DMC thread, needles, AIDA fabric – these things are easy to find. But when you start trying to find more specialist embroidery materials and tools, its a challenge!
Over lockdown I’ve been on the hunt for people to buy from. These are who I’ve found so far – if there’s anyone I’m missing please give me a shout!
Please note: I haven’t bought from all of these places yet. Please exercise normal caution when buying on the internet!
Brick and Mortar
London Bead Co.
If you’re in London, don’t skip out on a visit to this treasure trove! As the name suggests they sell an amazing range of beads, but over half the shop is given over to a glorious Aladdin’s Cave of the most sumptuous range of threads. They’ve got the full range of DMC, Anchor, and Appleton crewel wool, but also a huge variety of silk, fascinating blends, amazing hand dyed threads from various suppliers, weird and wonderful threads begging for a stump work or crazy quilt project. (They also have an adorable fluffy white shop dog you may be lucky enough to meet!) They sell fabrics, basic tools, embroidery books etc as well.
Their full range is also available to purchase through their website: https://londonbeadco.com/
Wemyss School of Needlework
It’s a museum and shop combined! Only a short bus ride from Edinburgh, don’t miss this if you’re in Scotland!
Threads and Techniques
Fantastic range of weird and wonderful threads, including colour themed goodie bags
The Common Thread
Silk ribbons, plus other threads
Rainbow Silks
Range of threads including sari ribbons, various silks, silk fibres, supplies for paper making, dyeing, etc
Silks
Midori Embroidery
Range of beautiful Japanese filament or “flat” silks.
Mulberry Silks by Patricia Wood
Glorious range of twisted silks, available in various thicknesses. Offered in wonderfully curated themes such as “kingfisher” or “Aegean”.
Pipers Silks
A beautiful range of colours in flat silks, twisted silks, spun silks, in different weights. If you are familiar with the work of Helen M. Stevens, these are the silks she uses!
Devere Yarns
300 shades of filament silk. (Also sell cotton and worsted wool thread)
London Bead Co.
Au Ver A Soie D’Alger range, plus stocks other silk and silk blends by specialist producers.
Jenny Adin
Soie D’Alger Range
The Silk Mill
100% pure Chinese monofilament silk thread. 714 vibrant shades of silk
White work
Jenny Adin
White work supplies
Golden Hinde
Supplies for white work
Stumpwork
Jenny Adin
Stumpwork supplies
Gold work
Golden Hinde
Huge range of gold work supplies including threads, kid, beads, etc.
Jenny Adin
Sarah Homfray
Range of gold work supplies
Royal School of Needlework
Japanese rayon gimp thread
Midori Embroidery’s
Japanese Gold threads
The Art of the Needle
Gold work threads
Korry Little Shop
A range of metal threads in colours and varied colours
Crewel Work
Crewel Work Company
Linen twill
Wemyss School of Needlework
Appleton crewel wool
Royal School of Needlework
Appleton Wool in skeins or hanks, and renaissance dyeing fine crewel wool
London Bead Co
A wide range of different wools – they have Appleton but also Mogear Mohair, the Gumnut range which includes pure wool and wool/silk blends, and more!
Catkin Crown Textile Studio
Heathway Milano Crewel Wool
Sarah Homfray
Madeira Lana – wool and acrylic blend
Fabrics
Crewel Work Company
Traditionally and exclusively made evenweave and twill linen. (Not available anywhere else)
Golden Hinde
Silk Dupion, cotton satin, canvas, a range of linens including evenweave and twill.
The Silk Route
Huge range of gorgeous silks including silk dupions in various colours, silk organza, and intriguing unusual weaves.
Beckford Silk
Huge range of silks, plus velvets and Nottingham Lace
Hoop and Frame
Legacy linens, up to 53/63 count
Macculloch Wallis
Canvas
Lenham Needlecraft
Canvas and Twill
Hand Embroidered
Linen, twill and canvas
Sarah Homfray
Felt, coloured linen, and twill
The Cloud Craft
100% wool felt, including 3mm thick and felt balls, plus various linen and other fabrics
Embroidery Tools
Jenny Adin
A range of specialist tools, some hand made, including stilettos, aficots, laying tools, curved scissors etc.
Crewel Work Company
Hoops and stands
Hoop and Frame
High quality hoops of various sizes and depths
Golden Hinde
Range of tools including hoops, laying tools, specialist scissor, tweezers, etc.
London School of Embroidery
Range of tools including awls, tambour, ari hooks, thimbles, scissors etc
Midori Embroidery
Range of tools for Japanese Embroidery
Royal School of Needlework
Range of tools including frames, prick and pounce, kit, scissors, etc.
Sew and Quilt
Range of needles and pins, including Tulip Needles
Ernest Wright
Hand Made Scissors
Prosharp
Kai Scissors
A Novel Stitch 