Over the last month or so, my Instagram ads have been filled with cross stitch, modern embroidery, and punch needle kits and patterns. I clicked through a few of them and found a few that I really liked the look of, but I hesitated because do I really need a new hobby? Do I really want to order something from IG when I’ve had a bad experience in the past? While the answer is probably “no,” when I took my little one to the library for storytime and encountered a display about how March is crafting month, I decided to take that as a sign for “yes.”

My Experience & Review

I picked one of the kits that I liked the best, and I put in an order. What happened after that? Well, Amanda has fallen down the rabbit hole. My first order (there have been…a few) was for beginner kits of “Bee Happy” and “Flora the Cat” from Clever Poppy. Y’all, I cannot even overstate how incredible my beginner experience has been with modern embroidery. My Clever Poppy kit, which was packaged beautifully, included a code to download the pattern and view tutorial videos on their website.

The user interface for the tutorials is fantastic, and Julie walked me through everything from dressing my hoop and tracing my pattern to making French Knots and Lazy Daisies, with check ins after each step of the way. I did not need to look up any information to complete the piece. The tutorial videos are so good, and each one is only a few minutes. Julie included tips and common things that newbies do compared to experienced embroiderers. She maintained an energetic, positive, and encouraging vibe throughout the experience.

Completed “Bee Happy”

I made “Bee Happy” first, and I am so happy with how it turned out. It is currently living on my wall in my bedroom, and I am well on my way to filling my home with handmade art. (We already have tons of knitted gnomes.) This was my very first attempt at learning embroidery.

I started “Bee Happy” on March 13, 2024 and finished it on March 15, 2024. I did not make any modifications to the pattern. One of the things I am loving about my embroidery experience is how quickly you can see progress in your project. With knitting, sometimes I can work on a project for hours and only see minimal progress. Embroidery keeps my mind from wandering because I need to pay attention to each stitch, whereas with my knitting, I can almost do it in my sleep, and sometimes my mind is all over the place.

Recommendations

Do I recommend one of these kits from Clever Poppy for people who are interested in learning modern embroidery? Before I give you my answer, here are the caveats: (1) this is not a sponsored review in any way; I do not benefit from you purchasing from them in any way other than getting to potentially chat with you about our new hobby, (2) I did not try out kits from other brands, and (3) while I had never tried embroidery before, I would consider myself an experienced crafter (knitting, crochet, quilting) and did not encounter any challenges or difficulties. The few emails I have exchanged with the Clever Poppy team since I began learning embroidery have been answered quickly and effectively.

So, do I recommend it? Absolutely yes. The price point ($50) is comparable to what I would pay for a skein of yarn ($30), pattern ($5), and set of knitting needles ($15), and the tutorial and interface is fantastic. Plus, they have a beautiful website.

Flora the Cat

After I finished up my “Bee Happy” kit, I immediately started on “Flora the Cat.” My daughter loves cats, but we cannot have one due to allergies, so I thought she would enjoy this piece. I am planning to include it in her Easter basket to hang in her bedroom.

I started this project on March 16, 2024 and finished it on March 21, 2024. I did not make any modifications to the pattern. I loved making the woven roses, and I think the cranberry-colored French Knots are the most beautiful touch. I also loved learning Satin Stitch and Julie’s method for tapering your stitches to make gorgeous petals. I love how she turned out!

Want to Join Me?

Have I convinced you to try out embroidery? Of course, I do not want to push you in a direction you weren’t already going, but if this is something you’re interested in, I want to encourage you to give it a try! Have you already learned embroidery? What kinds of projects and patterns do you love making? What is your favorite piece?