can you not love them? I think probably the jewel in the crown of Classic Colorworks is their Belle Soie Silk threads. Wow! If you haven’t tried these yet, you need to. Nicki bought some from me and she has been raving about them. They feel gorgeous! They are more expensive than your cotton hand dyed threads but they are silk and they are just beautiful. I am hoping to do some designing with these in the very near future. I have begun to stock them and will be increasing the range over time.  These are a definite permanent fixture for me. 

I am busy packaging up secret garden boxes at the moment (more of that in another post coming soon!) I am preparing for the Stacy Nash Reynard workshop in July, designing and stitching my June tiny teabag (strawberry and mint theme) as well as beginning my design for Christmas in July. Lots of designing and stitching and hopefully soon I’ll be able to share the secret garden designs with you.

If you have read all of this, well done and thank you very much.  I hope you’ve enjoyed it.

Much love 

Sarah xx

ps as much as I love weeks dye works threads, I still cannot bring myself to use the thread named “curry”! Anyone else have similar issues or is it just me?? 

pps we are currently experiencing a heat wave in the uk and my little pooch (who I am painstakingly trying to keep cool) keeps trying to go and lay outside like he’s trying to get a tan! Cue me scooping him up and bringing him back inside to sit in front of the fan