Shop: The Fisherman embroidery kit, £75 (opens in new tab) Self-confessed interiors obsessive Eppie Thompson first began playing around with a needle and thread while working as an Investment Banker in the City. The meditative process became an essential wellbeing tool, the perfect antidote to the stress of 18-hour days. However, when it came to finding stylish designs to stitch, she struggled; ‘everything was a little bit too twee for my taste and not something I’d want on my wall’, she says. She’d stumbled across a niche in the industry: a need for a contemporary twist on the traditional. And so the concept was born. Fast forwad to today and she’s given up the day job to pusue her passion full time. The Fabled Thread officially launched this Spring, offering luxury embroidery kits that combine expert design, high-quality materials and beautiful colour combinations, resulting in an heirloom piece well worthy of a place on the wall for years to come. The inspiration behind her storytelling designs comes from traditional folk art; ‘Aesops Fables is where the brand name came from’, she confirms. Embroidery designs include striking depictions of classics such as ‘The Fox & The Crane, The ‘Horse And The Rider’ and ‘The Fisherman’, while customisable cross-stitch samplers are also available – a beautiful way to mark meaningful moments, from moving house to welcoming a new baby. Shop: The Horse and Rider embroidery kit, £75 (opens in new tab) The kits arrive beautifully packaged with everything you need, from needles and threads to colourful Japanese cotton twills to stitch onto. There’s even a handy tote bag for storing everything neatly together. Beginners will benefit from her detailed instructions, as well as the handy how-to videos on her website.
