Sponsored giveaway: Urban Threads

by KateG on August 28, 2011

We would like to welcome advertiser Niamh O’Connor of Urban Threads to whipup.net today, to feature her business and to offer a fantastic giveaway to our readers.

Urban Threads was created for those looking for embroidery designs they couldn’t find anywhere else – everything from tattoos and steampunk to pagan designs and all-out geekery. Our goal is to not only reach that audience of stitchers who previously couldn’t find things they wanted, but to introduce it to a whole new audience of people who might not have even looked at machine embroidery before because of their assumptions of what it was, or what it could do. Also, we one day hope to achieve world domination through embroidery. Not sure how yet, but we’re working on it.

Where to find Urban Threads online: Shop :: Stitch Punk Blog

Tell us what led you to the work you do today?

I went to school for illustration, and through college got an internship at a machine embroidery company. I loved drawing stuff every day, but I wasn’t drawing the kind of things I was really in to. I figured there had to be a whole audience of crafters like me who wanted different kinds of designs than those that were typically offered by the industry. As it turns out, there are a whole bunch of embroiderers out there who prefer skulls to floral samplers. It’s been so much fun to discover a whole new audience for the medium.

Who or what is your biggest inspiration?

Our customers! It’s so great to see what is inspiring them and the DIY community. We get requests all the time for all kinds of crazy cool ideas. It’s a great way to see just what your audience wants. For instance, we started doing steampunk designs once in awhile, and through customer requests and ideas it’s expanded into one of our best selling themes! They always seem to have a new idea of what to add gears to.

What are you doing to be a more eco friendly business?

The nice thing about being an entirely digital business is that you don’t have any of the waste of printing, storing, packaging, shipping… any of it! Our product is entirley digital and thus doesn’t create any excess material. We stitch each product once for quality and scanning, and after that it just lives in cyberspace! It also means more time for us to draw and design and create when we’re not messing with the physical side of producing and distributing a product.
Also, one of our favorite things to do in tutorials is up-cycling! Embroidery is a great way of bringing new life to an old garment, so we show people how to cut things apart and put them back together as something new and fun.

Today Urban Threads are offering a prize of a $50 gift certificate to one lucky Whipup.net reader. ~~So please leave a comment here to be in the running to win. You have 72 hours to enter. Winner will be chosen at random, announced here and contacted via email. Good luck!~~ Congratulations to Margi!

Urban Threads has just this week released Dark Fairytale embroidery designs, and these will be on sale until the 5th of September.

If you would like your business to be featured in a future Giveaway Post, visit our advertising page or email us at advertising[at]whipup[dot]net.

Share and Enjoy:

Tagged as: embroidery, giveaway, machine embroidery

{ 105 comments }

1 Cheekyredhead August 28, 2011 at 6:50 am: $50 GC from Urban Threads. With it I could rule the world!
2 Cindy August 28, 2011 at 7:15 am: I love the dark fairy tale series!! And I am not young, hip or urban!! LOL
3 Kristin August 28, 2011 at 7:19 am: I just got bit by the embroidery bug – thiese patterns look so fun!
4 Linda August 28, 2011 at 7:42 am: Oh dear. Those fairytale designs look fabulous, just as everything else on your site. I make everyone I know browse it with me, Thanks for the chance to win!
5 Sarah August 28, 2011 at 8:00 am: Awesome patterns, what a generous giveaway!
6 Margi Borck August 28, 2011 at 8:11 am: Love the images and in thread makes them all the more awesome! Thanks for a great giveaway!
7 Jane August 28, 2011 at 8:21 am: Wow! These are gorgeous! Would definitely like to give the fairy tale patterns a go :)
8 Sara August 28, 2011 at 8:24 am: I love Urban Threads designs. I’ve been thinking of all sorts of ways to use the Dark Fairy Tales series.
9 Desiree @ Wee Share August 28, 2011 at 8:41 am: oh– I am LOVING their designs!! Fingers crossed!!
10 Isadora August 28, 2011 at 8:44 am: Please count me in, I love Urban Threads! Hope I’m lucky!
Dora
11 Mary Emmens August 28, 2011 at 8:51 am: Wowzers – how fantastically cool, I’ve just been browsing their site!
Thanks for the chance to win.
12 Sarah August 28, 2011 at 8:52 am: Totally into the Dark Fairytale series. Love the colour combination.
13 Jenny B August 28, 2011 at 8:55 am: So many cool things here and on their site! Thanks for the chance to win!
14 Indy August 28, 2011 at 9:16 am: I’m huge fan of this site–I love the stitchpunk work. Thanks for this chance!
15 Heidi August 28, 2011 at 9:22 am: Amazing stuff!!!! Love the site.
16 Jennyroo August 28, 2011 at 9:24 am: Looks great!
17 alexis m August 28, 2011 at 9:42 am: I hope I win, thanks for the chance!
18 MaryKate August 28, 2011 at 10:00 am: Urban Threads Is my fave!!
19 lorraine August 28, 2011 at 10:36 am: ooh! the dark fairytales looks so good! i love it!
20 Amy August 28, 2011 at 10:40 am: What a neat giveaway. There are so many cool things on their site!
21 Vicki August 28, 2011 at 10:47 am: Love these designs–what about some designs for fingerless gloves that would create “knuckle” tattoos?
22 Emily August 28, 2011 at 10:50 am: I love Urban Threads and, perhaps more importantly my son loves some of the designs too (really it is nice to see embroideries for boys that aren’t choo-choo trains).
23 ellen August 28, 2011 at 10:51 am: I think embroidery was the first crafty skill I learned – and it’s still fun! Count me in.
24 Jen August 28, 2011 at 11:06 am: I LOVE URBAN THREADS!!!
25 Coco August 28, 2011 at 11:14 am: Interesting! Count me in!
26 alli b August 28, 2011 at 11:30 am: Great giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity.
27 Ella August 28, 2011 at 11:33 am: Oooo….I love the Dark Fairytale series. And I have a hoop swap coming up. Hmmm. Pick me!
28 Heather August 28, 2011 at 11:36 am: Really neat company that I didn’t know about and now am really excited to shop!
Thanks
29 Amber P August 28, 2011 at 11:36 am: I love Urban Threads for their hand embroidery designs. They rock!
30 Clothdragon August 28, 2011 at 11:52 am: A new (to me) site AND a giveaway! Excitement! Now I have to go explore.
31 andie August 28, 2011 at 12:07 pm: Oh. Em. Gee. I LOVE those dark fairy tale patterns. I’m a huge fan of anything fairy tale, and collect different versions. And I must have these patterns!
32 Lemon Tree Tami August 28, 2011 at 12:34 pm: Urban Threads have the best modern embroidery designs. So far I’ve been having fun with their lace offerings but am eyeballing the new fairytale series. They look so cool! I must get a larger hoop for my machine.
33 Jennifer August 28, 2011 at 12:48 pm: Those look so cool.
34 Janel August 28, 2011 at 1:42 pm: All of the designs are wonderful! I love the steampunk and skull collections.
35 connie August 28, 2011 at 1:48 pm: I’ve been looking for a way to add a tat inspired design to my jean purse. I think this is the way to go! Thanks!
36 Tinkers Penny August 28, 2011 at 1:58 pm: I learned to embroider at the age of 6 (my grandmother thought it was something every well cultured lady had to do well). Since I now have a daughter in college who would rather not wear flowers, but wants me to embellish her clothes, Urban Threads is a great match for me.
37 Beth Walker August 28, 2011 at 2:15 pm: LOVE the hand embroidery designs, especially the crafty themed ones.
38 Martina August 28, 2011 at 2:21 pm: Love all of the designs, the Fairytale embroidery designs are already waiting for me in my shoppingcart :)
39 Brooke S August 28, 2011 at 3:02 pm: I love these embroidery designs and choice of color!
40 Crystal August 28, 2011 at 3:04 pm: Looking completely awesome!
41 Megan August 28, 2011 at 3:27 pm: What a great sponsor and giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
42 jessicac August 28, 2011 at 3:31 pm: World domination through embroidery? I’m in. thanks for the giveaway!
43 Caroline August 28, 2011 at 4:01 pm: I love these designs – so unusual!!
44 Sharonnz August 28, 2011 at 4:47 pm: Oh MY, crafty hand embroidery? Yes, please!
45 Sarah Bradberry August 28, 2011 at 4:58 pm: I just paid a whole lot of $$$ to get my embroidery machine repaired. Count me in :)
46 dooblydoo August 28, 2011 at 5:28 pm: Not seen their site before but it’s fantastic, count me in please!
47 Dell August 28, 2011 at 5:31 pm: I have a hugh wish list of their machine embroidery designs. Would love, love to win.
48 jenlyjen August 28, 2011 at 6:01 pm: too fun. thanks!
49 Liz M August 28, 2011 at 6:09 pm: Wow – what a cool site! My kids have outgrown the Disney designs that I had a few years ago – these look ideal for teens (any maybe me too!) Great prices too!
50 Rachel August 28, 2011 at 6:10 pm: What cool designs!
51 Judy R. August 28, 2011 at 6:32 pm: I have been a big fan of Urban Threads (and their great blog) for a long time! Thank you for having this giveaway!
52 Anna Koziol August 28, 2011 at 6:56 pm: I would love something like this to help me continue on my embroidery journey. Thank you for the opportunity,
53 Barbara August 28, 2011 at 7:14 pm: Oh, these are gorgeous and SO very different from the embroidery designs that one usually sees. Great product and I wish you well!
54 Alexis August 28, 2011 at 7:27 pm: Love the Design on the Jacket ! I’ve been researching different embroidery machines so I can add designs to my line of accessories and to make them a little more personalized. Any suggestions?
55 Deanna August 28, 2011 at 7:32 pm: These are awesome! Please count me in for the drawing.
56 LaDonna August 28, 2011 at 7:52 pm: Urban Threads is my favorite embroidery design site on the net. I’d be in heaven winning this. Great profile of them!
57 Emilie August 28, 2011 at 8:09 pm: Oh my goodness, embroidery designs that don’t belong in a retirement center! Pick me!
58 Samantha August 28, 2011 at 8:10 pm: Great site, I love Urban Threads!!! Thanks for an excellent giveaway!
59 Tammy August 28, 2011 at 8:23 pm: So many awesome designs! LOVE!
60 Coco August 28, 2011 at 8:45 pm: Awesome, glad to have found Urban Threads! Love the skull designs
61 Kylie C August 28, 2011 at 9:33 pm: This is a great giveaway, $50 buys a ton of hand embroidery patterns. I really love the new Dark Fairytale series, the collection is already on my wishlist.
62 Spanky August 28, 2011 at 9:42 pm: Oooh pick me, please pick me! My UrbanThreads wishlist would really benefit from $50!
63 Elizabeth August 28, 2011 at 9:47 pm: Wow! I love their stuff. Count me in.
Fingers crossed!
64 Jackie Quang August 28, 2011 at 9:52 pm: fingers crossed
65 Iva August 28, 2011 at 10:00 pm: Thank you for this giveaway.
I would really love to win.
66 Melissa August 28, 2011 at 10:24 pm: I LOVE Urban Threads! I have that jacket in denim, even! I could do a lot of damage with a $50 GC! Thanks for the chance.
67 Cindy August 28, 2011 at 10:51 pm: I am so in looove with the Little Mermaid, the Dark Fairytales are awesome. I love the stitched cowboy boots and zombie chuck norris is tooo funny. Great Giveaway!!!
68 Marci August 28, 2011 at 11:00 pm: This would be a great excuse to pull out my embroidery machine and get back on it.
69 Heather August 28, 2011 at 11:14 pm: I love urban threads!
70 Jennifer August 29, 2011 at 12:26 am: I love urban threads! They have such awesome crafts to look at and be inspired by! Thank you!!
71 Tam August 29, 2011 at 12:32 am: I don’t think i would ever take that jacket off!
72 Sarah August 29, 2011 at 12:59 am: Oh wow awesome giveaway! Thanks for the chance Kathreen
73 MelodyJ August 29, 2011 at 2:15 am: This looks really good.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
74 monkeyboyzmum August 29, 2011 at 2:44 am: Urban Threads looks really awesome! I am inspired
75 Laura August 29, 2011 at 3:20 am: I stumbled upon Urban Threads long ago and since then I’m a big fan. They do an amazing and cool job!
76 KleinMü August 29, 2011 at 4:01 am: Urban Threads is always a source of inspiration. Love the patterns and the clever ideas!
77 sommerkind August 29, 2011 at 5:14 am: I love UrbanThreads already! And I love that all their designs are also available as hand embroidery. So I really would love to win.
78 Sharon August 29, 2011 at 5:20 am: How cool – thanks for the chance to win!!!
79 Clari Feuerbacher August 29, 2011 at 6:30 am: Love the hand embroidery patterns!
80 Anita Ivey, Georgia August 29, 2011 at 6:44 am: Embody me with Embroidery !! Would be honored to be a walking billboard for your business. It’s absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for the opportunity to be a part of your dream.
81 Misti August 29, 2011 at 8:49 am: I love Urban Threads. I’ve been using them for years. Great unique stuff, not necessarily cutesy like a lot of other embroidery websites. Even found some stuff to do for my husband!
82 Linda August 29, 2011 at 9:04 am: Lovelovelove Urban Threads, especially since they never forget the hand embroiderer (vs. machine embroidery).
83 Deanna August 29, 2011 at 10:35 am: Can funky be any cooler?! Urban Threads has a great sense of style and humor, I love it!
84 Rachael August 29, 2011 at 10:38 am: I love urban threads designs!
85 Angela August 29, 2011 at 11:02 am: I love Urban Threads and love those fairytale designs so much!!
86 Seanna Lea August 29, 2011 at 11:44 am: I love the steampunk wings and the fact that these are available for hand embroidery (I don’t have a machine). Awesome!
87 Deepa August 29, 2011 at 1:56 pm: Wow, these are fabulous. Please, please, pick me. :)
88 nadine August 29, 2011 at 2:30 pm: I really love urban threads. I spend a lot of time thinking about what i can embroider and i really like to use designs from urban threads. it would be nice to win a prize to buy more designs. Best wishes. Nadine
89 krista August 29, 2011 at 2:45 pm: It is inspiring to see such unique designs.
Thank you!
90 Amy S. August 29, 2011 at 3:41 pm: Dude. I love Urban Threads!
Especially lovin’ the Dark Fairytale line.
91 penelope August 29, 2011 at 5:02 pm: I love how old techniques are finding new life! Thanks for the generous offer …
92 suesue August 29, 2011 at 6:27 pm: Wonderful patterns!! Thanks for the chance!
93 Anne JW August 29, 2011 at 6:42 pm: Pick me?
94 Stacey August 29, 2011 at 6:53 pm: I <3 Urban Threads! And Whipup, too, lol. :)
95 Q August 29, 2011 at 7:50 pm: Fabulous to see such creative designs – reminds me of my aunt’s embroideries many years ago when she felt a little subversive for doing something other than flowers ;-)
Love them, can’t wait to see more!
96 groove press August 29, 2011 at 8:17 pm: superb, urban, artsy designs. love…
thanks 4 sharing.
97 MarciaW August 29, 2011 at 9:43 pm: Kool giveaway. I’m just starting to machine embroider and this would be great to start with something besides what comes with the sewing machine.
98 Sherry j. August 29, 2011 at 9:45 pm: I love urban threads. i’m always stalking their site. looking at the new designs. I like hand embroidery designs.
99 Ruya August 29, 2011 at 11:46 pm: I have always wanted to buy an Urban Threads pattern!
100 kath_red August 30, 2011 at 8:15 pm: what a great giveaway. Thanks Urban Threads.
101 Emily August 30, 2011 at 8:49 pm: There are so many wonderful patterns, I wouldn’t know where to start!
102 Karen August 31, 2011 at 1:49 am: How cool is this!!! Love it :)
103 Renee August 31, 2011 at 7:49 am: How COOL! I can’t wait to try it!
104 nicole blum August 31, 2011 at 9:46 am: What inspired designs! Pick me, o computer picker outer!
105 Jen R August 31, 2011 at 6:32 pm: They look so cool!