As I wrote in one of my previous posts I had a chance to visit the Lanarte factory some years ago during our family holiday. The factory is somewhere on the sea-facing side of the Netherlands.

The building itself is in the middle of an industrial area and it was not easy to find it. But in the end we managed to find a big Lanarte logo above the building’s front door.  At first sight I thought it was only the offices for the company and the design works and production were situated somewhere else.  But since we were there – in front of the door – I had to try to find out…  Unfortunately my husband could not come with me since Panna had just fallen asleep a couple of minutes before our arrival and we did not want to wake up her.  On top of that we did not know what would happen after knocking on the door. It was on a Friday afternoon so it could have been that no one was in the building.

I plucked up all my courage and knocked on the door. The first person I met with asked me who was I and who I was looking for. I told him that I came from Hungary, my favourite cross stitch is this kind of design and I am just here to know the company and maybe have a chance to look around and know how my favourite kits are made…

My first surprise just happened then, since he introduced himself as the general manager of the company… He thanked me for coming there and he told me that he is able to show me the company. :) I have to tell you, that I had not expected so warm a welcome. As I remember, he expressed regret that because it was Friday afternoon I was not able to meet everyone.

First of all he showed where the materials are cut – this is a huge table that was a similar size like one of our rooms.  The materials cut were based on computer programmed lines to be able to receive efficient way of aida usage. There is also a machine for putting the threads into the paper in the case of those kits that contain these paper based separations.  This machine ensures that all similar kits contain the same length and colour threads.

For the final stage they prepare here, they put portions of papers, packaging materials, threads and materials to stitch on into a box.  These boxes go to different places for home workers. The workers prepare the final kits from these materials in their homes. This way of working felt very naturel for me. It would be very good to have the same kind of working situation, too. The amount the worker is paid depends on the number of kits she makes. She can make the kits at any suitable time according to what fits with her schedule.

When the kits arrive back from the home workers they go to the warehouse’s shelves.  The kits are supplied from these shelves to all parts of the world based on the orders received.

The truth is that all I saw till now would have been enough for me, but the main part of the introduction happened after this…  The next room was the designer’s room. All future designs are planned in this room based on home-design trends. After creating a design on the computer, colours are collected from the DMC wall and the planned kit goes to stitchers to sew a prototype picture. If the stitched picture is different from the plans they make some changes and resend it for stitching again and again till they receive the expected version.

Once the design is in its final version, they count the amount of materials and threads, take a photo of the stitched design, plan the packaging and send the packs with all the materials for the homeworkers for packaging the first kits.

At the time I was there I could see the 2005 Autumn collection just before it’s introduction in Hungary.  By the time I came back I could go to my local shop knowing which kits I wished to order from this new collection.

Close to the end of my visit there was only one room remaining to be seen.  This is the ‘media’ room which looks like a meeting room with several kits on the wall. I could choose one kit from the ones shown. (I was surprised again.) I have chosen a purple flower kit on linen. This kit is waiting for stitching together with its pair – I bought the second one after arriving home.

After this room we said good-bye to each other.  I was happily telling this sorry to my husband.  I believe that I will remember this visit for a long time.

And of course I have not changed my opinion about these cross stitch designs.  I still love the themes and quality as well.

I am interested in your favourite designs.  Do you have any favourite kits? Have you ever tried Lanarte cross stitch kits? Do you like them? Do you think their templates are easy to read? Tell me your opinion, please!

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M.I.Eszter