frequently asked questions

ordering & shipping

what forms of payment do you take?

purchases may be funded using the credit/debit card of your choice. i also accept paypal, apple pay, and google pay.

sales tax will be automatically added to applicable orders.

how do you ship my order?

i use USPS first-class mail for most small items, and USPS priority mail for larger packages.

(for wholesale orders, i use either USPS or UPS.)

how do i track my order?

when your order ships, you will receive an email notification, which contains your order and tracking numbers.

please allow extra time for international orders and be aware that tracking is unreliable outside of the US. international shipping takes quite a bit longer; 2-3 weeks is not unusual. buyer is responsible for any international taxes or customs fees.

how long will it take for my order to get to me?

most orders ship within 4 days of placing your order. you will receive an auto notification email (including tracking info) when your order has been processed and shipped.

for wholesale orders, please allow approximately 10 business days for your order to be packed and shipped. you will receive a notification email (including tracking info) when your order has been processed and shipped.

note: if you have a tight deadline or special circumstances regarding your order, please let me know and i will do all that i can to accommodate your schedule.

can i pay for faster shipping?

yes. my standard shipping method is first class, but there's also an option during checkout to upgrade to priority mail, which will move your order along faster within the USPS system.

✨please note: when you pay for priority mail at checkout on my website, you're paying for it to move quicker in the USPS system. that shipping upgrade does not change the speed at which i pack and ship my orders. ✨ i never make a profit from shipping costs.

my order shipped, but now i'm worried that it's been lost! what should i do?

thank you so much for being patient, and i'm sorry that it's taking so long!
sometimes the packages just mysteriously get held up along the way, somewhere in the USPS.

i suggest that you put a tracking alert on it (go to the USPS website and click 'text and email updates' on the tracking page). most of the time, simply doing this will bump the package back into circulation and it'll be delivered soon.
if it doesn't arrive soon, please email me!

can i return or exchange an item i purchased?

i sincerely want you to be happy with your purchase. if there is a problem with your item, please contact me with the details, and a return/exchange will be negotiated on an individual basis.
please contact me prior to purchase if you are unsure about an item description - i'm happy to answer any questions or comments.

do you ship internationally?

yes --i am currently shipping to some international locations. unfortunately, i am unable to ship to UK/EU.
(i do have a manual workaround, so if you're a UK/EU customer, please email me, and i'd be happy to assist you.)

please allow extra time for international orders and be aware that tracking is very unreliable outside of the US. international shipping takes quite a bit longer; 2-3 weeks is not unusual.

please note that any international tax or duty fees are the responsibility of the buyer, and i cannot guarantee whether you will (or will not) be charged any additional taxes.

can i order something as a gift?

of course! if you are ordering something as a gift, please type a gift note in the 'order notes' at checkout, and use the recipients' name and address in the 'ship to' section.
i don't include payment info with any of my orders (you can find this info on your order confirmation, as well as in your account/order history ) so no worries about the recipient seeing any pricing.

where do i find the PDF pattern that i ordered?

immediately after checkout, you'll receive an email from me that includes the PDF pattern download link. (if you don't see it, please check your spam folder in case it was accidentally sent there).
you can also access your PDF orders via your account on my website. on your account page.

where do i find the gift card that i ordered?

gift cards are e-cards (no physical item) and they are sent to you via email immediately after purchase.
if you are gifting a gift card, you can print the card out if you'd like, to give to the recipient. or you could send it to them via email.

(if you don't see the email, please be sure to check your spam folder just in case it was accidentally sent there.)

cozyblue stitch club

how do i sign up for your stitch club?

please visit my stitch club page for all the info! there you will find the link to sign up. 

when will my card be charged?

your first payment will be processed immediately, in order to verify your card. for subsequent months, your card is charged on the 28th of each month.

when will i get my first stitch club pack?

billing occurs each month on the 28th and i ship the pattern packs on the following 1st of the month. when you sign up, your subscription automatically starts with the upcoming payment cycle.

for example: if you join on the 5th of march, your first pattern pack will be mailed to you on april 1st.)

can i pre-pay for several months at once?

no, sorry. my system is not set up for pre-payments. but you DO have access to your stitch club account, so you can easily cancel at any time.

if i want to subscribe for 6 months, do i add a quantity of 6 to my cart?

no - if you add a quantity of 6 stitch club subscriptions to your cart, you'll receive 6 identical pattern packs each month.
at this time, you cannot pre-pay for several months at once. but you DO have access to your stitch club account, so you can easily cancel at any time.

i just saw the current stitch club pattern on instagram and i love it! if i join now, can i start with that design?

maybe. 🤷🏻‍♀️ sometimes i have a few extras after i mail out the pattern packs. drop me an email and i'll let you know!

and if not, don't worry. most stitch club patterns eventually become available to everyone as kits, pre-printed patterns, and/or PDF patterns. join my newsletter list to learn when new patterns are released!

why don’t stitch club patterns have instructions?

the stitch club designs are all brand new, and i’m stitching right along with you. since i haven't stitched these patterns before, i don't have any stitching notes or instructions for them -- they are new to me too. i always share my stitching progress on Instagram. you are always welcome to follow along there as i discuss the stitches i am using, how many strands of floss for stitches, etc.

i want to give stitch club as a gift. is that do-able?

yes - stitch club makes a great gift, and you are a fantastic gift-giver!
just use the recipient’s name and address (but your own billing/cc info) when you submit the subscription form, and i’ll ship to the address that you indicate on the form.
(if you'd like something to print out or email to the recipient before their pattern packs arrive, i have a PDF gift subscription card that i can send you. please drop me an email!)

i need to change my shipping/billing info, skip a shipment, or i need to cancel/restart my subscription.

- log into your account on my website to manage your account. (in the main header at the top of the page.)
please note: if you have not yet created an account, you will need to do this first. having a stitch club subscription is not the same thing as having an account on my site. if you need me to re-send the account invite to you, please email me.

- once you are logged in, click manage subscriptions. the subscriptions page is where you can:
- change your shipping or billing info
- cancel your subscription
- reactivate your subscription
- skip shipments
- swap products

and for more info, check out this blog post.

stitching

what kind of fabric do you use?

i really like and recommend quilting cotton -- it's my favorite because it is very strong and sturdy and comes in a wide variety of colors. you can easily find quilting cotton at any fabric shop and most craft stores.

cheaper cotton broadcloth and muslin are too thin to hold up (though i do like to use it to back my projects).

aida fabric is used primarily for cross-stitch. it's very sturdy, but it is woven into a firm square grid -- there are distinct holes that are used for counted cross stitch patterns -- and it's not very smooth, so it's not ideal for embroidery.

that being said, you really can use whatever you like. embroidery is meant to embellish all sorts of textiles and surfaces, so as long as you can get a needle and thread through it, it works. some are just easier than others.

what kind of needles should i look for?

my favorite needles, and the ones that i include with my kits, are size 7 embroidery needles. they are also sometimes labeled 'crewel' needles. a size 7 has a large eye and a sharp point, so you can easily use this size needle if you are using 1 to 6 strands of cotton floss.

when selecting a needle, the higher the number, the thinner the needle. if you are doing lots of single strand stitching you may want to use a size 9 or 10. if you're stitching with all 6 strands (or more) you will need to use a thicker and stronger needle, size 3 – 6.

if you are new to embroidery my best suggestion is to buy a variety pack of embroidery needles which will include several different sizes. try a few different sizes and see what you like best. the right needle should be easy to thread and should slide through the fabric without much resistance. if your needle is leaving behind visible holes in your fabric, you may be using too many strands of floss and/or a needle that is too large.

do the lines on your pre-printed fabric patterns wash out?

no, the lines are permanent and will not wash or fade out.

if you stitch precisely over the lines, they will not be visible under your stitches; of course the thicker your floss, the more it will cover the lines.

what about the iron-on patterns? does that ink wash out?

the iron-on ink is not meant to wash out completely – you'll be covering the lines with stitching, but if you use cold water it does remove most of the ink. it also seems to fade over time, so be careful if you're leaving a project unfinished for a long time.

if there are areas of the pattern that you do not want to stitch, it's best to cut those areas away before you transfer the pattern to your fabric.

what's the best way to wash my embroidery?

my fabric patterns and kits are made with 100% cotton, and can be machine washed with cool water on a gently cycle. (you can also hand wash if you'd like; be sure to rinse well.) place the clean fabric on an absorbent towel and gently press with another towel to remove excess water, then lay flat to dry.

if you decide to iron, please be gentle with your work! place it face-down on a fluffy towel and very lightly press using warm heat. take care not to smash your beautiful stitches.

when using a different type of fabric, adjust your washing/ironing method to suit the fabric content.

is it okay to iron the fabric before i start stitching?

yes! the fabric i use for my kits and pre-prints is 100% cotton, and the lines are permanent. when you receive your fabric pattern, go ahead and spritz it with water, and use a hot iron to press out all the creases and wrinkles.

starting with smooth fabric is important because you really need a nice even surface to stitch on. if you embroider onto creased or wrinkled fabric, it will never fully flatten out and will appear puckered around your stitches.

what about stabilizer? i've heard you mention backing fabric before. do i need to use it?

i typically use a layer of thin muslin fabric behind my main fabric to stabilize my stitching. it's optional, but i find that it really helps provide stability without adding bulk or stiffness.

i've written a more in-depth  post all about stabilizers and backing fabric, and you can find it here.

what else do i need to know before i start stitching?

while embroidery doesn't require a ton of set-up time and preparation, there are a few quick and easy things that you can do to set yourself up for success. check out my 'getting started' guide.

i'm ready to finish and frame my embroidery. what method do you use?

i usually frame my finished pieces in a hoop, so they are easy to hang on the wall. i wrote a tutorial about my favorite method for framing and finishing here.

other questions

how can i stay in the loop about new products, announcements, and other exciting cozyblue happenings?

the best way is to sign up for my twice-monthly newsletter, where i share news, coupon codes, freebies, and more. i’m also pretty active on instagram, so you can follow me there.

what’s the best way to get in touch directly?

feel free to contact me via the contact form on my website, or email me at cozyblueliz@gmail.com.

please note: i do not check instagram DM or facebook messages as often as my email. if you’ve tried contacting me there with no response, please use the contact form on my website or send a direct email and i will reply as soon as possible.

do you have a store that i can visit in person?

no, sorry. my shop is online only.
but i do have lots of wonderful retail partners that you can visit! check out my STOCKISTS page for a complete list and map.

can i sell items that i make with your patterns?

i'm so happy that you love my designs! all of my patterns and designs are strictly for personal use only.
no, you may not sell anything made using my patterns, kits, or designs.