Embroidery kits: which one is right for who you're buying for
Embroidery has had something of a moment over the last few years, and not for the reasons you might expect. It's not nostalgia, exactly — or not only that. It's that people have rediscovered something the craft has always offered: a way to make something beautiful that doesn't require much equipment, much space, or much prior experience. You need a needle, some thread, a piece of fabric, and a reasonable amount of patience. That's more or less it.
Kits make the entry point easier still, because they come with everything. The fabric is pre-printed with the design. The threads are chosen and included. The instructions explain each stitch. For someone who is curious about embroidery but hasn't quite got round to buying supplies and working out where to start, a good kit removes all of those barriers at once.
We stock quite a few embroidery kits at different levels and price points, so here's a guide to which one is likely to suit the person you're buying for.
For a complete beginner: the Groves hoop kits
If the person you're buying for has never embroidered before and you're not sure how committed they are to the idea, start here. The Groves hoop kits are small, affordable, and genuinely achievable for someone picking up a needle for the first time. The Festive Tree is £8.99, the Festive Bird and the Fox are £9.99 each, and the Love design is £11.99. Each one comes with the hoop included, which means the finished piece is ready to hang straight away — no framing required, no extra decisions to make.
The lower price point also matters here. A beginner's kit at £8.99 is a low-stakes introduction: if the recipient loves it, they'll want more; if it turns out embroidery isn't for them, it hasn't cost anyone very much to find that out.
See the Festive Tree hoop kit →
For a beginner who wants something a bit more special: West Designs festive kits
The West Designs range sits at £14.99 and is a step up in both size and ambition. The Fab-Yule-Ous, 'Tis the Season, Car and Christmas Tree, and Deck the Halls kits all feature seasonal designs with a bit more going on than a single small motif — more colours, more variation in the stitches used, more of a finished piece at the end. They're still very much beginner-friendly, but they reward someone who is prepared to spend a few evenings on them rather than finishing in a single sitting.
These work well as gifts for someone who has expressed an interest in embroidery but hasn't tried it yet, or for someone who did a kit a while ago and enjoyed it. The £14.99 price point feels like a proper present without being extravagant.
See the Fab-Yule-Ous Embroidery Kit → See 'Tis the Season →
For someone who loves animals: the Battersea kits
West Design Products make a small range of kits in partnership with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, and they're consistently popular with anyone who has a strong opinion about dogs or cats (which is most people). The Dogs embroidery kit and the Cats embroidery kit are both £16.99 and come as hoop kits, ready to hang. There's also a dogs tote bag kit at £19.99 for something a bit more practical.
The Battersea angle gives these a slightly different feel to a straight craft kit — there's an emotional hook that most embroidery kits don't have. For a dog person or a cat person, they tend to land well.
See the Battersea Dogs Embroidery Kit → See the Battersea Cats Embroidery Kit →
For someone who wants to make something they'll use: embroidery tote bag kits
The Simply Make tote bag kits are a slightly different proposition. Rather than producing a framed piece to hang on the wall, the end result is a fabric tote bag with an embroidered design — something the recipient will actually carry around. The Happy Hour and Self Love Club designs are both £19.99, and they're aimed at an adult audience rather than a general beginner. They make good gifts for someone who already does a bit of embroidery and wants a project with a practical outcome.
See the Happy Hour Tote Bag Kit → See the Self Love Club Tote Bag Kit →
For someone who wants a proper project: Hawthorn Handmade kits
The Hawthorn Handmade kits are a different league entirely, and that's not a criticism of anything else on this list — they're just designed for someone who wants to spend serious time on a piece. The Highland Heathers and Herbarium kits are both £25 and are described as complete beginner kits, which is accurate in the sense that no prior experience is assumed. But they're full embroidery projects: larger designs, a wider variety of stitches, detailed instructions, and a finished piece that looks genuinely impressive.
These are the kits to buy for someone who has been saying they want to get properly into embroidery. They're also a good option if you're buying for someone who already embroiders and wants something with real depth to it. The Hawthorn Handmade instructions are particularly good — thorough without being overwhelming.
See the Highland Heathers Kit → See the Herbarium Kit →
A quick guide to choosing
Never embroidered before, not sure if they'll love it: start with a Groves hoop kit at £8.99–£11.99. Expressed interest and will give it a proper go: West Designs at £14.99. Loves dogs or cats above all else: Battersea range at £16.99. Wants something to use rather than hang: Simply Make tote at £19.99. Already embroiders, wants a real project: Hawthorn Handmade at £25.
We also stock a broader range of embroidery supplies — threads, hoops, needles — if the person you're buying for is already set up and would rather choose their own project. Come in and have a look, or browse the embroidery section online.