Are you searching for the best way to keep your cross stitch or embroidery fabric perfectly taut? Looking for a lightweight, durable, and stylish hoop that’s easy to use and perfect for displaying your finished work? The new Nurge Hoops at Willow Fabrics are the answer for every stitcher—whether you’re a beginner or an expert.
Willow Fabrics is delighted to announce the arrival of Nurge Hoops—a game-changing addition to our cross stitch and embroidery collection. Whether you’re a seasoned stitcher or just starting your crafting journey, these hoops are designed to make your stitching smoother, faster, and more enjoyable.
What Makes Nurge Hoops Special?
Ultra-Lightweight & Strong:
Made from high-quality ABS plastic, Nurge Hoops are incredibly light yet sturdy. This makes them comfortable to hold for long periods and easy to carry in your project bag, wherever your creativity takes you.
No More Slipping or Sagging:
The innovative construction features a unique notch-and-groove mechanism.
Every stitcher dreams of a seamless, tangle-free crafting experience. The reality, however, often involves frustrating knots, misplaced colours, and precious time wasted. Say goodbye to the chaos with the Trimits Thread Organiser, your new essential, available now at Willow Fabrics.
Why the Trimits Thread Organiser is a Stitching Game-Changer
Designed with both functionality and portability in mind, this clever organiser keeps your embroidery floss and thread colours neatly in place. Whether you're embarking on an intricate masterpiece or a quick, charming kit, organised threads are the secret to a smooth and enjoyable stitching journey.
Key Features That Make a Difference:
Secure Foam Pads:
Multiple thread colours are held firmly, preventing knotting, slipping, and the dreaded "thread spaghetti."
Dedicated Threaded Needle Slots:
Keep your pre-threaded needles precisely where you need them, eliminating the constant re-threading hassle.
If you're searching for "best cross stitch fabric", "Aida Fabric vs Evenweave Fabric", or trying to understand "what fabric to use for cross stitching", you're in the right place.
Choosing the best fabric for cross stitching can be tricky — especially with popular options like Aida, Evenweave and Linen on the market. Each one has its pros, textures, and counts. So, how do you decide which cross stitch fabric is right for your project?
At Willow Fabrics, we specialise in providing the highest qualitycross stitch fabrics in the UK, and we're here to help you make the perfect choice. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced stitcher, this guide breaks down everything you need to know to choose the right fabric confidently.
Why Fabric Choice Affects Your Cross Stitch Project?
Fabric is the foundation of every embroidery or cross stitch project. The wrong fabric can cause frustration, miscounted stitches, or even ruin delicate patterns. The right cross stitch fabric, on the other hand,
“We have a new family member! After years without a cat, we’ve adopted a mouser, a young feral cat named Gus from the Cats Protection League. On our way home from the shelter, Gus escaped from his carrier, causing a panic as we tried to catch him. Once home, he escaped again, prompting the entire village to join in the search! We received many sightings and created a map detailing his movements, which we shared on socialmedia. After a few nights, we managed to trap him using a CPL cat trap. Initially, he was stressed and hid in our hallway, hissing and scratching at us. However, two weeks later, he’s adjusting well and has started enjoying his new life. Our next challenge is to help Gus get along with the dogs!” Susan Penny
“Summer is the nicest time of the year for most. We are lucky enough to live close to the coast, and so it was inevitable that one of our children would secure a summer holiday job working for the local ice cream company. He left this morning with his new red apron, and the excitementof spending the day on the beach while getting paid. My card, ideal for a birthday, or without the words for any occasion, is a great way to celebrate all that is good about our wonderful British summer… and if you happen to see a red-haired young man in an ice cream van parked on the sea front, do say you are a CrossStitcher reader!” Susan Penny
I found that Julian’s word of wisdom in the May 25 issue of CrossStitcher magazine really struck a cord with me. After 4 years of renovating, we are still struggling with Victorian plumbing and dodgy floorboard, but we have at least managed to finish the kitchen! We have started unpacking boxes, and the sheer pleasure of unwrapping things packed away for a long time, is like meeting an old friend. I could never have imagined the delight I would get from seeing my dresser china again, and because of the enormity of the kitchen renovation, thought would never happen. Like Julian, placing my treasures on my old dresser, now in my new kitchen, has given me such joy. I have greeted each cup and plate with a smile of recognition, as I tried to recreate the way my dresser looked in our last home. After a while I realised that they should be placed in new positions in celebration of my new home and new life, and like Julian says ‘You’ve made it this far, and there’s
In 1902 the then president of the USA, Theodore Roosevelt was hunting in Mississippi, and took pity on an injured bear. One shopkeeper got his wife to make a stuffed toy bear, and placed it in the window with a sign naming the toy as ‘Teddy Bear’. He then contacted the president and asked if he could use the name. Since that day teddy bears have been popular with adults and children alike, and so this small designs which you can stitch for a baby birth card or Christening gift is a very useful addition to your cross stitching stash...download a free PDF chart & key here.
These charts are for personal use only and should not be shared on the internet in anyway, thank you.
Susan Penny shows you how to create a quick to finish bookmark...
There is nothing nicer than giving a handmade gifts to a friend or family member for their birthday, but often I don’t get myself organised, and end up looking for a quick stitch that can be finished in a couple of evenings..this bookmark idea is very simple to make using a small design from your stash. You will need a piece of 14 count aida 7x14cm (2 3/4x 5 1/2in), felt to back and stranded cotton.
Step 1
Start stitching a small design or alphabet letter of your choice at the top of the aida, and then extend running stitches down the side and across the bottom of the aida. With four squares of unstitched aida outside the design, use a needle to carefully fray the edge by remove one block of aida on all sides.
Step 2
Cut a piece of felt 6mm (3/8in) bigger at the top and sides aida, and 4cm (1 1/2in) at the bottom. Make a paper template for the point at the bottom, and then pin it on the bookmark. Cut the felt into a point,
I was recently reminded of the wonderfully skilled stitching found on clothing of the Elizabethan period. This sleeve panel (above right), which can be found in the V&A collection, is made using tailoring methods of the 17th century, where the sleeves are made in two pieces. You can see the under sleeve, which is probably one section of a woman’s jacket, and although the tailoring is probably a little later than Elizabethan, the embroidery technique called blackwork, is very reminiscent of Elizabethan work. Made by a very accomplished needlewoman, the blackwork, on linen fabric, is made up of tiny black running stitches, which mimic woodblock prints of the time. The designs were usually stitched in a single silk colour, mainly black, but sometimes in blue, red or, green. This unfinished sleeve panel depicts insects, grasshoppers, dragonflies, butterflies, moths, caterpillars and beetles, all which were popular nature images for blackwork of that period, on both men’s and woman’s clothing
