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thoughtful threads,tactile creationsEmbroidery remains a favourite activity of trendsetters and traditionalists alike. When you seethe plethora of wonderful threads, designs and helpful equipment on offer, it’s hardly surprisingsew a gardenAbacus Designs has been designingand producing quality needlework kitsfor nearly twenty years, and now inresponse to customer demand, hasstarted producing embroidery kits. Thereare now two ranges which are provingextremely popular. Whilst both are aimedat embroiderers with some experience,other stitchers will enjoy these kits, andwill be so proud of the finished results.Stitch & Sow is a range of 13 kits ofdesigns of popular flowers, including pansy,poppy, lupin, cornflower, auricula, foxgloveand sunflower. Each kit contains a packetof seeds so that you can stitch the kit, then grow the flowers! Eight of the kits arepresented in A5 bags, whilst five are in A4 bags. These reflect the finished size, typicallyeither 3¼” or 5” square.All these embroidery kits contain three pieces of fabric a pure silk front, a cottonbacking, and also a wadding which is sandwiched between them, resulting when stitchedin a very effective quilted finish. Kits contain vibrantly coloured Madeira threads, plusvery detailed instructions including how to transfer the design on to the fabric, and howto stitch each type of stitch (each kit uses four or five different types of embroiderystitch). The Abacus Designs embroidery kits are beautifully packaged and are priced at alevel which will be very attractive to stitchers (smaller Stich & Sow kits retail at around£14.95, with the larger kits about £24.95). Impossible to resist!Abacus Designs W: www.abacusdesigns/trade.html , T: +44 (0)1270 811059.natty needlesEmbroiderers canchange threadcolours effortlesslywith SPIRALEYE® needles. Thepatented open eyedesign makes iteasy to thread andalso allows you toquickly capture andbury stray threads.SPIRAL EYE®needles come ina wide variety ofsizes with bothsharp and bluntpoints. From craftyarn to PerleCotton to multiple embroidery floss to metallic thread,SPIRAL EYE® needles make sewing crafts easier andtherefore more fun.Made in America from 100 per cent surgical stainlesssteel, SPIRAL EYE® needles are the highest qualitysewing needles available. They won’t rust or break,and have no nickel plating to kick up metal allergies.SPIRAL EYE®, W: www.SpiralEyeNeedles.com.threaducationEmbroidery thread is yarn that is manufactured or hand-spunspecifically for embroidery and other forms of needlework.Here’s a run-down on the different types available:• Embroidery floss or stranded cotton is a loosely twisted,slightly glossy 6-strand thread, usually of cotton but alsomanufactured in silk, linen and rayon.• Cotton floss is the standard thread for cross-stitch.• Extremely shiny rayon floss is characteristic of Brazilian embroidery.• Perle cotton, pearl cotton, or French coton perlé is an S-twisted,2-ply thread with high sheen, sold in five sizes or weights (No. 3, 5, 8,12 and 16 (Finca), with 3 being the heaviest and 16 the finest).• Matte embroidery cotton or French coton à broder is a mattefinish(not glossy) twisted 5-ply thread.• Medici or broder medici is a fine, light-weight wool thread.• Crewel yarn is a fine 2-ply yarn of wool or, less often,a wool-like acrylic.• Persian yarn is a loosely twisted 3-strand yarn of wool or acrylic,often used for needlepoint.• Tapestry yarn or tapestry wool is a tightly twisted 4-ply yarn.• Threads for machine embroidery are usually of polyester or rayon(less often cotton or silk).80 craftfocus