FAQs

If your order hasn't arrived yet...

Firstly we're very sorry your order hasn't arrived yet. Unfortunately our office is currently closed and we aren't able to post replacements or issue refunds until we return from the 6th January. We would suggest you look at a few options just in case:

1. Did you give the correct address when ordering? If not, this may be why it hasn't arrived. If this has happened, it will normally be returned to us.

2. Have they tried to deliver and missed you? A card may not have been left, but you can check by phoning or popping in to your local sorting office or depot (not post office).

3. Has a neighbour taken it for you and forgotten? Also check with other members of the household just in case they put it to one side for you and in any potential 'safe places'.

If you've just ordered and need it by January...

Many thanks for your order! As you can see on our website (on the announcement bar, every product page, on the delivery page, cart page, and when checking out) we are currently closed for our annual festive break. This unfortunately means that we cannot ship orders until we re-open on the 6th January. We will then get your order out to you right away. If you did not spot the messages and cannot wait, please send an email to info@hawthornhandmade.co.uk with the subject line 'CANCEL ORDER' and your order number, and we will cancel it and issue a full refund once we re-open. 

If there was a mistake with your order...

We're sorry to hear we got something wrong with your order. Unfortunately our office is now closed until the 6th January, but please send us an email at info@hawthornhandmade.co.uk with the subject line 'MISTAKE WITH ORDER' including the details of the mistake and your order number, and once we return we will be able to either send the missing items or correct items out or offer a refund, whichever is applicable. 

All orders are shipped within 2 working days at the most, normally the next or same day. The only time this doesn't happen is when we close for Christmas and the New Year.

If you're in the UK all orders are sent 2nd class, or 1st class at busy times or if upgraded, and normally arrive in 2-3 working days, though they can occasionally take up to 7 days. You can choose to upgrade to a next day service when ordering.

International orders vary from 3-7 working days for most of Europe to 5-14 working days for the US, Canada, Australia and everywhere else. 

If it is longer than 12 working days in the UK and 6 full weeks from shipping for the rest of the world and and your order hasn't arrived, please first check with your local depot or sorting office, and with any neighbours or other household members in case they have attempted delivery and missed you or someone has taken delivery for you. Please also check that the delivery address is correct.

If none of those checks unearth the parcel, please get in touch with us on info@hawthornhandmade.co.uk and we'll do our best to help. 

Yes! We ship internationally on a fully tracked service to hundreds of countries. If your country isn't available or your're in the EU, that unfortunately means that due to tax and regulatory reasons, we aren't able to ship there. 

For UK standard post (1st or 2nd class) there is a delivery confirmation number which shows when the parcel has been delivered, but please note this is not a door to door tracking number. This will be on your shipping notification email.

If you upgraded to Next Day your tracking number will be in your shipping notification email and is a fully tracked service.

All international orders are fully tracked and your tracking number will have been sent to you in your shipping notification email. 

Email us on info@hawthornhandmade.co.uk or call us on 01258 863873 (NB. we're a small team and may not always be able to answer so please do leave a message!)

We're afraid not. The instructions provided in all our kits and the finished items made from them are for your personal use only. They must not be copied, reproduced or sold. 

Unfortunately our premises are not open to the public and all sales need to be online. 

Yes! We currently work with over 600 stockists around the world and are always happy to welcome new shops. We have a dedicated wholesale website where you can apply for an account. Head here to fill out the form and we'll be in touch. Some of the amazing shops we work with include the V&A, Missouri Star, Acorn and Twigs, Snuggly Monkey and many more.

Needle Felting is a relatively new craft created in America in the 1980’s. To create 3D or flat shapes out of loose wool you repeatedly stab the wool with a special barbed needle. The barbs catch on the scales on the fibres and push them together where they grab onto each other. The needle then comes out clean leaving the fibres where they are. The more and more you stab, the more they hold onto one another and they gradually become solid. As you stab you manipulate the wool, sculpting and adding as you go to create different shapes. It’s a wonderfully therapeutic craft and is ideal for picking up and putting down as and when you find the time!

Each kit contains all the wool you need as well as 2 felting needles in a secure case and detailed instructions. You have the option to add a foam block or not depending on whether you have one already, or are giving the kit as a gift (see below for more information on the foam). You don’t need anything else to complete one of our needle felting kits, apart from a little patience and some refreshments!  

Absolutely! Though it can take years to master (as with any craft!) the basic techniques are easy to get the hang of and you’ll be able to make a completed piece from scratch by following our super-clear step-by-step instructions. There are a few basic rules to follow such as not bending or twisting the needle and working on the foam surface, then after that it’s very intuitive and most importantly, great fun! And if you do get stuck, check out our video tutorials or get in touch.

As a general rule we recommend that the kits are for children aged 10 and over due to the sharp needles. However we know that many younger children can be very dextrous and they may even do better than us adults! Therefore, it is up to you but please do supervise young children with the sharp needles.

If you've never felted before you will need a foam block to get started and they're available to add as an extra to all our needle felting kits. The foam acts as a working surface whilst you felt. You need something that the needle can go into to stop it from snapping against a hard surface and to protect your hands or lap. You can also use it to help shape pieces. One of our foam blocks should then last about 30 -40 projects depending on the size of the projects. 

The majority of the wool in our needle felting kits is British wool from our wholesale supplier in Yorkshire. The Merino in our wool bundles and a small number of kits is ethically sourced from non-mulsed sheep on the Cape of South Africa or South America. And finally a few kits use Corridale from New Zealand.

Apart from a small pair of scissors, everything you need to complete your hoop is in the box including the hoop, pre-printed pattern, embroidery threads, needle and instructions.

Absolutely! Our kits contain a detailed stitch guide showing you how to do all the stitches required to finish each kit (with illustrated diagrams) and which stitches to do where. There's also a beginner's guide to embroidery showing you the very basics including how to use the hoop, splitting the thread and more. Follow the instructions and take your time and you'll be stitching like a pro in no time! 

As a general rule we recommend that the kits are for children aged 10 and over due to the sharp needle. However we know that many younger children can be very dextrous and they may even do better than us adults! Therefore, it is up to you but please do supervise young children with the sharp needle.

Yes, of course! We provide recommended colours and stitches but feel free to have fun with your own design, even adding to the design!

Yes! Our cross stitch kits are designed for beginners with just one simple stitch to learn. Our designs don't use any fiddly half or quarter stitches and there's no back stitch to add - just a simple cross stitch. Our large print patterns make it really easy to keep track and the detailed instruction booklet shows you all the basics, from preparing the fabric in the hoop, to how to follow the pattern and of course, how to create the stitch.

The only thing you'll need to add is a pair of sharp scissors. Everything else is included in the box!

Yes! The finished pieces may look complicated, but our detailed instructions break everything down into easy manageable steps which a total beginner can master.

Our felt is 30% wool and 70% viscose. We tested lots of wool felts and this was the best we found, with the ideal mix of soft woolen texture with the sturdiness of viscose needed to make sharp cuts.