The Stitch Journal

Welcome to our Journal – a space for sharing inspiration, ideas, and creative adventures. Here you’ll find a mix of our favourite artists, folk art traditions, embroidery projects, and plenty of behind-the-scenes glimpses into the colourful (and sometimes delightfully unexpected) world of Stitchdoodles.

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stitchdoodles bugs in bloom pattern

by Nicola Stanton

Stitchdoodles Featured in Love Embroidery Magazine 2025

Discover the beauty of embroidery with Stitchdoodles, featured in the 2025 issue of Love Embroidery magazine! Highlighted is our Bugs in Bloom Hand Embroidery Kit, a delightful blend of nature-inspired designs and premium materials. Paired with the durable Nurge Embroidery Hoop, this kit promises a relaxing and rewarding crafting experience for all skill levels. Explore more at Stitchdoodles and join us in celebrating the joy of stitching.

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stitchdoodles a creative embroidery journey

by Nicola Stanton

Hand Embroidery in 2025: A Creative Journey with Stitchdoodles

In 2025, hand embroidery remains a cherished craft, offering a perfect balance of tradition and modern creativity. At Stitchdoodles, we’re proud to support this timeless art form, which combines mindfulness, sustainability, and artistic expression. From contemporary patterns and eco-friendly materials to dimensional and mixed-media techniques, embroidery continues to evolve while staying accessible to all. Whether you’re stitching for relaxation or to create stunning handmade pieces, the Stitchdoodles community is here to inspire and guide you. Join us in celebrating the magic of embroidery—one stitch at a time!

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Craft Room Inspiration - StitchDoodles

by Nicola Stanton

Craft Room Inspiration

If you love embroidery then you probably love all the bits and bobs that go with creating a fabulous place to stitch in. Take a look at some fabulous Inspiration for a dream come true. Crafting is a delightful pursuit, but without proper organization, your creative space can quickly become cluttered. An orderly craft room not only enhances efficiency but also fuels inspiration. Here are some practical tips to help you organize your craft room effectively: 1. Utilize Pegboards for Vertical Storage Maximize wall space by installing pegboards. They are versatile for hanging embroidery hoops, scissors, threads, and other tools, keeping essentials within easy reach and freeing up desk space.   2. Invest in Multi-Compartment Storage Cabinets Consider cabinets with multiple storage boxes to categorize and store various supplies. These cabinets can often be folded to save space when not in use, making them ideal for compact craft rooms.   3. Organize Threads with Floss Boxes and Bobbins Keep your embroidery threads tidy by winding them onto plastic bobbins and storing them in a large floss box. This method allows you to see all your thread colors at a glance and prevents tangling.   4. Create DIY Storage Solutions Sewing your own storage items, such as fabric baskets or tool rolls, can be both functional and personalized. These projects help control clutter and add a handmade touch to your space.   5. Label Everything Clearly labeling storage boxes, drawers, and shelves ensures that every item has a designated place. This practice simplifies finding materials and maintaining order after each project.   6. Keep Notions in Slim Storage Solutions Small items like stitch markers, tape measures, and scissors can be organized in slim storage containers. This prevents them from getting lost and keeps your workspace tidy.   7. Regularly Declutter and Reassess Your Space Periodically go through your supplies to declutter and reorganize. This helps in keeping your craft room functional and ensures that you have space for new materials and projects. Implementing these organization strategies can transform your craft room into a more efficient and inspiring workspace, allowing your creativity to flourish without the hindrance of clutter.

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All about Supplies: Nurge Hoops - StitchDoodles

by Nicola Stanton

Discover Nurge Hoops: The Perfect Tool for Hand Embroidery

Nurge Square Hoops – fabulous for Hand Embroidery Square Plastic Hoops This was the description I saw when I came across these hoops and it didn’t really inspire me! The only reason I did decide to give them a try was because they were square and I was curious to find out if they were any good since a lot of my designs are square as well. First things first – they are not really square! Truth be told they are rectangle but that really isn’t an issue! Up to now, my main choice for stitching my designs has been stretcher bar frames which I really like using, however I was curious enough to give these a try as a suitable alternative and I am so glad I did! What a Fantastic Hoop! You would think these are made for Stitchdoodles Patterns! I love to design Square, Rectangular non circular designs and these are just perfect for an easy and quick alternative to the stretcher bar frames. Yes, they are more expensive compared to a normal hoop as well as a stretcher bar frame BUT totally worth it for the convenience, enjoyable stitching experience plus they will last and last. How do they work? These hoops are designed to trap the fabric in between the inner and outer frame just like the usual round hoops. Unlike the usual round hoops they take a little more wiggling and fiddling to get the fabric nice and tight but nothing that will hold you back in any way. They are made from a rigid plastic making them extremely sturdy and comfortable to hold when stitching. See Photo diagram below for how to put your fabric in nice and tight… Place the inner hoop on a flat surface. Place the fabric with design facing up centrally over the inner hoop. Place the Outer hoop around the outer edge over the inner hoop. 4. Tighten the screw at the top whilst re-adjusting the fabric to make it nice and tight. Creates Great Tension These hoops make the fabric really nice and tight and the tension lasts and last whilst you stitch. The trick for achieving this is to take the time making the fabric nice and tight as you tighten the screw mechanism. As the screw closes the gap of the outer hoop you will notice the fabric pucker a bit so pull it outwards all the way around and then tighten the screw again. Keep doing this and the gap will close and the fabric will be fabulously tight ready to stitch… The back of the hoop should be just as tight and smooth as the front. Giving the Hoop the full stitching test My latest pattern was just ready to start stitching when I came across these so it was the perfect opportunity to give the hoop a full road test! The Plantopia Pattern in the following photo was in this frame for about 4 weeks and the tension when I had completed was as good as when I started. There was no need to re-adjust. A lot of my designs are about 8 inches so this 10 x 11.5inch frame is absolutely perfect. I like being able to have access to the whole design for the duration of the stitching and the frame was enough to hold without marking the fabric. As you can see it looks lovely and tight after all that time… I am really excited to have these in my shop and if you want to treat yourself to a fabulous stitching experience you can find them here… Nurge Square Hoops – perfect for Stitchdoodles Patterns

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