Frequently Asked Questions

 

What's the difference between cross stitch and embroidery? 

Cross stitch is a type of embroidery that uses one stitch (the cross stitch) that is stitched on "evenweave" fabric, also known as counted thread fabric. These fabrics are woven in such a way that there are the same number of threads in each direction so when you stitch cross stitches using a pattern, you create a beautiful, pixelated effect as is shown in the photo above. 
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Embroidery (also known as "surface embroidery") uses a variety of stitches that are stitched on a fabric that has been printed with the design. There's lots of variety among embroidery stitches, but I use the classics in my kits to keep things simple. If you're a beginner, I recommend the Myra Medallion kit.

How soon do you ship my order?

Orders go out within 1-3 business days via USPS. 

How are your kits packaged? 

I have spent months researching packaging options and was surprised to discover that plastic packaging has a much lower environmental impact than cardboard box packaging in terms of carbon emissions, manufacturing impact, and fuel consumption. Because of this reduced impact, I have chosen to package my kits in plastic ClearBags. Plastic bags have a lower manufacturing impact (they require 1/20th the water and produce half of the carbon output of cardboard boxes), reduced transporation impact (simply put, 1000 plastic bags fit in one shipping box whereas the equivalent cardboard packaging takes 20 shipping boxes), and they are easy to re-use (many customers re-use the bag to store the pattern after finishing the kit). When compostable plastic bags become more durable, I will be switching to compostable plastic.

My embroidery hoop kits come in a curbside-recyclable kraft envelope with a recylable photo card stapled to the front so you can simply recycle them when you are finished with the kit.

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Do the edges come finished like the photos show? 

No, the hem finishing that you see in many of the photos needs to be done after you've stitched the embroidery. You can find the How To videos for learning drawn thread hemming or sewing your embroidery into a cushion or wall hanging on the How To page above.
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What if I get stuck?

Just email me at avleaembroidery@gmail.com or check out my Instagram page for helpful reels.
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How do I care for my embroidery?

I recommend hand washing in cool water with a neutral soap (like those used for wool yarn) and rinsing well. You can lay your embroidery on a thick bath towel and roll it up to squeeze out the water. Leave it to air dry and, ideally, while still damp, give it a light press with a medium iron. For long-term storage, I recommend acid-free boxes and acid-free tissue paper (I don't recommend storing in plastic long-term as it can offgas chemicals that discolor fabric). My BEST recommendation is to just use your embroidery--stains and accidents will happen, but that's part of life with textiles! Keeping our special embroideries hidden in a drawer just keeps us from getting to enjoy their beauty so just use them and enjoy them!