THE FULL INTERROGATION
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions detectives ask most. If yours is not here, ask away.
What is a mystery embroidery stitch-along?
A mystery embroidery stitch-along is an embroidery project revealed in stages, wrapped in a story. With Mystery, She Sewed, you open a case and for four weeks clues and original machine embroidery designs arrive by email. You stitch the evidence week by week, and by the final stitch you have solved the mystery.
Do I need an embroidery machine?
Yes. These are machine embroidery designs, not hand embroidery patterns. Any embroidery machine that can stitch a 4x4 inch (10x10 cm) design will work, whatever the brand.
What hoop size do I need?
A 4x4 inch (10x10 cm) hoop. Every design in every case fits this size, so there is no need for anything bigger.
I am a beginner. Can I really do this?
Yes. The designs stitch out without fancy techniques, the instructions assume no experience, and there are no deadlines. If you can hoop your fabric and press start, you can work a case. And if you get stuck, ask me.
When do my clues arrive?
Your case opens the moment you join, and your first envelope follows shortly after. From there, a new chapter with two designs arrives each week for four weeks, straight to your inbox.
I missed the live run. Can I still join?
Always. Every case stays open once its live run has finished. Your four weeks start whenever you join, so no one is ever late to an investigation.
What if I fall behind?
Nothing bad happens. The files are yours to keep and there are no deadlines. Cases have been solved months after they were opened. Life first, mystery second.
What machine formats do you supply?
Every design comes in PES, DST, EXP, XXX and JEF. If your machine needs a format that is not on that list, email me before you buy and I will see what I can do. You will get a straight answer either way.
Can I buy from outside New Zealand?
Yes. The cases are digital and delivered by email, so detectives anywhere in the world can join. Prices show in your local currency for New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union, and in US dollars everywhere else. The site picks your country automatically, and if it guesses wrong there is a Country / Currency selector in the footer to put it right. The price you see is the price you pay, in that currency.
What if a file will not stitch out?
Email me. If the fault is in the file, I will fix it. If the fault is in the hoop, I will help you find it. Either way, you will not be left staring at a thread nest alone.
What is your refund policy?
Because the cases are digital files and a story you cannot unread, there are no refunds for change of mind. If a file is faulty I will fix, replace or refund it, duplicate purchases are refunded in full, and if your clues never arrive I will make sure they do. The full details live on the Refund Policy page.
Can I sell things I stitch from a case?
Yes, with two rules. You can sell finished items you have stitched yourself, in small handmade quantities. If an item shows a clue or could give the mystery away, it needs a clear spoiler warning, because every case stays open for future detectives. The design files themselves can never be shared or sold, and the solver's patch is your personal trophy only. The full licence lives in the Terms and Conditions.