Springtime Stitch Joy at Loop

Is it just us or does springtime always seem like a season of play? Everything feels fresh and anything feels possible, and with all that potential flying around everything just feels a bit lighter.

The Japanese embroidery company Ototoito is all about playful joy. And while they’re stitching experts, they also love to play with language. That’s why they’ve put sweet Japanese onomatopoeias at the very heart of what they do. Three themes run through their threads and kits: Mofumofu (fluffy), Fukafuka (soft), and Kirakira (sparkling). We’re super delighted to bring all of these beautiful textures to Loop!

In addition to a Mini Ototoito Thread Set that lets you try out each of these textures, we have three gorgeous kits with designs by Atsumi (one of our favourite embroidery artists) that let you show each one off to its best advantage. Embroidering a cat is the perfect use for Mofumofu threads, and the Mofumofu Kit puts this soft, fluffy, and cuddly embroidery thread to perfect use doing just that! The finished product is so textured and sweet it almost feels like the real thing. Likewise, the Kirakira Kit and Fukafuka Kit put their threads to good use to make irridescent sea creatures and beautifully shiny bugs. Watch the magic of the shimmery Kirakira yarn as it catches the light and shimmers, mimicking the bioluminescence of a jellyfish. And soft, plush Fukafuka yarn is perfect for making well-filled shapes and adding a bit of dimension, with a super lucid, shiny finish, just like the beetles and butterflies in this kit. Each kit comes with three of the threads the kit is named for and three no. 25 threads, along with needles for each thread weight, a threader, sampler fabric, and printed fabric. These kits are either on preorder or on the way, so order now or sign up to get notified when they arrive!

The Mini Ototoito Thread Set itself contains seven different Ototoito threads to try in miniature bundles, so you get a selection of different textures. The set also comes with an Ototoito threader, which was designed specifically to work with these threads, and a needle. For a simple way to compare how each of these threads looks in different stitches, the Ototoito Embroidery Thread + Stitch Sampler is a great tool (you can also use this to help sample and choose other threads for whatever project you plan to stitch next!)

Stitching and Embroidery Books

If you’d like to explore the wide world of stitching from the comfort of your craft corner, we have a wonderful array of really special books to help you do just that. For more on stitching traditions from Japan, we love Mending with Sashiko by Takao Momiyama and Kerstin Neumüller. This book explores the work of Takako Momiyama (or “Momi”) and the tradition of Sashiko, and it’s written so stitchers of all levels (including beginners!) should be able to follow around. You can hear more about the book and see a few of the gorgeous spreads on Kerstin’s Instagram!

Yumiko Higuchi’s books on stitching explore the beauty of nature through the medium of stitch and encourages the reader to align their craft with the changing seasons of nature. With inspiring images and step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow, Yumiko’s books are a dream. Simply Stitched with Wool, Embroidered Botanicals, Stitching Through the Seasons, and A Year of Embroidery are all in stock now!

One of our favourite authors is Judit Gummlich, whose book Embroidery on Knits combines two of our favourite crafts. It was a total delight to have Judit in the shop this week and last week to teach her techniques in person. Watching so much incredible creativity happen as Judit’s beautiful work inspired so many crafty people was just a total joy. If you weren’t able to attend one of her classes, her book is the next best thing!

Stitching Tools and Materials

If you need to stock up on materials, we have all kinds of lovely and dependable tools. Tulip has a specialised needle for just about any stitch you can think of, from embroidery needles to sashiko-specific needles to general yarn needles! You never want to start needlework without a threader, and Clover has some beautiful options. Nurge Embroidery Hoops are back in stock as well! The quality of these is truly unmatched. We’re all stocked up on threads from Sajou and Au Ver à Soie, two of the loveliest purveyors around. Whether you’re in the market for rich hues, sparkly threads, metallics, or a box of everything, you’re sure to find what you’re after. Finally, this week we have another batch of Fabric Swatches from Mina Perhonen! These are really gorgeous in their own right, and they’re really special pieces to use in your stitchwork, whether you’re mending a favourite garment or creating a piece for display.

Happy stitching!