I used to live in Connecticut. I don't remember the name of the place where I would buy things, but they had large collection of hand, dyed thread and multi fabric that was not your usual fabric for cross stitching embroidery and other needle cross just trying to locate. read more

A great store for needlepoint enthusiasts! They had adorable canvases for sale and had the thread size I needed (that I couldn't find in any other craft store) Support local and stop in here! They have a great variety and the woman who was working when I stopped in was very friendly :) read more

As a person who is a mixed media hand embroidery artist by trade, I could not live without this store. The staff is amazing and have become like family. And, the selection, oh the selection of amazing fibers to work with. This store has hands down elevated my work to a new level. I'm so glad they exist!! read more

As a new cross stitcher, I wanted to visit this shop while visiting my grandparents in the area. Upon entering, the total volume of patterns, floss, and linen was amazing and I took to looking everything over. The patterns were well organized by content/designer which was helpful. The staff were stand offish as we began to look around and comment on the patterns we saw. Upon looking further, all the patterns were very dated (borderline vintage) so I wasn't as impressed as I was initially. I found a cute fall pattern, when I asked where the floss was to go with it, the elderly helper hurried me to the area and left me to pick my colors out. Afterwards I went to pick linen, the helpers then made snide remarks about my math skills which was very un becoming. The only reason I'm giving this place a second star is for the sheer volume of supplies. read more

This review is sooo long overdue!! Several months ago, I was able to place an order for white Linda fabric to make napkins to coordinate with a beautiful Christmas tablecloth stitched by my Great Aunts in Denmark in 1968. I didn't know if I could even get the right fabric in the US. Judie was very helpful in suggesting the white to coordinate with the tablecloth. She communicated several times with me to make sure I ordered the right thing. Judie and Karen were fantastic about helping me place the order in the middle of a pandemic and got the fabric to me quickly. It was exactly what I had hoped for! I had been to the store a few times prior to the pandemic. They have always helped me get what I need for my projects and are great about figuring out what would work best for my project ideas. I look forward to shopping there again! read more

Spent some time in this shop and did not feel welcome at all. Unfortunate because they have a really good selection of fabric and thread, lots of canvas and patterns too, big shop with top quality supplies. The customer service was curt and left me feeling like it would just be easier to order online from somewhere. There aren't many stitch shops left and people make long drives to visit one in person. Maybe the owner and staff can make sure it's worth a crafters time by being welcoming and friendly. I might visit again if I need to see fabric or thread in person but probably won't make a special trip. read more

This needlework shop sets the gold standard. The owners and staff are all very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. I also had the pleasure of taking a needlework class there recently. It was so very enjoyable and Judy (an owner and instructor) was both patient and a good teacher. The quality of the project (provided with the class fee) was excellent. I am new to CT and am so happy I found this shop! read more

I have been going here for DECADES for primitive style patterns for my antique home. I have had about 15 items washed and framed by the shop and all came out beautifully. One was 2 feet by 3 feet! Staff is always helpful and really know their stuff. Judy is great at helping with frame selection. I will continue to buy here until I run out of wall space for my cross stitch treasures. read more

I have been a long-time customer of Thistle Needleworks and, until recently, was happy with the shop. I brought a large piece in for framing and it was damaged in the process. I decided to have my project framed under glass to protect my work for years to come. I went back to the shop and dropped off my project, indicated my choice of frame and my request for museum glass (that would also protect against UV Rays). The owner called me a few days later to discuss my choices. The frame was not a good fit and we discussed alternatives. I was also asked why I wanted to have museum glass and when I explained, the owner essentially stated that museum glass is really only used for "special, one-of-a-kind" projects not something like mine where I bought the pattern on-line and there would be "lots of other people doing the same thing." Needless to say I was insulted, after 9 months of work on something that I consider very special, but I took the advice. I was also told it would need to be washed, which is where my real troubles begin. This pattern has a LOT of red throughout the design and I was concerned about the DMC floss (supposedly colorfast) bleeding during the finishing process. Because of this, I covered the project after every time I worked on it, my threads were only put out on clean surfaces and I was careful to always wash my hands before touching any part of my project or supplies. Because of the care I took, I was surprised to hear it required washing. I was told that I hadn't followed the shop's directions and stitched on the wrong side of the fabric (with the crease of the fold facing up instead of down) so the fabric kept its crease instead of being pulled out. When I explained that, even though I had asked for any important information when I got my fabric, I was not told any of this. I also expressed my concerns about the DMC floss bleeding. I was told that it was color fast and WOULD NOT bleed (quite adamantly) and that I could go "test it myself" at home, but the new floss was color fast and would ABSOLUTELY not be a problem. With this guarantee, and my lack of knowledge of washing projects (needlepoint projects are not traditionally washed), I agreed to have this done. Fast forward several weeks to when I was called to pick it up. It was perfectly straight and square in the frame (which was assembled perfectly) and the lumpiness from my tight stitching was barely noticeable. As I was inspecting the finishing, I noticed a few threads and a piece of plastic/glass trapped under the glass and pointed this out. The owner came out to inspect it and talk with me, and it was decided that someone would disassemble the framing, take out the threads and reframe the piece. It was at this time that I took another close look at the project noticed a character dressed in red, whose coat had apparently bled onto the fabric around him. To say I was heartbroken is an understatement. I pointed this out to the owner who said she had "noticed the stain on the back but didn't see it on the front when it was framed." Not only had my piece been damaged in their care but, evidently, I wouldn't have even been alerted to this by the shop owner had I not mentioned it first. She also said that it was likely stained before it reached them, the same with the loose threads trapped in the frame, and it did not happen in their care. I left the shop angry and upset. I went home and emailed photos to the shop of my finished project the night I had completed it. These pictures show there was no stain nor loose threads. I called the shop to let them know I sent the photos and again expressed how upset I was, given my trepidation about having it washed to begin with and how she had guaranteed it wouldn't bleed. The owner then said she had never guaranteed it wouldn't bleed and that there is always a chance. This is completely false - I had SPECIFICALLY asked these questions so this wouldn't happen to my project and she had told me it did not bleed and would not be a problem. She also said it was "dirty" and had to be washed which was also NOT what she told me at our initial discussion - she had only indicated it was because of the deep creases (ANOTHER oversight on her shop's part). Today when I picked up my project, we discussed this further and I told her how upset I am about the whole situation. How I felt lied to, misinformed and that my project is, essentially, ruined. She said she was sorry but said that the the spot will "not be noticeable" to anyone casually looking at the project when it's hung on a wall. I agreed with her - the spot is in between two characters and barely noticeable (I didn't even notice on my first look) but it is THERE. Admittedly, the spot where there is bleeding is quite small but I will never NOT see it. It is a blemish on a project that I entrusted them with, a labor of love that took me 9 months to complete and it was returned in a damaged condition. Needless to say, they've lost my business. read more

Fabulous selection of material and fiber is offered with superb support from the staff. Their finishing expertise is worth many times the cost. I have been going to their for many years and never been disappointed. read more

I've utilized this shop many times before. Staff is knowledgeable but never gotten a comfortable, come in and browse feeling. Today's visit was the worst though. I brought my 20+ year old daughter with me to help with picking out a variegated thread for a project I was going to be starting. I had brought other threads with me to match up. Immediately upon entering the shop we were greeted from a table across the room (which was fine- just acknowledging that we walked in the door). The problem comes when we immediately have a staff member (Lissa) on our heels. When I show her some thread that we are possibly interested in but that I'm looking for floss not the yarn I had in hand, she didn't allow me to finish what I was saying and was pushing us toward the cotton floss. When I stated "no, I was looking for the specific brand", her response "the silk?". She then took us to the "silks" and proceeded to pull skeins out of the drawer. When I stated that what she pulled was too light, she says "well that's what you were looking at over there!" Instead of allowing me to look, she proceeded to continue to pull skeins out or slam drawers depending whether she approved of a floss to go with the threads I already had or not. She pulled out one more skein and I looked at my daughter and said "I think that's the one", her response "good because I'm not looking any further". She proceeded to take us to the counter and ring us out. The entire time in store equaled less than 10 minutes in total. I had been thinking of looking at fabric for another project I have in mind to do, but will be looking elsewhere as I felt as though I was interrupting their staff, was not welcome in the store and definitely given the feeling that I was being watched so as not to "steal" things from the shop. read more

THISTLE is the mother planet for fiber! I thought I'd seen choice and selection in other shops but nothing even compares with the inventory at Thistle. These folks could not be nicer, more accommodating, more interested in figuring out what you're trying to accomplish with a project. Not just committed to going back, I'm writing my first ever Yelp review. read more