We all know how hard it is to decide on new stuff – threads and fabrics are especially difficult – now that there are so few shops around. We want to pet fabric and thread before we buy it, and that’s really hard to do online! Note: Currently this party is ONLY available to people in the Triangle area of North Carolina. I might be able later to expand to all of NC.. We’ll see. 🙂
Enter Stash Enhancement Parties
Shopping, or the Stash Enhancement Experience has been abbreviated S.E.X. online for decades now, with much twittering amongst those using the acronym! I’ll come to your home (or other location) with my box o’threads and fabric samples. You and your friends can pet the threads, see the colors in person, and place orders. Orders will then be delivered to the host where you can pick them up. When you organize the party, if you’re feeling really naughty, you can tell people you are hosting a S.E.X. party and make them blush!
What a Party Is
There are a couple of options.
- Just pet the supplies and place orders while we talk embroidery techniques and ooh and aah about the pretties.
- A small make-it-take-it class in addition to the supply shopping. This option involves an additional $10-15 per person taking the class to cover the kit cost. Make-it-Take-its available include:
- Beginning Cross Stitch
- Crewel
- Counted Canvaswork (counted Needlepoint)
- Beginning Stumpwork
What’s a “Make-it-Take-it”?
In addition to stash petting, I can teach some or all of your group a new technique using a small kit. The cost of this is $10-15 per student, depending on the technique chosen. I can only teach one technique per party, so I’ll need to know which one and how many people in advance. To make it worthwhile, it’s usually better if at least 5 people but no more than 10 want to take the class.
What Supplies Can We Pet and Order?
I am hoping to expand my line as time goes on, but currently I have samples as follows:
Threads:
- Weeks floss – Full color rings and color charts
- Caron – Color list and limited samples of:
- Watercolors
- Wildflowers
- Waterlilies (silk)
- Kreinik – Sample ring of all types of threads, and color cards made of actual thread samples to choose colors
Fabrics
- Weeks – samples and color lists for:
- Plain Wools
- Wool Herringbone
- Linen
- Linen gingham check
- Zweigart – color/ order book and limited samples
Plus:
Order any item from the Wichelt or Hoffman Distributing website.
How Long Does it Take?
In general, orders arrive within two weeks. Unfortunately, backorders can happen, especially for less popular items, as some of the manufacturers are very small and only do a production run when they have enough orders to justify one. This means that sometimes we can get a date of availability and other times we can’t, leaving us wondering whether we’ll ever see our cool stuff! I promise to keep you and your host informed of any backorders so you can make informed decisions about cancelling an order if necessary.
What About Kits?
Some of the designs on the sites are already kitted. These are not usually available as just the chart. Any of the Golden Circle Designs Charts can be kitted for you with your choice of fabric and flosses. Most Golden Circle Designs Kits run between $45 and $60 depending on size. Kits by other manufacturers can be as low as $10.00 or as high as into the $100s, as with purchasing them anywhere.