We're currently on holiday and not taking orders. We'll be back soon!
Sold out

The Brown Wren Étui Embroidery Kit

£225.00
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Out of stock

Why are our kits so often sold out? 

Our kits are in demand and take many hours to make. We make in small batches and keep a waiting list for each kit. To join the list, please complete the 'Email me when available' below. We will then email you with a link to purchase when the next batch of kits is ready. 

If you require a kit urgently, please CONTACT ME and we will do our best to help. 

I was nicknamed Jenny Wren as a little girl, and have always felt warmly for the plain little brown bird who flits about so busily.  So I have elevated her to grand purpose; she carries a thimble on her back, her needles in flannel cases beneath her wings, and a blade for cutting threads in her beak.

  Her plain brown tweeds are heightened with gold and pearls. Her back is worked using a sampler of needlelace stitches.

  The tail is worked in silk shading in wool and silk, combined with cutwork in non-tarnishing tubular metal purl. The wings are worked as detached wire-edged slips, using a base of Yorkshire tweed with needlewoven feathers, silk shading and applied braids.

  The underwing needlecase pages and embroidered chest panels are also worked using traditional English wool flannel fabrics. Once all the embroidery is complete, the panels are applied to a pre-made body form, (designed by my cousin Richard of Skyfield Solutions).

The legs and the tiny beak, cast in solid bronze in Hatton Garden, the jewellery centre of London, are all made from my original sculptured forms.  My father sets the beaks in the bodies, carefully inserting a tiny cutting blade.

The wren will stand happily as an étui on her own, but you may choose to create a mossy hillock for her to perch upon.  It is worked on rich silk velvet, using a wide array of freely placed textured stitches; ruched rayon tape, star eyelets, woven ribbon roses, needlelace, French knots, sequins, beads and raised purl tufts, with the addition of a tiny velvet pincushion containing emery powder to clean your needles.

They also include an opening to hold a tiny pair of étui scissors (not included, but can be ordered).    The hillock is designed to be set into the top of specially-made wooden bases, either plain or containing a turning tape measure mechanism and linen tape measure.

You can also purchase a glass dome to keep your beautiful Wren clean and free from dust. Please note that the thimble is not included in the kit, but the design suits old brass thimbles which are easy to find in charity or antique shops.

Ask a question

The fields marked * are required.

  • 5 stars: 5 (100%)
  • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
S
Sue Thomas

I was absolutely delighted with my finished Wren, I was a little concerned that I would not be able to get my bird looking like the photos. Jenny your directions were so clear and easy to follow that even the assembly was not difficult to do. I can't wait for my Peacock to arrive!

D
Debra

Thank you so much Jenny, I have just completed your Brown Wren kit. Jenny, you are amazing, your skill and attention to detail is evident in every clear step of this project. From the exterior packaging, to each individual element of the kit, each one is so beautifully and carefully presented. Highly recommended!
Thank you again Jenny.

Y
Yvonne

Echoing the sentiments of fellow stitchers, Jenny's kits are a treasure in themselves! The care and attention to detail put into them is obvious and in turn gives me the confidence and assurance that I'll be able to complete the project well. These kits are without a doubt the best I've ever received and I can't wait to have my adorable little wren next to me on my table while I enjoy my most favourite pastime!

M
Michelle

Although I have done a lot of stumpwork previously, I was a little daunted to start this gorgeous little wren. I need not have worried, the instructions are so comprehensive. There are stitches that I haven’t done before, but the diagrams are so brilliant that it is easy. I have a lot of embroidery books with descriptions of stitches. But Jenny’s are so clear. I’m absolutely thrilled doing it.
The kit itself is a work of art. Everything is so beautifully constructed and presented. It is amazing.
Thank you

A
Angela Summerside

I received my Brown Wren Étui kit yesterday. I could not believe my eyes when I opened my parcel. Everything was so beautifully wrapped. I love my aficot and mellor, both beautifully handcrafted. The instructions seem to be very comprehensive.
Thank you all at team Jenny an d a special thank you to you Jenny for sharing your incredible knowledge and skills.
Angela (Australia)