We gave this cross stitch kit by Sew Sophie a 4.5 star review and here’s why…

Jump straight to:

• Summary
• How we tested
• Cross stitch kit by Sew Sophie review review
• Where to buy Cross stitch kit by Sew Sophie review
• Our verdict: should you buy Sew Sophie’s cross stitch kits
• Looking for more cross stitch kits?

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Summary

Both cross stitch kits by Sew Sophie were beginner-friendly, easy to use and a joy to stitch. I thoroughly enjoyed making them and believe they’re perfect for beginner crafters, even if you’ve never cross-stitched before.

Not only did I love the designs (plenty more sweet designs are available on her site if these don’t take your fancy) but I loved the packaging too. The stripy envelope stores the needle and aida, the card which keeps all the thread colours separate and the mini booklet full of handy tips were practical and pretty.

I’d recommend Sew Sophie’s cross-stitch kits, whether it’s for yourself or to give as a gift.

• Buy now from Sew Sophie Crafts on Etsy (£17.95)

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How we tested

To put the cross-stitch kits to the test, I cross stitched the Cosy Home design. I tested the kit on five key factors:

• Packaging and design
• Materials and tools
• Instructions
• Ease of use
• Value for money

Using these five factors, I evaluated the cross-stitch kit and came to my overall verdict.

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Sew Sophie cross stitch kit: Cosy Home kit review

Cosy Home kit includes

• One piece of white 14ct Aida fabric
• One cross-stitch needle
• A range of coloured DMC Thread
• A4 Colour Cross Stitch Pattern
• Mini How to Cross Stitch Guide
• 7″ Wooden Embroidery Hoop

Criteria 1: Packaging and design – 5/5

Sew Sophie has a huge range of cross-stitch kits on her site, all of which come beautifully packaged. The two kits we were sent, Cosy Home and Cloudy Days Cross Stitch Card Making Kit, came in lovely boxes and featured modern, simple designs.

Inside the box, the materials and tools were neatly packaged too. A small striped envelope contained the threads, mini guide and needle (safely in plastic wrapping). I loved that the threads in both boxes came threaded onto a piece of card, keeping them tangle-free and looking great.

I also loved the design of the mini booklet and the A4 cross-stitch pattern. The layout was clear, easy to read and had high-quality pictures to help demonstrate the key skills. I referred back to it often throughout stitching as I found it so useful!

Criteria 2: Materials and tools – 4/5

I found all the materials and tools included in both kits to be high-quality, durable and beginner-friendly. In the Cosy Home kit, the wooden embroidery hoop was sturdy, the threads great quality and the white aida big enough to give extra room.

I also loved that they provided more thread than necessary for each colour. While separating threads some can get tangled and I found I lost a few in this process. As there were more than enough included in the kit this wasn’t a worry, making it ideal for beginners who are new to the craft.

My only issue with the cross-stitch kits is the hoop inclusion. For the Cosy Home kit, I was sent an embroidery hoop but it’s worth noting this is an optional inclusion which costs more money.

The Cloudy Days kit did not come with an embroidery hoop and didn’t have an option to come with one either. This might be an issue for beginners as a specific embroidery hoop size is needed and may not be easy to come by. If you’re buying this kit as a gift, I’d recommend buying a separate hoop to go alongside it.

Criteria 3: Instructions – 4/5

I found the instructions and A4 pattern, clear, concise and easy to follow. The mini guide shows you how to cross stitch, how to change colours, how to read cross stitch charts and how to finish your cross stitch hoop.

All these sections were brilliant and I found them very helpful. The mini booklet format also made it easy to read, store and refer back to throughout stitching.

My only criticism is when it comes to matching the DMC thread colours to the A4 pattern chart. While you can match the colours by eye, the Cosy Home kit had a few variations of brown to make up the brickwork design. It wasn’t immediately clear which colour matched which symbol on the chart, especially when the colours were so similar in shade.

This could be easily remedied too. It would be even more beginner-friendly if the card holding the threads had the DMC colour names, or the symbol on the chart, printed above the corresponding thread.

Apart from that, I found the instructions great and had no problems starting and finishing the kit.

Criteria 4: Ease of use – 5/5

I found both cross-stitch kits easy to stitch and make. Not only were they easy and beginner-friendly but they were so fun too! I enjoyed stitching the Cosy Home design and found following the pattern chart straightforward.

Criteria 5: Value for money – 5/5

Overall I think both cross stitch kits are brilliant value for money.

For £17.95, the Cosy Home cross-stitch kit feels worth its price tag, especially when you consider it’s designed, made and packaged by a small business. The £17.95 kit includes an embroidery hoop and all the other materials you need, plus it comes in lovely packaging.

The Cloudy Days cross stitch cardmaking kit is slightly cheaper (£15.95) but it doesn’t include an embroidery hoop. Despite this, I still think it’s great value money thanks to its cardmaking function, two designs and threads included.

Where to buy cross-stitch kits by Sew Sophie

• Buy now from Sew Sophie Crafts
• Buy now from Sew Sophie Crafts shop on Etsy

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Our verdict: should you buy the cross-stitch kits by Sew Sophie

Absolutely. Both kits are perfect for cross-stitch newbies, cross-stitch professionals who want a break from complicated patterns or for gifting to creative loved ones.

Looking for more cross-stitch kits?

Discover more stitchy inspiration with our collection of modern cross-stitch kits.