Local shop is seeing a surge of interest in handmade gifting

Needlepoint is emerging as a go-to holiday gift strategy as more consumers opt for handmade presents over traditional retail spending, 225 writes. 

Local shop The Elegant Needle on Government Street reports a surge of interest from both first-time and experienced stitchers seeking to create ornaments, stockings and other custom pieces. Owner Catherine Pletsch says younger customers are increasingly turning to needlepoint as a way to unplug while producing long-lasting, personalized gifts. 

Stockings remain the most time-intensive project—often requiring nine months to complete—followed by a separate professional finishing process that can take several additional months. 

With walls lined in hand-painted canvases and an entire section dedicated to Christmas designs, the shop offers beginner instruction, custom charting and finishing services. The trend highlights a broader shift toward slower, craft-driven holiday gifting as shoppers look for alternatives to mass-market purchases.

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