Sew and So

[Chalet School Fan]

I've just been on the Sew and So website to buy supplies and was amazed to discover it had shut down. Since the local needlework shop closed its doors this has been my go-to website for my embroidery needs. Latest purchases in the past few weeks were the threads for the map of Great Britain in the last two editions of Cross Stitcher and the material and threads for a cross stitch cushion I am making for our departing choir master. They were always good for downloading charts so I could get stitching the moment something caught my eye. It's a company I will miss! :(

[Lioness]

That is a shame. I have used them a few times and found their service to be excellent.
It seems they were negotiating with a new owner back in June. Maybe that did not work out. There was reference to a tough few weeks so I don't know what happened

[tricia]

Goodness I had no idea. Their unit wasn’t that far from where I live.

[Waterlily]

What a shame, thanks for the news CSF. I used this site for most of my cross stitch stuff.

[RozMinis]

Definitely a very sad state of affairs as I bought most of my Mill Hill kits from them. Christine pointed me in the direction of Lakeside Needlecrafts https://www.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk but compared to Se 7 So, they are considerably more expensive. Not that I am exactly in any need of any more kits as I still have loads, plus quite a few charts that I have exchanged with other folks.

Lakeside also sell DMC threads at a reasonable price, ditto the Mill Hill beads. The perforated paper is expensive, especially compared to The Nutmeg Company.

Roz

[tricia]

Anybody else had an email from lovecrafts about Sew and So. Seems they have taken over some assets from Sew and So.

[RozMinis]

Anybody else had an email from lovecrafts about Sew and So. Seems they have taken over some assets from Sew and So.

Received the email, but on checking them out I discovered they sell even less of what I want than Lakeside Needlecrafts. At least the latter sell Mill Hill beads, which is probably what I will require more than anything else. I have all the DMC threads, in some cases multiple skeins of them. I will have to check out Nimble Thimble and the ladies from the USA who sell Mill Hill kits, assuming they are both there that is, when I go to Harrogate. Can't seem to find the brown perforated paper anywhere, not even from The Nutmeg Company. Hope Meg is going to be at Harrogate, hoping she wasn't one of those who was flooded earlier in the month.

Roz

[Waterlily]

Anyone know of any other good sites for cross stitch stuff. We have a small knitting shop in town that sells a bit of cross stitch stuff but not a big variety.

I'm particularly interested in any costume/dress stuff historical or current.

I've just ordered two Lavender & Lace charts (wedding dresses) not really interested in the angel stuff but might have to resort to that as some of it is quite pretty.

[Little Jan]

Such a shame these small well established companies are going to the wall
I expect a lot cannot compete with larger companies who buy in bulk probably from China
Although we had a lovely proper old school store in Ely
You had to ask for what you wanted and they knew without looking what they had in Stock
And they would take time to advise you on what you needed for any craft job
The staff were daughters or relatives from past staff
But alas as the younger generation had no interest in knitting or sewing
Finding suitable interested staff was hard
They sold up lock stock and barrel ,new owners put the prices up so high no one went there unless
the item was urgent and the new staff knew nothing about what they were selling
In the end they started to sell toys to get more custom,that way any Tom,Dick or Harriott could work there
It ended up more like a overpriced pound shop

[Fenpeper]

I used to use this company but have no insight as I haven't done any stitching in many many years and so haven't bought any supplies. x https://www.blacksheepwools.com/

[RozMinis]

Willow Fabrics https://www.willowfabrics.com/ sell embroidery goodies. Quite a bit dearer than Lakeside where the Mill Hill beads are concerned, though they do sell, when they are in stock, a wider variety of them.

The Viking Loom in York https://www.vikingloom.co.uk/acatalog/index.html sell needlework items. Since they moved from the centre of York I haven't been to the shop as it is way out of the city, need a car to get there.

Wye Needlecrafts used to be good, the best place to buy speciality threads from in fact. They seem to have very little in stock these days. https://tandemcottageneedlework.com/ are another online shop, they don't seem to have a great deal either, though at least their DMC threads are reasonable. DMC sell their own kits and threads. Then of course there is Jane Greenoff at The Cross Stitch Guild. The Nutmeg Company, perforated paper kits, plus perforated paper packs.

Nearly forgot Fun2Do in Carlisle. They say they specialise in mail order, but I didn't think much to their website to be honest. The shop doesn't stock much that I want either, neither does The Silver Beaded Needle in Cockermouth. Didn't bother going to Cockermouth last time we were in Carlisle.

Well it is a start! ;)

[Waterlily]

Thank you ladies.

Fenpeper, there's an awful lot on that site that I haven't seen before. Thank you.

Roz the two charts I bought are on one of the sites one the same price and one a lot dearer. Thank you.

[Little Jan]

I used to use this company but have no insight as I haven't done any stitching in many many years and so haven't bought any supplies. x https://www.blacksheepwools.com/

Just had a quick look
And had to lock my credit card away

[RozMinis]

Very strange that the prices should be so different from each other. I always reckoned that Sew & So were cheaper for most things. The only exception was some of the speciality threads, such as the variegated threads. Oh well, no matter, I am sure I can live without them if I don't have them already. Some of them I wasn't that fond of to be honest, especially since DMC brought out their new threads which were only a few centimetres between changes. I often used to 'tweed' threads anyway by mixing two colours together.

Been working on Hollie Mill Hill kit today. Just a wee bit of cross stitching and some backstitch to do, then I will be doing the beading on her and her brother Ollie. I have done them once for one of my trees, also did them for the C******** in July, so third time of working. :) Still have to decide what I am going to do for the C******** in December exchange, but as I still have nearly two months, I am not going to get into a flap over it yet.

Roz

[Chalet School Fan]

I used to love a visit to Wye Needlecrafts - would detour to Bakewell if I was ever in the vicinity. Then buy fish and chips and eat them by the river before buying a Bakewell pudding to take home. But on my last visit I was very disappointed, very little to tempt me to spend!

[Borderline]

I was in Wye Needlecraft not so long ago looking at wool. We are moving up to the area in a couple of weeks.

[Waterlily]

Thank you ladies.

Fenpeper, there's an awful lot on that site that I haven't seen before. Thank you.

Roz the two charts I bought are on one of the sites one the same price and one a lot dearer. Thank you.


Received my two charts in today's post. Haven't opened them yet though. That was quick.