Rediscovering Craftsmanship in a Mass-Market World

Why Quality Still Matters

I’ve been buying cross stitch kits since I was in my teens. That usually meant a trip to Michaels or A.C. Moore. Does anybody remember that store? What about Ben Franklin? We had one of those in Mocksville. In those days, it was still easy to find interesting kits to complete. Now, Amazon seems to be the catch-all center of the crafting universe—well, Amazon and Hobby Lobby.

Truly, I have nothing bad to say about either company. I shop with both and enjoy the experience. But it’s true that they don’t carry the same quality materials and kits that I love to work with. Plus, I can’t go into Hobby Lobby or Michaels to get help when things go wrong. That’s not their job, and few of the employees there are trained in specific crafting specialties.

Creating a Destination for Local Artisans

I created Pisgah Needleworks as a passion project to bring the best brands to the local crafting community. Here in Western North Carolina, we have to drive over half an hour to reach a major population center, and our choices for crafting supplies are often limited to big-box retailers. There are a few independent shops here and there, but none that carried the brands I loved most under one roof.

We choose to carry brands from select studios around the world that produce best-in-class kits and raw materials for their specific crafts. Are Hobby Lobby and Michaels cheaper? Absolutely. But they sell mass-produced items that can’t match the quality of the artisans whose materials we curate. Here are just a few of the brands we’re proud to carry at Pisgah Needleworks.

Love Poppet

First, I just love Claire. She’s a sweet and helpful person who creates beautiful, yet approachable designs that any cross stitcher can enjoy. Based in Ashford, U.K., just outside London, she represents the heart of the cross-stitching world. The best kits come from there, and we’re proud to work directly with Claire and her team at Love Poppet to keep her wonderful kits in stock at all times.

Jessica Long Embroidery

Jessica creates the most naturalistic and beautiful floral and animal designs I’ve ever seen. One of my favorites is a piglet on a spring-green background. I can’t keep it in stock—every time I get a delivery, it sells almost immediately. Another favorite features a black cat walking along a wooden fence beneath ornamental trees on blue cloth. The visuals are stunning, and the color palette is soothing. For hand embroidery, you can’t beat one of her kits for both quality and challenge.

Hardicraft

Hardicraft is based in the Netherlands and produces knitting and crochet kits of stuffed animals and whimsical objects that are perfect for little hands. The yarn is incredibly soft and creates beautifully neat stitching lines. Sometimes crochet can feel rough because of the knots connecting together, but with Hardicraft, the delicate texture shines through no matter which kit you’re working on.

Spot Colors

What I love most about Spot Colors is that they produce licensed cross stitch kits with the same level of quality as individual artists. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Nicole has grown her brand from a small shop in New Orleans to an international distributor of fun and quirky cross stitch kits. She just announced a licensing agreement to produce Fraggle Rock kits—and I can’t wait!

The Royalty Collection

Erin loves the baby items we stock from The Royalty Collection. Based in Marietta, Georgia, the brand offers products with a modern Southern-couture aesthetic and is featured by influencers on TikTok and YouTube. Their banners, sashes, and baby gifts are of exceptional quality and make wonderful presents.

Moda Fabrics

Quilters are very familiar with Moda. The first time I touched a Moda fabric, I was hooked. I could feel the quality between my fingertips, and the prints were stunning. I knew that if I ever had the chance to open a quilting store, Moda would be my first choice. Made with 100% American-grown cotton, Moda consistently creates in-demand styles and colors from its headquarters in Texas. We carry a full line of solids and are preparing to introduce our first print designs in the coming weeks. When it comes to sewing and quilting, you simply can’t beat the quality and value of Moda Fabrics.

Lola Crow Cross Stitch

As I write this, Halloween is just a couple of days away—but it’s always Halloween in my spirit. I’ve always had an appreciation for Edgar Allan Poe, ravens, witches, and pumpkins all year long. Lola Crow’s designs combine dark humor with classic horror and suspense motifs for a delightfully eerie effect. I love her patterns and have yet to find one I didn’t want to stitch.

Looking Ahead

I realize not everyone needs an expert-level kit or top-of-the-line materials to express their creativity. That’s why we also carry national brands and some mass-produced products at lower price points to help introduce customers to new and exciting creative arts.

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll soon offer small-batch, hand-dyed yarns from some of the premier fiber studios in the U.S. and U.K. These 100% merino wool yarns will be available in both worsted and sock weights. We’ve also added paint-by-number kits from Winnie’s Picks in Minneapolis, Minnesota—and they’re already so popular that we’ve had to reorder!

Join the Conversation

Do you have an interest in a hobby we haven’t yet explored? Reach out to us by email or call the store so we can talk about your needs and interests. We’re here for you when you need us.

Thank you for helping Pisgah Needleworks become a true crafting destination—and for shopping local.

Happy stitching!