Kits Questions and Answers
Some questions and answers about cross stitch, blackwork, hardanger and embroidery kits.If you have a question that isn't answered here, please don't hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to hear from you and we'll do our best to help.
What Kind of Kits are There?
The majority of our kits are counted - you make stitches on an evenly spaced fabric following the chart or graph that is supplied with the kit.Some are stamped or embellished - the fabric is already printed with the image or pattern to guide the stitcher.
- Cross Stitch - mostly counted but some are stamped/embellished, where the pattern is printed on the fabric;
- Embroidery - usually printed with the pattern;
- Hardanger - always counted;
- Tapestry and Needlepoint - some printed and some counted: check the description for the kit you're interested in;
- Blackwork - always counted;
- Applique - the pattern is usually printed and coloured fabric is stitched on top.
What's in a Kit?
Kits come complete with- A chart or graph - some kits have black and white, some have colour charts;
- Instructions - all kits have English instructions and many have other languages in addition;
- Aida or evenweave fabric, or canvas - linen, cotton or canvas with a large enough margin to attach to your sewing frame or hoop;
- Thread/floss - enough to complete the kit;
- A needle - a tapestry needle with a blunt point;
- Extras like beads or sequins where necessary.
Can I get just the pattern?
Some Heritage Crafts kits, Classic and Cinammon Cat, and a few Lanarte kits are also available as patterns but almost always this is not possible.Can I Stitch An Evenweave Kit on Aida or vice versa?
Most kits are supplied in both versions, but for those that aren't it is possible under some circumstances to use a different fabric. For example, 14 count Aida is equivalent to 28 count Evenweave, 11 count Aida to 22 count Evenweave and so on.In general the amount of thread/floss supplied will be OK provided the counts match.
However, if the design requires a lot of backstitch, or half cross stitch then evenweave will be easier and neater.
If the fabric is printed and there is only one type of kit, then the fabric type cannot be changed.
Why Can't You Tell Me the Floss Numbers on My Kit?
We are sometimes asked to provide the floss numbers for a kit which has symbols on its floss cards. We cannot provide the numbers as we simply don't know what they are. To help protect their livelihood manufacturers don't release floss numbers to anyone, including us.Why are the floss numbers not given on some types of kit?
Some manufacturers have been the victims of piracy - someone uses one of their kits as a template to make and sell cheap copies. This is easier to do if the floss numbers are printed on the kit.These manufacturers have decided to 'encode' the floss numbers to make pirating their designs harder.
What if I run out of floss?
Please contact us with your purchase reference and we'll help you out.If you purchased your kit somewhere else, then please contact them as they should be able to provide assistance.
What is the source of the kits you offer?
We source our kits from UK and US distributors and from the original manufacturers like Permin (Denmark) and Heritage Crafts (England).What Size will the Finished Kit be?
The size we give is taken from the kit's description supplied by the manufacturer and is approximate. If you plan to frame your work, you should add on at least the size of the mount/matte and the frame width to calculate the final size of the picture.External height of finished picture = design height plus 2 times matte width plus 2 times frame width (and similar for finished width).
You can get an idea of what the finished item will look like by using our See it in Context button which is available for most items.
Can you explain the instructions for my Permin kit?
We have written a (free) illustrated guide to understanding Permin's system, which is really quite logical, and covers most languages. Please download your guide and print a copy yourself.Please let us know if you're still having problems!
