Embroidery

[starone]

I fancy doing some embroidery. When I was young you could buy cushion covers with patterns already on them for embroidery. Can you still buy this sort of thing and if so where can I buy them. I have tried googling but get things already done when what I want is something for me to do. Hope someone can help. Thanks.

[2sp_]

Try craft or hobby shops. I'm sure I've seen that sort of thing in Hobby Craft.

I like a bit of cross stitch myself. I find it oddly relaxing!

[starone]

Thanks 2sp. I shall have to wait until I go into Bristol I think, there are no Hobby shops where I live. Perhaps they sell on line, will have a look.

[2sp_]

Ta-da!

http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/knit-and-stitch/embroidery-and-cross-stitch

[Mosaic]

You can get lots of crafty stuff on Ebay as well.

[Mosaic]

Also Minerva Crafts http://www.minervacrafts.com/

[starone]

Thanks again 2sp. I am going to have a look through to see what they have. I cannot do cross stitch for some reason so it will have to be embroidery. I tried to do cross stitch but made a complete mess of it. Don't know why - it must be more difficult than it looks!

[yinyang]

I've bought quite a few cross stitch kits from this site, and have always been pleased with them

http://www.sewandso.co.uk

Just had a quick look and they seem to have a good embroidery range too.

[starone]

Great! I am all set now to choose from one of these sites. Might even get more than one, although I shall probably start in a small way. Thanks to mosaic and yingyang. You are all very kind to take the trouble to answer.

[Yorky Lass]

You can always make your own designs with iron on transfers http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/acatalog/Dover.html
I use to do that many and I mean many years ago.
A little tip for cross stitch is with a pencil blank out the squares on the actual pattern as you complete that section. It makes it much easier to know where you are when you pick it up again.

[tamborine]

Aunt Traces/Carbon copies an image to embroider. She pads & mounts flowers, birds or animals on cards for xmas & hi-day greetings.

[Ouzel]

There are quite a few on Ebay - if you type 'cushion covers to embroider' in the search box it'll bring them up.

[tearinghair]

I used to do traycloths - remember them?! - and tablecloths. Some of the shops that sold them no longer stock them, but you may be able to find stencil patterns on the internet to create your own designs on plain cushion covers etc. I think my favourite stitch was lazy daisy.

[askyourgran]

I've done cross stitch for quite a few years but it needs concentration and good eyesight. Now I have one that's half finished I can't seem to cope with it any more. Embroidery is something I could never get the hang of.

[starone]

Thanks to everyone for all the hints and suggestions. Now for the nitty-gritty.

[seekeerz]

Ooh, lovely nothing I like better than buying/sewing items like this. I've bought from the sewandso site, very nice. Please tell us what you get and how it goes xx

[nungate]

I use another site for my needlework supplies called very crafty they are online but I can't post link from my kindle. There are lots of sites which are available online, for supplies and you could also pick up one of the cross stitch magazines
and find lots of suppliers in their small ads. If you fancy doing some counted cross stitch there is usually a cushion chart in Cross Stitcher magazine. John Lewis also stock needlework kits and all you might need. It is really nice to see that there are quite a few switchers on AB

[atalanta]

You may pick up craft kits from charity shops, after gift-recipients have at last given up "intending" to do the sewing, and got rid of the evidence. But, if you are ever in Birmingham, there is a haberdashery stall in the markets which still has a few things like traycloths.