Those who don't live in the United States but who enjoy the U.S.-style of needlepoint can have a hard time getting supplies. With the assistance of friends who live overseas and online sources, I am starting to assemble a list of shops that are helpful to those who need threads and canvas shipped to them outside the U.S. If you know of other great shops that ship outside the U.S., please email me at lorettaspearsdesigns@gmail.com
There also is the problem that Loretta Spears published designs between 1986 and 2000, so some of the threads she used are no longer available. In the description of each of the designs the Materials List has what Loretta used when I know that information. Substitutions are listed when I know they are necessary. However, you may change anything you like. If Loretta used a silk floss you cannot get locally, switch to a cotton floss. If she used a thicker metallic than you have available, double (or triple) your strand. You get the general idea. Sometimes a bit of experimentation is in order but you'll end up with a unique, personal design. I've written an article about the more uncommon threads Loretta used to help you find them or a good substitute. It's here—
https://lorettaspears.blogspot.com/p/thread-substitutions.html
In alphabetical order, here are shops where you can find supplies:
123 Stitch
Mostly a counted canvaswork and cross stitch shop with lots of scrapbooking and other craft supplies, provides quickest shipments to Australia
http://www.123stitch.com
Amy's Golden Strand
Amy Bunger's shop; items came safely packed with a free stitch diagram - Note that Amy is closing her shop in 2021 to retire.
http://www.amybunger.com
Bedecked and Beadazzled
Ruth Schmuff's shop; she ships overseas a lot and is known for her customer service and pretty packaging. She also has a lot of photos of the sequins and beads she carries and stocks both floche and her own line of 21 colors of overdyed floche called Color Dreams.
https://bedeckedandbeadazzled.com
Fireside Stitchery
Excellent service and fast shipments to Australia; the shop carries an extensive line of threads and does free stitch guides for any painted canvas you purchase there.
http://www.firesidestitchery.com
London Bead Company
Particularly useful for shipping threads and beads from England to various European countries.
http://www.londonbeadco.co.uk/shopping/index.html
Needle in a Haystack
Great shop! It caters to the counted canvaswork and counted thread stitcher. Their thread list shows photos of the colors in most cases. Don't miss their helpful videos on things like assembling and using frames.
http://www.needlestack.com
Needle Case Goods
This Etsy shop used to be brick and mortar but now is online only. Nancy Wagner the owner carries some painted canvases and needlepoint charts plus lots of Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Art Sampler threads as well as needles from Pieceworks (my favorite needle brand but they come in limited sizes), scissors, linen, perforated paper and more. Geared toward cross stitch, Nancy is always happy to help folks grab threads that more needlepoint-oriented shops might not carry.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/NeedleCaseGoodies?ref=shopsection_shophome_leftnav
Needlenook of La Jolla
Great communication and huge stock of threads and painted canvases but probably no charts.
http://www.needlenook.com
Needlepoint Couture
Great communication and supplies beautifully packaged.
http://needlepointcouture.com
The Needle Works
This shop in Austin, Texas has every thread you could ever want, lovely classes, a large selection of canvases and a great sale each December. The shop was sold in March so that the owner could retire and reopened under new management in April 2019.
http://theneedleworks.com
Sew and So -They have closed up shop in 2020!
This large online UK shop has a very wide range of threads and fabrics and gets rave reviews--they ship worldwide.
http://www.sewandso.co.uk
Thistle Needleworks
Note that ThistleNeedleworks.com is the main site for the brick and mortar store which carries lots of charts and threads, and Alex Paras Needle Arts is the online painted canvas website for the shop. You can use either but the Alex Paras website is more modern. Email the shop at ThisNeedle@aol.com for help.
http://www.thistleneedleworks.com
http://store.apneedlearts.com
Village Needleworks
Ships to the UK only right now, but hopes to be able to add more international destinations.
http://www.villageneedleworks.com
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