Scottish Thistle Mini Embroidery Kit by Paraffle

This kit contains everything you need to create a cute embroidered Puffin design that you can display proudly in your home or give as a gift to a friend.

 

Feather your nest with our Puffin Embroidery Kit! This fun beginner level kit has everything you need to create a puffin-perfect design:  All you need at home is a pair of scissors and a pen.

 

The embroider kit comes complete with easy to follow instructions that show you how to do the two basic embroidery stitches that this design uses.

 

This mini kit contains:

• 3 inch embroidery hoop
• Organic & ethically made green cotton fabric
• Instructions, including a stencil and stitch guide
• Pattern transfer paper
• DMC embroidery threads & needle
• Felt (for covering the back of the piece)

 

The finished embroidery design measures approximately 3 inches in diameter.

 

It's a perfect gift for anyone who loves puffins or embroidery.

 

• Designed and assembled in Scotland
• Ideal for beginners
• Uses organic & ethically produced fabric
• Includes quality DMC 100% cotton threads
• Photo instructions included for each stitch used
• Packaged in a gorgeous, sustainably made gift box
• Finished piece measures 3inches diameter approximately

 

What does 'paraffle' mean?  

 

'paraffle': an old Scots word meaning 1) 'embroidery'; and 2) 'an ostentatious display' 

 

Sustainability is important to Paraffle.

• Threads:  100% cotton 
• Fabric:  Paraffle use backing fabric that is organic and grown by a family run business in India where they also weave and dye the fabric.  They also recycle the water used (growing and dying cotton uses a LOT of water) as well as only using a "Low impact" dying process.
• Pre-printed patterns:  These are pre-printed onto a water soluble (corn based) adhesive fabric stabiliser - when the kit arrives, simply peel the pattern off the backing paper and stick it onto the fabric. Once you've finished stitching, the stabiliser dissolves away in lukewarm water.
• Backing felt:  paraffle are working toward sourcing UK made recycled felt, but until then, each hoop kit comes with UK-made felt from a family run business using 30% wool and 70% viscose.
• Stitch guide:  Printed on high quality, uncoated and recyled paper.  Each stitch guide includes QR codes for easy access to video tutorials.
• Packaging:  kit boxes are made in the UK from an FSC mix sustainable cardboard, and printed using non toxic inks.
• Charity:  10% of profits are donated to charity

 

Who are paraffle:

 

Paraffle was founded by Sammy Bishop in 2016 while she was studying for a PhD in Edinburgh. Looking for a creative outlet - and a way to give meaningful gifts that would suit her student budget - Sammy taught herself how to embroider in her spare time.

 

After moving to Edinburgh to study - and struggling with the pressure of a PhD - Sammy found comfort in the calming benefits of stitching: it gave her some much-needed space to relax and take time away from everyday life.

 

She began designing her own embroidery patterns, playing around with colours and patterns. Shortly afterwards, Sammy decided that a career in academia was not the place for her - and instead threw her energy behind creating and growing an embroidery business.

 

Paraffle moved into a studio in Edinburgh, where Sammy brought her partner Ali on board to help her grow Paraffle even further.  Sammy continues to be inspired by the natural world, flowing patterns, and bright colour combinations.

 

Paraffle are working hard to refine each stage of their supply chain which they say is a work in progress which can always be improved!

 

In 2020, Paraffle became a carbon negative business - which means that they neutralise all carbon emissions created from posting out kits; and also cover carbon emissions created when stock and other materials are sent to their studio. This is done in partnership with a charity working to reforest and prevent deforestation in areas of South America and East Africa.