Q: I am a newcomer to the world of needlework. I love Jolly Red designs - but can I be sure that I will be able to stitch one? A: Yes, you will! We design kits for all levels of ability and they all use one stitch which is very easy to master. We recommend 'tent stitch' (sometimes called 'continental stitch') as this stitch gives excellent coverage.

Q: I want to stitch something for a new baby but it isn't born yet. What do you advise? If you want to stitch a birth sampler, choose one that can be for both a boy and a girl and stitch as far as you can, leaving the name panel blank until you know the details. Some of our kits, eg Seaside Sampler, which is shown with a boy's name would look equally good stitched for a girl. It's often just a case of choosing a more feminine colour for the fabric when making up.

Q: I am soon going on holiday to the UK. I've heard that Jolly Red kits are the best by far. Where can I stock up?
A: Jolly Red kits are available through many independent needlework retailers, as well as in larger stores such as Liberty in London and all of the John Lewis stores. If you are hoping to pick up a particular kit, do phone the stockist in advance to make sure they have it in, to avoid disappointment.
 
Q: Do your kits contain enough wool for basket weave?
A: This is a tricky one. Our favourite stitch and the one that we use when calculating wool for our kits is 'tent stitch', sometimes called 'continental stitch.' It gives a nice long, hardwearing stitch on the reverse of your work and an all-round superior finish to 'half cross stitch'. Because we add extra wool when we calculate, many people find that they have enough for basketweave - however I must stress that it is not our recommended stitch! For one thing, our designs are too patterny, basketweave lends itself more to large areas of one colour.
 
Q: Shouldn't I use half cross stitch for my tapestry?
A: Many Jolly Red stitchers finish their kits to an extremely high standard using half cross stitch and this is absolutely fantastic, but I would say is largely down to their personal skill. They should carry on exactly as they are as their good results speak for themselves! However, for someone starting out we would recommend tent stitch because it gives better canvas coverage, is more hard wearing - and is very easy to master. It's also easier to stop and start with tent stitch as the thicker back makes it easier to weave in and out of existing stitches. Stitch instructions are given with each Jolly Red tapestry kit.
 
Q: What's the difference between cross stitch and tapestry?
A: Right... how long have we got?! So that you aren't here for hours I will confine myself only to talking only about the differences in Jolly Red's kits. For one thing the materials are different, we use stranded cottons ('silks') for the cross stitch kits and Anchor tapestry wool for the tapestry kits. The finished effect of cross stitch is more delicate than the thicker, cosier feel and look of tapestry. Tapestry - needlepoint, whatever you want to call it - is made by the repeat of one diagonal stitch (using either half cross or tent stitch)...with cross stitch you first do your half stitch then go back the other way forming a cross. Don't worry, we provide instructions with our cross stitch kits! Jolly Red's cross stitch kits are worked from a black and white symbols chart onto 14 count Aida, whereas our tapesty kits are all printed on the canvas in full colour - you get a reference chart as well with the tapestry kits.
 
Q: How do you do your designs for Jolly Red? I bet you've got a computer programme that does it for you
A: No not quite, in fact not at all. Jolly Red's designs all start off in sketchbooks, then get drawn up, coloured...altered, discarded, re-started, ignored, forgotten... usually until too many customers call up saying 'So where's that chicken design then?'  Once the design is looking good on paper I stitch colour samples, again getting it wrong many times...Eventually if I am happy with things, the design is transferred to graph paper and then onto the computer so it can be printed out for stitching. Either I stitch it or it goes off to one of my merry band of outworkers. Very occasionally this will be the end of the process, but usually I find that I've got some of the colours wrong, or the design just isn't good enough. Quite often the whole process has to be started again. It is a bit of a labour of love.