Help with birthday present for a daughter who’s taken up embroidery please

I bought myself
www.wilko.com/wilko-black-angled-floor-lamp/p/0494331?gclid=CjwKCAjwzeqVBhAoEiwAOrEmzRZvwNKgqWPPHovp9Sw_Yg6PYLZR1zLPHQ03XgWAXFKlz1p8tdqPBxoCc0UQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Wonderful, inexpensive and I saw one of the royal journos had it in the background when he was Zooming his report into ITV!

Happysexagenarian

The best gift you could give her would be a good 'daylight' lamp that can be directed on to her cross stitch when she's working. You may think she has good home lighting and good eyesight, but dedicated lighting for needlework is so important. These types of lights are not cheap but worth every penny.

I will investigate these, sound a good idea as she’s getting headaches.

Ali08 only just seen your message today . I am not a member . I taught myself to cross stitch must be 6 years ago now. Only joined a craft group when I moved from the west Midlands to North west nearly 3 years ago. My local library has a mixed media craft group. I had promised myself I would find a group I could join when I moved.

It closed for a while because of Covid but started again as soon as it could. 2 hours on a Thursday afternoon it's free we have hot drinks which we take in turns takings things in plus biscuits . I usually make some every 2 weeks to take or cake. It was started by 2 friends who wanted to socialise more with other crafter's. Think when we are all there we number 15 now. I love it. Only cross stitcher but love seeing what others make. And we have a good laugh age range 30's to 80's . I am 64.

The best gift you could give her would be a good 'daylight' lamp that can be directed on to her cross stitch when she's working. You may think she has good home lighting and good eyesight, but dedicated lighting for needlework is so important. These types of lights are not cheap but worth every penny.

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Look in local charity shops for bargains. Ask, if you don't see any on display!

Whiff

teabagwoman you could always get her a subscription to an embroidery magazine. I cross stitch and have subscribed to 2 magazines they come with a free kit every month . I think embroidery magazines do to.

As far as hoops go I use usually 6" spring loaded one or 4" for smaller projects. I find 6" is comfortable to use. I can't use wooden hoops as I can't tighten the screw up .

If it's embroidery then it's usually done on evenweave fabric where as cross stitch is done on Aida or evenweave. I only use Aida.

Lakeland needle craft has a wide choice of material,threads etc at reasonable prices. I buy my Aida from eBay. It's British made and £12.99 a meter.

Cardboard thread holders are very useful . I write the colour number on it. Thread boxes are very useful. I like Hemline ones. Needles,needle threader and magnetic needle holders are a must.

There are a number of books at craft shops and Amazon for all levels.

Hope this has helped.

I think you may be a member of CSF UK (Cross-Stitch Friends in the UK). Am I right?

Thank you Whiff, that’s exactly the information I needed. And thank you Redhead, I wouldn’t have thought of looking on Etsy.

The likes of Hobbycraft The Range and even Amazon sell all manner of embroidery kits for different abilities. Also Etsy they have all sorts to do with embroidery and cross stitch.

teabagwoman you could always get her a subscription to an embroidery magazine. I cross stitch and have subscribed to 2 magazines they come with a free kit every month . I think embroidery magazines do to.

As far as hoops go I use usually 6" spring loaded one or 4" for smaller projects. I find 6" is comfortable to use. I can't use wooden hoops as I can't tighten the screw up .

If it's embroidery then it's usually done on evenweave fabric where as cross stitch is done on Aida or evenweave. I only use Aida.

Lakeland needle craft has a wide choice of material,threads etc at reasonable prices. I buy my Aida from eBay. It's British made and £12.99 a meter.

Cardboard thread holders are very useful . I write the colour number on it. Thread boxes are very useful. I like Hemline ones. Needles,needle threader and magnetic needle holders are a must.

There are a number of books at craft shops and Amazon for all levels.

Hope this has helped.