Happy Monday, my friends!

It’s hard to believe that June has slipped away once more and we’re facing High Summer here on the Plains. Why is it always a surprise when July arrives?

Especially for those wise embroiderers who like to stitch ahead for the seasons, I have some exciting news for you! I’ve been really busy stocking those new utility shelves that went up a couple weeks ago, so I thought I’d send out a quick announcement to let you know what’s available and to tell you what’s coming!

Last week, I sent out advanced notices on the “Sqrounds” – that is, the square round hoops – that have finally arrived!

I reviewed these square-round hoops several months ago, and they proved to be high in demand, so I brought in as many as I could. After all, a good embroidery hoop is a tool that will last for a long, long time, and I want you to have the same feeling of comfortable reliability and pleasure that I have every time I use this thing!

These hoops don’t fall into the category of the square or rectangle hoops available today – and which I don’t generally love, as they never seem to hold at the corners.

And they don’t fall into the category of round or oval hoops.

They are, in short, square-round. An oxymoron, for sure, but nevertheless, it describes them pretty well!

I think their secrets to success can be found in the double hardware – a unique aspect to the hoop – and in the fact that they are a perfect size. They give you the comfortable holding size of a smaller round hoop, with more scope, width-wise. They fit perfectly on the “How to Embroider (Blank)” series motifs that we’ve been working through. I like them for most medium sized projects.

I really love them for the ready-to-stitch towel sets. They give me more hoop room, without taking up the edge room of a round hoop.

So those are in the shop now, if you’re interested in investing in a hoop that will serve you well.

Linen Sample Packs

If you’ve been dying to try out different types of beautiful linen for fine hand embroidery, the linen sample packs in white are available again. They include the white I used as a ground fabric on the mini sampler stockings, as well as several bright white linens suitable for various types of hand embroidery. You can read more about them in the product description in the shop and in this article.

The natural sold out this weekend, but I will re-stock those as soon as we can get more linen in and prepare it. If you want to grab the whites, now’s a good time!

Christmas in July

Well, it isn’t quite July, but almost! And if you like the prepare Christmas embroidery well in advance – maybe make some gifts or something for your own home – all the ready-to-stitch Christmas themed towels sets are back in stock right now.

This includes Christmas Cheer, Let it Snow, Holly & Evergreen, and the folk-styled cross stitch design sets Folky Flakes and Vinterfolk.

I’ve also got the autumn-themed towels in stock, if you’re eager to stitch for autumn, and pretty much all the spring and summer floral designs in stock as well.

Whew! That was a lot of preparation! If you’ve been waiting for them, now’s a good opportunity to stock up on ready-to-stitch towel sets!

You will find all of these available here in my shop today.

Are You in Canada?

Right now, I can ship the square-round hoops and the linen fabric sample packs to Canada, for those who have asked. If you are purchasing one hoop and the linen sampler packs, I can add up to two towel sets for the same cost of priority shipping.

If you want to combine those, go ahead and order your hoop or linen samples (or both) and then drop me an email about any towel sets you would like to add, if you want.

I can’t ship books for the same price, but I can add up to two ready-to-stitch towel sets with one hoop and one or two linen packs. If you’re ordering more than one hoop, I can probably only add one towel set. Just drop me a line if you’re interested in adding towel sets and we can work it out.

The Kits

For those who have inquired, yes, the mini-sampler stocking kits will be in stock, and hopefully before the summer is over. I am waiting on some of the threads. The supply lines are still a little slow, so we do what we can. Everything else is ready to go, so once the threads are in, I will certainly let you know.

So that’s where we are at this point for the summer! We’ve been super busy getting all this prepared, but once we ship today and tomorrow, we’ll be back to some serious stitchery before we return to preparing stock again.

And speaking of stitching, we’re starting on grapes this Wednesday. I can’t wait!

See you then!