So the designer we have worked with this time is Hattie Mcgill. Hattie is a professional hand embroiderer and has worked on some really impressive projects including work for Alexander McQueen, the Zurich Opera & on the costumes for Brigerton series 2!
Alongside this day job Hattie also runs her own business selling her own work and kits using Goldwork embroidery techniques. And this is what we are going to be doing for our Hoop Club project. Hattie has designed a beautiful goldwork brooch project for us to do. I am doing it at the moment and it really is putting a massive smile on my face every time I complete a part of it. There's just something so thrilling about learning something new and making something so gorgeous at the same time.
But enough chat, here's the project in it's full glory. You can sign up for this project now, find all the details on our different subscriptions here.
Sign up by the 15th February to secure this box!
]]>
I posted a reel showing this IKEA upcycle back in 2023 but I've never got round to adding it as a blog so here it is! Find the original video here.
What you will need:
Ikea clock (or any clock with holes for the numbers)
This is a link to the Ikea clock used in the video if you would like to buy it: https://www.ikea.com/gb/
Some tapestry thread or knitting wool
Cross stitch needle (a blunt needle) Size 14/16
Method:
We've stitched the clock with a back stitch, one of the easiest stitches to learn. Come up through one hole (it can be any hole) and then go back down through the hole before. Keep repeating this until your stitches have covered all the holes.
1. Thread your needle with the desired thread colour for the number and tie a knot at the end.
2. Backstitch through all of the holes in the number.
3. Tie off and cut thread.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the remaining numbers, changing colour thread in step 1 for each number (if desired).
This is a great project for children to do. Once they've completed it, it would be great decoration for their bedroom! You can also use more subtle colours if you're making the clock for a more grown-up setting, like an office. Please do tag us if you do this project! @cotton_clara
So this is some extra info for you if you've loved the Friendship Bracelet kit but want to move into adding a fancy loop fastening at the start of your bracelet. You don't need to do this it just looks cute and is slightly easier/neater to tie your bracelet onto your arm! Find all the details you need here in this PDF. Happy knotting!
]]>
I thought I'd share a super quick and easy Halloween craft with this free Boo! cross stitch pattern! I can see loads of these hung on an indoor 'Autumn' tree, stitched in all different shades of green, orange, pink and black - gorgeous.
Cross Stitch is a really easy skill to pick up and it's seriously addictive when you do. Unlike lots of our printed embroidery kits, with cross stitch kits the pattern is generally not printed onto the fabric, you build up the design by copying the pattern onto the fabric, cross by cross.
You will need:
- a 3 inch/9cm Embroidery Hoop
- Some 14 Count Aida (Cross Stitch Fabric)
- Coloured threads
- Tapestry/Cross Stitch Needle
- Backing and padding for the finishes hoop
It's a needlepoint bag/pouch that you can use for going out as a little clutch or as a project case or sewing tool pouch? We're stitching it using plastic canvas, and lining it with felt. There are quite a few steps involved, but if you follow them step by step this is very doable for a beginner.
We'll be using some really beautiful tapestry wool from Appletons, a UK manufacturer of wools and threads and there are lots of extra bits we're planning on filling the magazine with and adding to your box. Our aim is to keep you busy for 3 months until the Autumn box!
There will be a full Youtube tutorial as normal where we take you through any of the trickier parts step by step and of course full instructions in the magazine. And due to my terrible maths, this box is such good value, it's worth over £50 but yours for just £25!
For this box only, sign up for an annual subscription and receive a free Strawberry Embroidery Hoop kit worth £16.95! No code needed, your hoop kit will be set out with your first box. Just head to the Hoop Club page to sign up and await your box at the end of May! If you have any questions we'd love to answer them hoopclub@cottonclara.com
]]>This craft might get a little messy but it’s so fun to do and the perfect decoration to add some lovely, spring colours into your house this Easter! You could add a bit of string and hang them around your house or on your Easter tree, or alternatively, like us, make a cute Easter wreath for your door to invite all your friends and family in. There’s so many options!
What you will need:
Polystyrene eggs we got ours from Home Bargains)
Glue (we used Modpodge but PVA or superglue would work well too!)
A paintbrush
Different coloured yarn of your choice
Sewing Pins (to hold everything in place as the glue dries)
Method:
Start by taking the glue and putting a generous amount on the top of the egg using a paintbrush.
Take the end of your yarn and place it on the top of the egg. Stick a pin through to keep it in place.
Start wrapping the yarn around the egg. The key here is to keep the yarn tight and close together so that there are no gaps, and applying lots of glue throughout so that it is all stuck down properly.
(If it gets loose or begins to slide off, just stick a needle through some of the yarn to hold it together until the glue is dry.)
When you get to the bottom of the egg it may get a little more fiddly. I found it helpful at this stage to gauge how much more yarn I will need and cut it so that I have less to deal with.
Once you have finished wrapping your Easter egg, allow it to fully dry before removing the needles.
Make as many more as you wish, using different shades of yarn. You could even get the family involved and make loads! Then, simply add your finishing touches before putting them up in your home!
]]>
So for February's box we're working on a design from Laurie of Hook, Line & Tinker. Laurie is based in Nova Scotia, how cool?! We seem to work with lots of Canadian designers....embroidery must be a big part of the culture and tradition there maybe? I will ask Laurie if she knows all about that and you can read about it in the magazine!
So here is the project we'll be working on for what I'm calling our 'Spring' box... as by the end of February when we'll be sending the box out, hopefully we'll be seeing some signs of Spring!
We've got a few stitches to practice/learn in this design...some lazy daisy stitch, some optional french. knots and some back stitch. I've really been enjoying the lazy daisy stitch - it's not something i've done a lot of an it's fun! We changed the colours of Laurie's original design and I think it gives it a lovely spring feel?
So we're upping our game with the curation of the added extras we put in the box (whether that be physical items or extra downloads etc) with extra time gives us so much more time to source and buy really original, useful things to add into your box that we hope you will love.
So the details, sign up as usual by the 15th of February, and boxes will go out around the 20th of that same month. You can skip a box by signing into your account on our website or you can pause if you want to catch up on a backlog of projects! You'll find all the subscription details on our website here. If you want to buy the box as a gift you can do that, this is a one off purchase and not a subscription. You'll find all those details on the website too.
]]>What you will need:
• Scissors
• 14cm square of 14ct aida fabric
• Size 22 Tapestry needle
• 3” hoop
• Wadding
• Embroidery thread
• Ribbon to hang
• Cardboard backing disc ( you can just trace around the inside hoop and cut out a piece of cardboard)
Give your fabric a quick iron and then place it in your embroidery hoop, lay it on top of the small hoop then put the larger one on top and screw it in tightly.
Cut a length of thread around 50cm long, then split your embroidery thread. Each length of embroidery thread is made up of six strands, you need to stitch this pattern with two strands.
Thread your needle with two strands of thread and tie a knot in the end. Start approximately in the middle of your hoop, don’t worry if you aren’t happy with the placement, you can move it once it’s finished. The dotted crossed line on the diagram marks the middle of the pattern, so use this as a guide to work out from this point.
Come up through the bottom of the hoop and use the squares that make up the weave of the fabric as your guide for where to stitch your crosses. Now make a cross over one square, using two diagonal stitches, one on top of the other.
Always stitch in a consistent pattern, either left over right or right over left. When you have finished and you are happy that your design is central, cut any excess fabric from around the hoop away, leaving a 2-3cm border to fold over into the back of the hoop.
Cut the wadding to the size of the hoop. Place the wadding in the back of the hoop and fold your fabric over the top.
Cut a piece of cardboard to the same size as your wadding. It should t comfortably and securely inside your hoop.You can tie a ribbon to the screw of the hoop to hang your candy cane if you wish.
]]>Have a look at this video for more info on the changes and let us know if you have any questions. We'll be emailing all subscribers about what the changes mean to you shortly.
This month's project is another quilting project (similar to the pouch we made back in June) but this time it's stockings! You'll get two of these stockings in your box to make in a choice of colours. They are a mini version of a larger stocking kit we are bringing out very soon!
They'd look great on a tree or hung on the fireplace or as little table settings maybe?
As always we'll guide you through the project step by step. Sign up by midnight on November 15th for this box, which will be shipped around the 20th November! Sign up here.
]]>
These little chunky knit pumpkins will bring all the cosy vibes to your home this Halloween and are really quick and simple, so you can make your own collection to get out every year.
To make this you will need:
Follow The Navage Patch on Instagram.
If you are after a more low-key decor, or have lots of thread lying around, this ghost garland is perfect for you. What is so good about these is you can completely personalise them to your style by making them more subtle, or go to town with the colours and make them into little halloween characters.
For this you will need:
Take a look at Mamacita’s website.
This craft isn’t strictly for Halloween so can be enjoyed for a longer period of time and there are so many options. These would look fab with dried leaves, paper cut outs, felt, painted leaves. You decide!
For this you will need:
Follow Happiness is Homemade on Instagram.
Halloween doesn’t always have to mean traditional orange and black everything. Why not add a pop of colour to your pumpkins with paint and pompoms. These can be done on real pumpkins or even fake ones to be able to reuse them.
For this you will need:
Follow design improvised on Instagram.
One of the best things about this time of year are all the Halloween limited edition treats that are brought out. But why stop there? Why not get creative arranging your snacks into spooky characters, just like this skeleton design, and host a Halloween board night for all your friends.
For this you will need:
White/cream/light coloured foods (white chocolate, nuts, marshmallows)
Dark coloured foods (milk/dark chocolate)
Oval or skull shaped wooden board
Follow Kristyn Cole on Instagram.
I hope these have given you a bit of inspiration to get creative and have some Halloween fun this weekend :)
]]>The collection of items was inspired by my friend Ellie's amazing halloween/Autumn garlands. Ellie runs East End Press in Glasgow and produces just the most gorgeous product. There are so many screen printed garlands to choose from, my boys loved the bat ones - but they are all just beautiful works of art in themselves and a great way to add a spooky touch to your house with zero hassle. Find all of Ellie's banners here.
I swapped some of my kits for Ellie's banners at the Trade show we both did in September where I also swapped for some of this fortifying bath oil from MOA. It smells so minty and luxurious and just look at the packaging and design? Charlie designs all the packaging and ingredients from her home in Somerset. Check out her brand Magic Organic Apothecary for more of the story behind her products.
Glosters pottery is an independent business based in Wales producing beautiful ceramics. These match holders are kind of an essential with all the Autumn candles you'll be burning!
I haven't taken this Orange Uniqlo jumper off since I bought it a couple of weeks ago. It's just the perfect shade of yellowy orange, a real cheerful pop of Autumn colour. It's lambswool but not too itchy to wear on its own but i'll be layering it up as the weather gets colder.
I am not ready to give up my Birkenstocks yet and these cosy socks from The Mercantile London will see me through another month I reckon!
I love a Pumpkin Spice latte at this time of year but I do not love the price of them or how sweet they make them, so I've got my own Monin syrup at home and I can add a little bit to my coffee and get that PSL buzz for a fraction of the price.
I've just started reading this book Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe, the title, the fact it's a NYT bestseller and the beautiful cover convinced me this book was for me. A chapter in and i'm hooked and sure this is going to be a great cosy Autumn read.
And if you want the ultimate in Autumn cosiness why not curl up with one of our kits? May we recommend our cat kits for a seasonal twist on embroidery? Our Jane Foster cat kit and our Donna Wilson Mog are two of our most popular designs and are both great beginner kits. We've also just released a Halloween black cat kit which you can find here.
Joanie clothing have so many cute Halloween themed jumpers and tops. I love this black cat and there are some really cute t shirts too.
]]>So to make these cat's you'll need the cross stitch chart which is here.
If you've never stitched onto black fabric (aida) before then be warned, it's a little bit tricky! Because it's black, you need to stitch over something white or light coloured, a table, sheet of paper so that you can see the holes in the fabric, otherwise it's really difficult to see where to stitch. You don't have this problem with light coloured aida as what you are stitching over more often than not is darker than the fabric, so you can see the holes.
Start stitching in the middle of the fabric, (the red cross on the chart marks the centre of the design) Use 3 strands of the white thread included in your kit. Once you've finished, tie a knot in the end.
Place your fabric centrally in the cat hoop. Now trim around the edge of the fabric, you need a roughly 1cm edge, which you are going to glue around the smaller wooden disc. Push the small wooden disc inside the cat hoop. Once you've glued that down add some more glue to the top of the fabric, the back of the disc and the very edge of the cat hoop, and stick your larger disc on. You may need to clamp it with a bull dog clip until it's dry. You can use the glue included or if you have a glue gun this works well too.
Hang with the twine included and enjoy!
]]>We're excited to introduce to you Hoop Club box 25, and we are featuring a new designer this month Ro Farmer.
This cross stitch is bright and cosy and modern and shows Ro's really distinctive illustration style. The project will take your a while to complete, so if you're looking for an Autumn project to get your teeth into and last you as those nights draw in, this is it!
Tell us a little about yourself and your crafty world.
I grew up in Bristol, UK and moved to Canada 5 years ago.
I have a background in Graphic Design. I’ve always loved printmaking and the slow process of making something by hand. About 6 years ago my grandma gave me a cross stitching kit and I was hooked!
With cross stitch, what is your number one tip for beginners?
Ohhh, have patience! It’s probably one of the easiest forms of embroidery, the stitching isn’t complicated and you’re just following a grid, but it takes a lot of time. I love to do it listening to a podcast or watching something, I honestly find it hard to watch something without a needle in my hand these days! Don’t expect the piece to be done in under 5 hours ha!
Who or what is inspiring you on Instagram at the moment? Or where else do you get your inspiration?
Normally I prefer to get my inspiration from Pinterest, I prefer it to scrolling through Instagram. I love to trail around thrift stores, finding knick-knacks, vintage fabrics, embroideries and craft books.
Also just making sure I get outside! It’s rare an idea will spark in the studio. I love to walk around the neighbourhoods. I used to be a landscape gardener so I love to garden and be around plantlife. All the different shapes and colours are so inspiring. When you’re walking around the neighbourhoods here no two houses are the same, I love to draw different buildings and shop fronts.
This project's design is by textile designer Eva Verbruggen. Look at these beautiful colours and texture! It looks complex but it's not difficult. The design includes basket weave stitch, satin stitch and french knots.
We're looking to recruit a full-time Fulfilment Manager to oversee the manufacture of products and fulfilment of orders in our Leicestershire studio. We're looking for someone who can preferably start soon, the salary range is between £24-28k.
For a job description please email hello@cottonclara.com
To apply for the post, please read the job description and send a cover letter stating why you think you are suitable and why you'd like to work for Cotton Clara plus a CV to hello@cottonclara.com. The closing date is the 9am on the 27th June or sooner if we find the right person. Please direct all questions via email rather than social media.
We’re looking for someone who is willing to roll up their sleeves and help us achieve our dream of being the no.1 crafting brand in the world. We want to help people to be happier by opening up a world of craft and making to them, because we have experienced how much joy it can bring and how much it contributes to a sense of wellbeing.
We’d love you to be passionate about our mission and the company itself and want to come along for the next part of this exciting journey. Management experience would be good, or experience in a similar role but attitude, enthusiasm and character are just as important.
We can promise a beautiful working environment, a generous staff discount and free kits every month. We also promise to be committed to develop you in the job and help you learn and grow.
We need someone who understands the sometimes unpredictable nature of working for a small business, where often systems and processes are being established for the first time. Working for a start-up like Cotton Clara is not like working for a public sector organisation or an established big business. We are looking for a hard-worker, someone who thrives on change, is flexible and loves to solve problems. We take the approach that everything is figureoutable when it comes to obstacles and objections.
We’re growing all the time, especially in the US with our wholesale customers and our subscription box continues to expand, so there is lots to do and lots to look forward to.
You’ll be leading a small team so we need you to have leadership qualities, be confident in training and enthusing people and ensuring company standards are met. A good listener and someone who can make a judgement call when needed.
We pride ourselves on the quality of our kits and customer service so you’ll need to have a great attention to detail, and high standards.
And this is the second...
We heard you say that you wanted to learn more stitches and that really is what Hoop Club is all about. So this month we have created a modern sampler. This heart design (designed by our in-house designer Christine) uses eight different stitches to build this beautiful hoop.
We're going to be learning Trellis Stitch, Satin Stitch, Chain Stitch, Split Filling Stitch (also called long and short stitch) Basket Weave Stitch, French Knots, Seed Stitch and finally Split Back Stitch! Also don't forget that new subscribers this month get a free Books That Matter box as part of our new partnership with this amazing company!
Books that Matter is a book subscription box using exclusively female writers. Founded by Molly Masters, the box is a curated subscription service bringing you inspiring reads from female authors every month. No code needed, if you are a new subscriber you will automatically receive a Books that Matter Box from the 20th May. The offer runs until the 20th May 2022.
Sign up by midnight on the 15th May for this project, numbers are limited and I think this month is going to be a popular one so don't delay! Find all the details about signing up here. You can choose from a monthly, monthly, quarterly or annual subscription and you are able to cancel at any time.
]]>Yes 'tablescape' is a real word! We put together a Cotton Clara Easter tablescape today to inspire you to think of some non-chocolate gift options! I would obviously think out products are great for gifting, but I love suggesting them as holiday gifts because you know that giving someone a kit to do when they are actually off work is a perfect time for them to actually use it and unwind!
I am definitely a 'spring' person so all of our colours in our products seem so well suited to this time of year. I couldn't resist picking up a few Easter props from Marks and Spencers, TK Maxx and our local florists plus the bowls I got from Poundland a couple of weeks ago to put this together. I hope it inspires you to pop some Cotton Clara kits in your Easter basket!!
P.s. we did a super quick DIY with a piece of felt and made this scalloped edge place mat. Just use any piece of felt and cut around the edges in a scalloped shape!
]]>
I am quite partial to a kids embroidery project, mainly because they don’t make as much mess as painting or gluing, but there are also loads of benefits of this type of craft for kids. I heard somewhere (it might have been the embroidery marketing board!?) that needlecrafts are being taught to student doctors because the younger generation use screens so much they don’t have as well developed fine motor skills, needed when you’re training to be a surgeon!
Anyway, here’s our round up of child friendly kits...
All of our wooden board kits are great for crafting with kids. The smaller kits - Rainbow, Loved, Hello, Wooden Bird, Dala Horses - are all suitable for children aged 4 and upwards (but always with adult supervision due to the small parts) and children aged 6 and upwards will be able to complete our larger boards - Be Kind, Home Sweet Home, Shine Bright. It really does depend on the child and their capabilities though so please just use this as a guide.
All our wooden kits come with blunt needles so that’s one thing you don’t have to worry about, and the designs are really easy to follow with clear instructions included but if a wrong stitch is made it’s really easy to unpick the thread and start again avoiding any potential tears!
Small Wooden Kits
Suitable for: 4+ years
Small Rainbow Banner Embroidery Kit
“I bought this for my five year old daughter who wanted to start sewing. This was the perfect introduction. She was able to complete it herself, I just had to help start and finish. It's a cute little addition to our house.” Clare, February 2021
A great starter kit for children - the rainbow design is immediately recognisable and cheery and it’s completed using the simple backstitch. The kit includes everything you need including a blunt needle and string to hang the finished board with, and I hope you’ll want to display it even though it has been made by a child. Crafting beautiful things with kids that you don’t then want to put immediately in the bin is high on my list of priorities!
’Loved’ Mini Script Embroidery Board
This is a great project for children to work on as a gift for a friend, family member or even a teacher / carer. The board is available with three different thread colours - red, mustard and lilac - so the child can decide which is their favourite. The kit includes everything you need including a blunt needle and string to hang the finished board with.
These are one of my personal favourites and I’ve had so many messages from people on Instagram telling me how much their children loved making them. The kit contains three birds to make as standalone, separate decorations or strung together using the string to make the prettiest garland.
Even though the needle isn’t sharp, children should always be supervised when making any of the small wooden kits.
Large Wooden Kits
Suitable for: 6+ years
Be Kind Tassel Embroidery Banner Kit
This is a great kit for children to start learning the cross stitch technique and such a positive message for them to stitch as they do so. It’s available with mustard, coral, green or lilac thread and looks so good hanging in their bedroom once complete.
Shine Bright Cross Stitch Embroidery Board Kit
Another great kit for kids to start their embroidery hobby this board measures 16.5 x 21cm and comes with a lovely mustard thread. Everything comes in the box including the (blunt) needle, board, thread, instructions and cord to hang.
Cross Stitch Pegboard Wall Art Board
For older children this is a great kit that helps to encourage creativity and imagination. The kit is designed to be stitched with the provided wool into a range of different letters, words or shapes - the instructions show suggested patterns including the alphabet in large letters for monograms and smaller letters, for small phrases and words but they can also stitch their own design. It’s easy to unpick if mistakes are made, and also to start again completely when they want to try something new.
FELT HOOP KITS
Suitable for: 10+ years
From customer feedback I’ve received I know kids have made our felt hoop kits - the Alphabet Kit, the Ho Ho Ho Kit and the Heart Hoop Trio Kit - and it’s so nice to hear how much they've enjoyed making them.
These kits all require a sharp needle so do need careful supervision, and I recommend only children aged 10 years and older give them a go because of that, but they are really simple designs so they are easy to complete.
Alphabet Felt Hoop Embroidery Kit
This felt hoop kit is great fun for crafting with kids - being able to sew their own initials really appeals to children. The kit includes 3 x felt hoops for you to stitch letters of your choice using a simple cross stitch, and because the kit contains a template and fabric pen you can carry on making as many letters as you like using extra hoops or even spelling full names onto cushions. A great versatile kit.
Follow our step by step guide for success every time.
Heart Hoop Cross Stitch Embroidery Kit
“I loved this little set! A fun and pretty thing to make, and it's packaged beautifully, too.” Claire, February 2021
This kit contains everything you need to create 3 x 9cm embroidered cross stitch. The hearts are cream with pink, rust with cream and peach with red and as with the Alphabet kit you can use the fabric pen and template to create hearts wherever and whenever you want to!
HOOP KITS
Suitable for: 12+ years
For older children wanting to try something a little more challenging our hoop kits are a good place to start. I’d recommend children aged 12 years and upwards due to the sharp needle and extra concentration required.
A great one I’d recommend for this age group is the Cat Embroidery Hoop Kit designed by Jane Foster. It’s a simple design to follow but does require a few different techniques of stitching which will help develop skills and encourage focus.
I’d also recommend the Love and Hope cross stitch kits - both are great introductory projects to cross stitch. Both of these kits have the added bonus of using a blunt needle to protect young fingers so could be attempted by slightly younger than the suggested 12 years old.
CRAFT SUPPLIES AND TOOLS
As well as the kits and boards we have a selection of craft supplies and tools also available to shop including lots of useful things to help your crafting session be fun and successful. There’s colourful thread, tape measures and the ever popular embroidery scissors - great items for a starter kit to give as a present.
I hope this guide is helpful but if you have any questions, you can contact us here and we’d be happy to help. All of the recommended products, plus more, have been curated into our Crafting With Kids collection - check it out here.
Happy crafting!
So you might remember that we released dated kits in 2020 and 2021? They were super popular, our best selling kits of the year! Well the consensus was that you wanted us to keep going with this and release a 2022 kit. We've done it this year but we're doing it a little differently to make sure we (try) and please everyone we've made the date optional. And this blog post shows you how to add the date if you wish!
So there are a few videos to refer to on Instagram that will help you with transferring the 2022 onto your hoop. Also you'll need to download and print this page, which has the text for 2022 written out in a matching font.
There are two methods for transferring a design on to fabric. One is better for darker fabrics and we'll start with that. Check out my reel on Instagram here to see this method in action. You'll need some water soluble embroidery paper which you can find in our shop here. This will last you ages as you only need a square a size of the design you are transferring.
Simply trace the numbers onto the fabric then pin this to your design wherever you want it to go. We've stitched ours on the bottom left of the design. Once you have finished, rinse off the fabric with cold water and leave your piece to dry, you can use an iron to speed it up.
If you have one of the paler fabric kits, you can use this second method. All you will need is an erasable pen. We sell two different types on our shop. The heat erasable pen is the most accurate for small designs like this. Find it here. Use this tutorial for an overview of this method, but simply trace the numbers using the pen onto your fabric. Use a window or a light box if needed. Once you have stitched over the design, if you can still see the pen use an iron or a hairdryer to erase it.
And that's it! Please let me know if you do this, I'd love to see your photos!
Chloe x
]]>