Welcome to Willow Fabrics — Your Go-To Online Cross Stitch Store

Norwich has always had a soft spot for makers. Between the independent shops tucked along Elm Hill, the buzzing market stalls, and a genuinely active community of quilters, knitters, and stitchers across Norfolk, it's no surprise that cross-stitch and embroidery have found such a loyal following here. Whether you're a Norwich crafter stitching by the fire in a cosy cottage near the Cathedral Quarter, or you're further out towards the Broads and prefer to shop from home, getting your hands on the right kits, fabrics, and threads makes all the difference in how much you enjoy a project.

At Willow Fabrics, we're a trusted cross-stitch supplier Norwich crafters turn to week after week, shipping cross-stitch and embroidery supplies across Norwich and the whole of Norfolk. We've put together this guide to help you choose the best kits and supplies for your next project and stock your workbox with everything you'll actually reach for.

Why Cross Stitch Is Booming Among Norwich Crafters

Cross stitch

There's a small, satisfying moment at the start of every stitching session when you fit your fabric into a hoop and feel it pull drum-tight. Get that moment right, and everything that follows is easier: your stitches sit flat, your tension stays even, and the fabric doesn't shift under your needle. Get it wrong, and you're fighting sagging fabric or hoop marks before you've even threaded up.

Among all the hoops & frames on the market, two options dominate almost every stitcher's workbox: wooden embroidery hoops and embroidery flexi hoops. Both are designed to do the same basic job, hold your fabric taut while you stitch, but they go about it in very different ways, and each suits a different kind of project. Here's how the two compare, so you can decide which embroidery hoops belong in your kit.

Key Takeaways

• • Wooden embroidery hoops use a screw tension system and give a firm, even grip, ideal for cross stitch and detailed embroidery.
• • Embroidery flexi hoops use a flexible plastic ring

Ask any stitcher what's in their project bag and you'll get the same answer every time: fabric, thread, needles... and at least one pair of "good" scissors they'd never let anyone else touch. Cutting tools don't get nearly as much attention as fabric or floss, but the wrong pair can fray your thread ends, chew up delicate evenweave, or leave you fighting a stiff spring action halfway through a long stitching session.

With embroidery scissors, embroidery snips, sewing shears, and rotary cutters all doing slightly different jobs, it's easy to end up with the wrong tool for the task. Here's a straightforward guide to what each one is actually for and which you genuinely need in your kit.

Key Takeaways

• • Embroidery scissors, with their short, sharp blades, are essential for snipping floss close to the fabric without catching your stitches.
• • Embroidery snips are a fast, spring-loaded alternative to scissors, ideal for stitchers who trim thread constantly.
• • The best dressmaking scissors and