At Elizabeth Bradley we understand that choosing the right background shade for your kit requires special consideration.

To help you with your decision we have carefully selected a range of 18 shades that have proved popular and give a wide range of options to suit your taste. You may want your stitching to blend seamlessly into your decor or contrast so it makes a statement.

Our customer service team is always on hand to give advice if you need help in choosing the right shade for any particular kit. Each shade has been selected to enhance the colours within the kits.

Here are some insights and considerations.

Our most popular shades are winter white (a recent addition), cream and black.

Winter white is brighter and adds a sense of modernity, whilst cream adds warmth and tradition. Black, traditionally associated with Victorian Berlin work adds drama by lifting the colours in the design and adding vibrancy. Black can also be used to create a modern contemporary look.

We highlight the use of cream and winter white using our NEW botanical garden nasturtium. Our cream background, shown on the left, has an undertone that compliments the warmth of the various shades of orange in the flowers. The cushion looks more monochromatic compared to the brighter winter white background on the right. Winter white makes the oranges seem more vivid and striking so the cushion has a brighter look. If you want to add warmth to a room, cream will achieve that. If you need a lighter element, you may be better with winter white.

The new botanical garden cowslip is shown here on black. This background contrasts with the yellows lifting them and creating a classic look.

Duck egg blue is elegant and very English, think of a Cotswold cottage or stately manor. This shade works superbly well with our shells collection subtly complementing the natural shades within these designs.

Our greens offer a sense of calm, working well with all our botanical and floral kits.

All our darker shades, dark blue, dark green, and dark red will add a similar effect and can be chosen to work with your interior.

Meanwhile, our pastel shades are always a good choice when you want something softer.

Experienced stitchers often have their favourite shades and choosing your own background shade is a wonderful way to make any design unique to you.

If you change your mind, we offer a background exchange service for all un-opened background wool. Download and fill out our Background Wool Hank Exchange Form or fill out the one enclosed in your kit and send it back to the address specified. 

Our knowledgable customer service team is always on hand to assist you with any questions or offer advice. 

  Email - sales@elizabethbradley.com                                 Tel- (919) 828-5568