Hello! So, here’s the scoop – my daughter-in-law is an absolute wizard with needles and threads. Me? Well, I’m more of a spectator in this embroidery extravaganza. But, I figured it’s time for Granny to unravel the mysteries of this craft.
Join me on this stitching adventure as I explore some iconic embroidery companies and the magical creations they offer. Who would have thought that, by the time we’re done, I could end up being the trendiest granny around, weaving my magic with needles and threads!
If you are an avid stitcher, please add some comments and let me know whether I am on the right track when it comes to cross stitch, embroidery, needlepoint, crewel embroidery, and all the other words that I thought referred to the same skills but certainly do not, as I am discovering.
Iconic Embroidery Companies
Chatting to my daughter-in-law, I have become familiar with names of iconic embroidery companies that she mentions time and time again. This is what I discovered.
Dimensions
This company has been around for decades and offers cross stitch kits, embroidery kits, and needlepoint kits. They also have an exclusive range of designs that fall under the Dimensions Gold Collection. These designs are absolutely stunning! Take a look at some of these images.
Dimensions also offers easy-to-make designs for beginners, which I may try out. I love their cute Christmas decorations that you can hang on a tree or offer as favors when guests arrive.
Dimension Gold Collection – Woodland Enchantress
Dimensions – A Kiss For A Snowman
Lavender & Lace
For me, this is an inspirational story. The business was started by a lady called Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum. She had no formal training or art degrees in this field. After completing high school she went to work in an advertising office and watched artists draw. After being there for 8 months, she was promoted to be the children’s advertising artist. During her childhood days, she was lucky enough to live near a wood, and her father would inspire her to learn about plants and animals, fuelling her love of the wonder of nature.
After her children grew up, the family had to move into the city and Marilyn missed her Amish friends. She made a design called ‘The Quilting’ and took it to a local needlework store. The owner asked her to ‘graph it’ so that he could sell it as a kit to his clients. That was the start of an amazing career that has created hundreds of exquisite designs that are sold worldwide.
Sadly Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum passed away in August 2012, but her legacy lives on.
The company produces three ranges of embroidery kits
Lavender & Lace
Butternut Road
Told in a Garden
Take a look at some of these stunning designs that you can stitch!
Lavender and Lace – Angel of Dreamso.
Lavender and Lace – Celtic Christmas
Leisure Arts
This company was established in 1971 and has been acquired over the decades by numerous bigger businesses. I love their home-style designs that are ideal for country kitchens, welcoming rustic homes, and cozy gatherings in the family room. My daughter-in-law is stitching their mini country bread cloths, which I will use to decorate some baskets of goodies that I am handing out for Thanksgiving.
Leisure Arts makes cross stitch kits that contain everything you need to complete the project. I love this idea, as it saves you the hassle of having to buy everything separately and prevents you from possibly buying the wrong thing! They also have leaflets for those crafters who have loads of fabric and threads lying around. Take a look at some of their designs.
Leisure Arts From the Heart
Leisure Arts Mini Country Bread Cloths
Janlynn
Janlynn is a private family business that has expanded worldwide without losing its focus on the core values of family. Janlynn has a heart-melting range called Precious Moments which features adorable little children and wonderful sayings. They also have some fun designs for cat lovers! I have asked my daughter-in-law to make the Wedding Sampler as a special gift for a family member who is getting married in the New Year. I hope that this will be a treasured gift that they can pass down from generation to generation.
Janlynn Snowmen Playing
Janlynn Wedding Sampler
Mill Hill
Mill Hill is sparkly fun! These kits contain shiny glass beads that you work into your designs. I still have to figure out how to do that, but the end result is spectacular. They offer loads of Christmas designs, which need some shimmer and shine. You can hang these ornaments on your tree or use them to decorate your dinner table. They have a lovely Crystal Angel, a Starlight Santa Christmas Ornament, a fun Freida Frosty Snowman, and more. When the celebrations are over, you can hand out the decorations as gifts for your guests to take home as a memento.
Mill Hill Beaded Owl
Mill Hill Evergreen Sleigh
LanArte
LanArte is a European brand known for high-quality cross stitch and embroidery kits, often featuring detailed and intricate patterns. LanArte designs often use only one or two threads to embroider, making the designs very detailed. Sometimes, two threads of two different colors are combined, to create the perfect transition. Their designs include beautiful animal and flower designs as well as romantic designs, perfect for a lady’s boudoir!
The company also makes diamond painting and painting kits. Wow, who has time for all of this? I would love to have hours and hours to try this all out.
LanArte Colorful Bouquet
LanArte Girl and Dog
Design Works
Design works started as a husband and wife team in 1987, located in their home basement. Susan worked as a needlework designer for several companies before deciding to ‘go out on her own’. Her husband, Dann Knopp, was a computer specialist with business skills to help her. The perfect combination!
After the basement and the garage filled up, they moved to an old coat manufacturing loft, where they stayed for 6 years. The range increased to include counted cross stitch, sequin crafts, appliqué, and more.
Various mergers saw the company grow into a global force, producing hundreds of new products every year, to this day.
Take a look at some of their designs that I love!
Design Works Queen of Silk
Design Works Baby
The Wrap Up
I don’t know about you, but after all this research, I am inspired to try my hand at some embroidery! In my next blog, I will let you know what I have learned about cross stitch as a beginner. As my daughter-in-law says – “Let the threads of artistry weave stories of beauty in every stitch” She is quite poetic as you can tell.