Old World Designs

I am young and often get funny looks when walking in to a needlepoint store. This place is no different, but I had never had a problem until I went in yesterday looking for thread for my new project. I was bullied into picking something that I did not want, and when I constantly mentioned that I didn’t like/​want it the woman working there actually cut the thread she was pushing and started stitching on my project! I felt obligated to buy the thread she cut even though I TOLD HER I wasn’t comfortable using a different material that I had never worked with before. After she did some stitches I told her that I didn’t like the way it looked and did not want this thread. She couldn’t look more annoyed even though I did not ask her to ruin her own inventory by cutting it and I certainly did not want her stitching on my project! She is lucky I even offered to buy that one thread she cut because I had made it clear I didn’t want it before she cut it. I’m not comfortable coming back here and will be finding a new place for my projects.

I got volunteered for a needlepoint project. Not really my thing as my fine motor skills are anything but fine, but I figured it would not hurt to try to broaden my skill set.
I started to run out of embroidery materials and headed to Old World Designs for a refill. I had walked past the store many times but had never been motivated to enter. (See above note about lack of coordination.)
The other customers in the store appeared to be regulars and had a certain look about them, which is not my look. I was asked, a little too eagerly, if I wanted help. I declined — since I’d never been in the store, I wanted to look around — and was then followed and closely observed, none too discreetly, by one of the ladies. Do they really get a lot of shoplifting needlepointers? Suffice to say, it was not a warm and welcoming environment.
I found the item I needed the most and headed to the cash register, only to be asked if I truly wanted to spend that much. Dear Reader, the item was about $ 4 and I paid in cash, with a $ 5 bill that, as far as I know, was legit.
I will be ordering the other supplies from an online site because on the internet, they’ll take your money whether or not you dress in a matronly fashion.
So, if you fit the type and like to chat about needlepoint designs with the ladies, you will bond with Old World Designs and they will adore you. Me, I’m not going to be part of that clique.

My local (as in half a block away from my house) embroidery shop closed and left me in the lurch needing more thread for my HUGE embroidery project. I called Old World Designs and they had a bit of my desired color in stock and ordered the rest of what I needed. It’s been less than two weeks and my order has already arrived. Better follow-​up and faster service than my previous shop. My only complaint is the one saleswoman there interrupted me constantly. I thought that was so rude, but she really meant well. I guess that’s just her personality. Maybe she can tone it down. Can’t imagine how she must be treating her older clientele (I’m 26!).

What was a 22 year old doing in a needlepoint store? It sounds weird, I know, but both of my grandmothers were major needlepointers, and I’m, well, a little addicted.
The ladies in this store were friendly enough, I suppose, but there wasn’t a lot of service. I walked in looking for a new project, and there just isn’t a lot of selection. There were very few canvases available (my home store has literally a huge rolodex of moving boards with 150 – 200 canvases). Old World Designs had probably 30 – 40 canvases to choose from, all of which were rather small.
On top of that, all of the canvases available were exceedingly expensive. I’m used to paying $ 100 – 150 for a canvas (including all thread), but even the small ones here were $ 200+ unless they were on sale.
Just not a great experience, and I’d rather design my own canvas for my next project than come back.

I love this shop; the team is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The collection of canvases is very good — plentiful and varied without being overwhelming. In addition to handpainted canvases, they carry Stitch-​n-​Zip kits, which are a favorite of mine, especially for quick and easy gifts. Excellent selection of fibers.

My grandmother used to come to this shop quite frequently and a couple years after her passing I decided to stop by and find something to needlepoint in her memory. The saleswomen were all extremely friendly and remembered my grandmother immediately. It was great to hear stories about her from them. They were very supportive and helped me pick out a beautiful hand painted canvas for a pillow that wasn’t too complicated for a beginner. When I came back at a later date to have my own design (an image that elderly women don’t see every day) made into a pillow they were only happy to laugh along. The threads and canvases are all pretty expensive but considering their quality and the location of the store it’s not all that surprising. All in all a cute, warm and welcoming shop.

If you are a hands-​on-​crafts artist who loves to explore a variety of textures, colors and fine brands of threads you must see this store!
If you are easily ruffled by strong personalities and demand a customer-​comes first attitude, you might wish to avoid this store.
I believe these ladies are good at heart — no doubt they have good reason to be proud and self-​confident of their wares.

I went to this needlepoint store with the intent of purchasing a gift for my Mother-​in Law, who is an avid needlepointer.
In all my years on earth, I have rarely been treated as rudely as I was at this store. The two women with whom I spoke were condescending, snippy, and very, very, rude. One of these women said that they were «very busy» because they had two classes going on. Well, perhaps you might consider scheduling one at a time? Or hiring another (nicer) salesperson? No matter how busy they were that’s no excuse for being rude to a CUSTOMER.
I would definitely not recommend this store. Ever.

Nice selection of hand painted canvases, threads and accessories for everything needlepoint. Canvases can be expensive, but that’s not their fault. They give classes in various techniques but they also have the patience to show a beginner the ropes and a few tricks along the way.