Yiota's Xstitch: A Kit Review

I was surprised and very flattered indeed to be contacted by Yiota Christodoulou about reviewing one of her cross stitch kits. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity; I do like an adventure! I have long admired the exquisite charts and kits available from www.yiotas-xstitch.com – a small company based in Hampshire – and to be asked to write a review is a privilege and an honour.

Unlike larger companies whose impersonal product serial numbers can be rather off-putting, Yiota's kits each have an individual name, so there is no possibility of getting a couple of digits round the wrong way and ending up with something completely different, either through your own misreading or Yiota's. The new website is modern and professional in appearance and is easy to navigate; a necessity for cross stitch addicts like myself who simply want to find what they're looking for and get back to the all-important stitching. There is something for everyone with categories including fantasy, fairies, Egyptian, biscornu, landscapes and so much more. Each item is available as either a downloadable chart or a full kit and is clearly priced.

Having enlisted the help of my husband, we finally – after much deliberation – decided upon the Elegant Geisha. The kit landed on my doormat only a few days later. Already I was impressed. The envelope was card-backed and clearly marked “please do not bend”. The address label was neatly sealed in plastic with a receipt and contact details (with refund policy) on the reverse. Hardly able to contain my excitement, I carefully opened the envelope to retrieve the kit inside.

The kit is beautifully presented and sealed in plastic. The cover sheet clearly indicates the name of the kit above a photo of the cross stitched piece. The stitch count and finished size are stated below and then Yiota's contact details. Turning over to look at the back, I noticed first that the stranded cotton has been wound onto individual card bobbins and clearly labelled. The second thing I noticed was that the tapestry needle had been neatly placed at the edge of the fabric through its holes; I hate when companies put the needle through the fabric any old how, ignoring the holes altogether.

Upon opening the cellophane I was impressed by the quality of the paper the chart has been printed on, and that it has been folded gently so that the crease won't mark the chart. Instructions and a symbol key are printed on the second page, with the last two rows of stitches from page one printed at the top of page two and greyed out so you don't stitch them twice. These two rows of stitches for reference will be very helpful and save me a lot of time while stitching in trying to align the two sections of the chart correctly. It also means that I won't have to stick the two pages together to make one giant and uneasy-to-manage chart.

The chart is black and white and large, so it is easier to read. Those who have only stitched from colour charts before may find this daunting at first, but be assured that once you start stitching, not only will you not notice that the chart is monochrome, but you will wonder why we even have colour charts! I have always found monochrome charts easier to follow than their colourful counterparts, and I'm sure that those who like to cross off their stitches as they are worked would be inclined to agree with me.

My strongest impression of this kit is its bespoke nature; there is a definite feeling that this whole kit – from the chart to the threads – has been put together just for me. It is almost like Yiota has put a part of herself into compiling the kit and that is a very personal touch. This is a very good quality kit and for a very reasonable price.

Although I have yet to start stitching the piece, I would certainly recommend Yiota's cross stitch kits to any cross stitcher. It is the personal touch with this kit and company/website that sets it apart from the others, and in this day and age I think the personal touch speaks volumes.