Behind every creative business is a story, and some stories stay with you long after you've finished reading them
Thread Needle Soul was born from a deeply personal journey through loss and grief. When founder Kay discovered embroidery, she found more than just a new hobby – she found moments of peace, purpose and space to breathe when she needed it most.
Today, she's passionate about helping others experience those same moments of calm through mindful stitching. Her beginner-friendly embroidery kits are designed to make creativity feel accessible, proving that you don't need years of experience to enjoy the benefits of making something with your own hands.
In this month's Maker Spotlight, Kay shares the story behind Thread Needle Soul, the inspiration behind her designs, and why she believes you don't have to be perfect – you just have to begin.
We're incredibly grateful to Kay for trusting us with such an honest and heartfelt interview, and we hope her story resonates with you as much as it has with us.
Tell us a little about yourself. Who is Kay, and what led you to start Thread Needle Soul?
Hi, I’m Kay and I began Thread Needle Soul just before Summer 2026. I lost my son (Albert, aged just 19) in October 2025 and my whole world went to pieces. Until that point, I was working full time at Imerys Minerals Ltd, but my passion had always been in knit and crochet, and my side hobby was designing patterns under the name of Kernow Designs. For months I didn’t create anything. I tried and failed at everything I had always known and relied on as my go-to for unravelling my mind.
I think I was stuck in the frame of mind that I didn’t want to do anything from my past, from when Albs was still with us. One day, while doom scrolling, I happened across an embroidery account “accidentally” and I haven’t looked back. I say accidentally, but honestly? It feels like fate. I fell in love with it instantly. I felt a peace that I hadn’t felt in a very long time. My thoughts quieted, my breathing slowed, and I felt a new person emerging with every stitch.
You describe stitching as something that helps quiet the mind. Can you tell us more about what creating means to you now?
I feel anxious now, whereas “before” I was never an anxious person. I find that my mind catastrophises situations that haven’t even happened yet. When I embroider, I concentrate on each stitch as I make it. I think about where my next stitch should be, what colour should go where. I don’t worry about non-existent disasters. I don’t dwell on things out of my control. I feel a peace that I don’t feel at other times when I’m crafting. A calm that soothes my mind and my soul. Crafting has saved me and keeps on saving me every single day. Importantly, crafting also means that I intentionally set aside some “me time” each evening. So that I always have that to look forward to.
Your kits are designed to be simple and ready to start straight away. Why was that important to you?
Because when I first began looking at learning embroidery, I felt overwhelmed. What if I couldn’t stitch neatly? Or as well as the other embroiderers I had started following? What if I bought the wrong things? Then I realised that I didn’t really need to worry at all. I just needed the materials and the will to make my first stitch. I decided when I created my first kit, that I wanted it to be accessible to all. For someone else feeling overwhelmed, I wanted to be able to offer a simple “plug and play” solution for them. Place their order, receive their happy mail, open the box and simply begin. No worrying, no stress. Just simply stitching.
What would you say to someone who wants to try embroidery but feels intimidated or doesn't know where to begin?
Don’t try to be perfect. Don’t even give perfection a thought. Just give yourself permission to begin. I find faults whenever I look at my first You Brighten My Daysies piece. I would have done this differently, or that. But it truly doesn’t matter. My husband doesn’t see any mistakes or imperfections. He only sees that I made him this lovely keepsake. And it healed my soul with every stitch I made. Most embroidery can be created with back stitch, running stitch, and satin stitch (all just straight lines really).
Many of us turn to creativity during difficult periods in our lives. Why do you think making can be so therapeutic?
Because it regulates our breathing without us thinking about it. It takes our mind to a different place without us trying too hard. When our hands are busy, so are our minds, but in a calmer, more peaceful way. But more than that, it is the creation itself. They joy or simple satisfaction of seeing the end result. That thing that we have created from scratch. We did that 😊
Is there a project you've created that holds a special place in your heart? We'd love to hear the story behind it
I didn’t start with a beginner pattern, or anyone else’s pattern for that matter. I started with something that would hopefully let my husband know how loved he still is. We’ve not had an easy relationship since our son’s passing, so this felt important to me. My very first design, my very first piece of embroidery, was 'You Brighten My Daysies'. A small play on words that took just a few days to complete. It is now framed and has pride of place in the living room. My husband loves it.
You mentioned your hope of creating meet-ups for people who are grieving or feeling lonely. Can you tell us more about that vision?
Within two weeks of my new embroidery posts on Facebook, I had people messaging to say thank you, that my posts had given them hope, and some were even learning to embroider because of me. This triggered something so big inside of my heart I couldn’t contain it even if I wanted to. The seed was sown, and I knew that Thread Needle Soul was to be a “thing.” My ultimate goal is to provide craft & calm retreats. I don’t intend to limit it to embroidery only. I strongly feel that I want to be able to help others through my own experiences. For now, I am building my offering with Embroidery Kits, Stick & Stitch patterns, PDFs and Embroidery & Cross Stitch supplies. I’m starting from scratch, from the bottom up. It feels right, because as my business is brand new, as am I. I haven’t always been Kay, this is a very recent change from Karen. If you asked my why, I wouldn’t have a definitive answer. Except to say that I am not the person I was when my son was alive. I feel that I cannot go back, only forwards. That is so important to me, for my mental wellbeing, and for being able to help others through difficult times.
What's next for Thread Needle Soul? Are there any exciting plans, products or ideas you're looking forward to bringing to life?
Oh yes! So many ideas, I’ve such a long list already! I have aerial embroidery templates already designed and ready for printing/stitching, I have a Labrador headshot already mapped out, ready to embroider. Not to mention the Hobbit inspired embroidery piece no one has seen yet. 😊 But, most importantly, I have just begun a professional grief counselling course. Once I’ve completed that, my intention is to delve fully into mental health (I used to work as a medical secretary for the NHS in Adult Mental Health pre Covid), bereavement group facilitator training, advanced bereavement support training, and so much more. I want my craft & calm retreats to be a true safe space for all. And I'm taking that very seriously.
To help link our Maker Spotlight features together, we've introduced a little tradition. At the end of each interview, the featured maker leaves a question for the next person in the spotlight. It's our way of creating a conversation between creatives, even if they've never met.
Our previous Maker Spotlight was Kate from Harriet's Duck, and the question she'd like to ask you is...
Which maker / makers inspire you?
ALL of them! Every single one of you inspire me. Whether you are an artist using paints, or an artist using a crochet hook, I take inspiration from all of you. One of the first accounts I followed on Instagram was Ditut. A multidisciplinary artist who stitched a phrase that resonated so perfectly with me. “This is how I stay. Not by self soothing but through self regulation. I don’t use craft to avoid pain. I use it to let pain move safely.” This (for me) describes my new found love of stitching perfectly.
Finally, what does creativity mean to you in one sentence?
Busy hands create a calm mind, you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to begin.
A huge thank you to Kay for sharing her story so openly with The Crafty Exchange community. Thread Needle Soul is a wonderful reminder that creativity isn't always about the finished piece; sometimes it's about finding a moment of calm, processing life's challenges, and giving yourself permission to simply create.
If you'd like to learn more about Kay, explore her beginner-friendly embroidery kits or follow her creative journey, see Thread Needle Soul in The Crafty Exchange Supplier Directory.
We hope you'll join us in supporting Kay's work and the positive impact she's making 💛
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