Category: Insights
A Wonderful Few Days at the Stitch Festival 2026
We’ve just returned from a fantastic few days at the The Stitch Festival, and what a joy it was to be back! Held at the ever-buzzing Business Design Centre in Islington from 19–22 March, the show once again brought together a vibrant community of makers, creators and textile enthusiasts from all over the world. […]
The Wool Journey: From Fleece to Yarn at Appletons
If you’ve ever stitched with Appletons wool, you’ll know there’s something special about it. The rich colour, the smooth texture and the way it glides through canvas all come from a carefully managed journey that begins long before the yarn reaches a needle. In fact, every cone of Appletons wool starts life exactly where you […]
Meet Debbie O’Brien: The Woman Behind Appletons’ Colour and Creativity
At Appletons, there’s a small but passionate team behind the wool, colours and kits that stitchers around the world love. We caught up with Debbie O’Brien, Head of Buying, to chat about her journey into the industry, what her role involves, and why no two days are ever quite the same. Q: Debbie, how did you […]
The Environmental Advantages of Wool: A Natural Choice
Welcome to a cosy corner of the web where we chat about something we’re utterly passionate about, wool! Not just any wool, but the kind that’s been part of great tapestries, heritage projects, and creative moments in homes around the world: Appletons’ British Tapestry and Embroidery wool. Here at Appletons, we’ve been sharing our love of wool for […]
Looking Back on Our Year at Appletons – A Fresh New Look and So Much More
What a wonderfully busy, colourful, and transformative year it’s been at Appletons. As we pause to reflect, there’s one big moment that really stands out, our brand-new website and rebrand. It’s been one of the most exciting and significant milestones in our recent history, and it’s set the tone for everything else we’ve achieved this […]
Meet Di Cawdron: The Driving Force Behind Appletons Wool!
Here at Appletons, we’re immensely proud of our history, a story that spans nearly two centuries. But a business is more than just its past, it’s driven by the passion of the people behind it. We recently sat down and asked our owner, Di Cawdron, some questions to learn more about her vision, the history of […]
Woven with Care: The Appletons Story
If you’ve ever stitched with Appletons wool, you’re part of a story that’s been nearly two centuries in the making. Since 1835, our tapestry and crewel wool has woven its way through British history. From royal garments and historic restorations to family projects stitched at kitchen tables around the world. But Appletons isn’t just a […]
Behind the Brand: Why We Rebranded (and What It Means for You)
Now that you’ve had a chance to explore our refreshed brand and shiny new website, we thought it was the perfect time to share a little more about what prompted the change, and the thinking behind it. So, why the change? Over the past 12 years, Appletons has been rooted in the wholesale world. But […]
Behind the Palette: The Art of Colour Selection at Appletons
When you pick up an Appletons skein, you’re not just choosing a colour, you’re dipping into a history that stretches back to 1835. That’s nearly two centuries of careful colour curation, experimentation, and, yes, the occasional debate over whether a shade should be “just a touch warmer” or “ever so slightly cooler.” A palette with […]
Eppie Thompson, founder of the Fabled Thread
Eppie started her business back in the strange days of 2020, after seven years working in London’s financial centre. She discovered that her long-time love of stitching was also the greatest antidote to the stress of a job she was no longer enjoying, and this was brought home to her most clearly when she realised […]