Yiota's Xstitch Kit Review

I was recently contacted by Yiota Christodoulou of Yiota's Xstitch asking if I would be willing to review one of her kits.  Yiota and her husband have started a company specializing in cross stitch kits and would like to get the word out on the wonderful kits and charts that they provide.  I told Yiota that I would be more than happy to review one of her kits:

After going through her site I chose the Strawberry Thief.  You can blow up the pictures to see the design better.  I have always loved William Morris' works and thought that this would be the perfect thing to stitch.

The kit came very quickly - quicker than most things that I have ordered from the United States.  That was surprising and a Big Plus in my book.  It came in a study cardboard backed envelope and arrived in perfect condition.  The kit was packaged wonderfully as well.  The Maderia floss is wound around numbered cards that have holes punched in the tops of them for putting on a ring.  I liked that.  The fabric is Zweigart even weave and will be perfect for this design as the entire piece of fabric is covered.

The chart, while probably a little daunting to some as it's completely filled in, is very clear and the symbols very easy to read.  She also includes very clear instructions.  Another thing I really liked, is that she also includes the DMC conversion (for those that order the charts only).  Listed over to the right is the amount of each color that you will need.  I thought that was an excellent thing to include as you would know exactly how much thread you would need to complete the design.  If doing the piece in DMC, it's nice to know that if I have 1/2 of a skein of a certain color in my stash - or even less - I wouldn't have to go out and necessarily buy all the flosses called for in the piece.  I may find that what I have in my stash is more than enough.  From the key, I would know exactly how much I needed.  So I found that to be a very big plus!!

Yiota's kits come in either DMC or Maderia, and you have your choice of 14 count Aida or 28 Zweigart even weave - although all kits may not be available in even weave as I write this.  I believe she is starting to add even weave to her kits as time allows.  A needle is also included.  Everything you need to start stitching right away.

One other nice thing about her site and the pieces that she offers is that you can receive charts via email, if you like to kit up your own pieces and also save some postage, via snail mail, or you can receive a whole kit.

I haven't started stitching this piece, but I know that when I'm ready everything is available and beautifully put together.  I would highly recommend her pieces because not only was her delivery very fast, but the kit was put together in a really nice way.  There is nothing worse than getting a kit with the threads in a mess.

Stop by when you have a chance and look at what Yiota has to offer.  She has some beautiful charts!