• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

Contemporary yarn crafts by Heidi Gustad. Knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame.

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Studio
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Nordic Needle Store Tour

January 15, 2013 2 Comments

Nordic Needle Store Tour | HandsOccupied.com

An example of huck toweling.

Nordic Needle is a craft supply store and wholesaler located in Fargo, ND (my hometown). During my Christmas visit home, I wrangled myself a store tour to share a look at the company and its interesting story with you all. Nordic Needle has been around for nearly 40 years:

…in 1975, three young ladies in their mid-twenties, working at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, thought there needed to be a little shop in Fargo that offered materials to do the Norwegian needlework called, Hardanger Embroidery. Taught by Marie Hanson on campus in a “women’s group”, Sue and Gayle learned from the pro and taught Roz as they learned. In the summer of 1975, Gayle and Sue opened a little shop [in] downtown Fargo…

For a comprehensive history of Nordic Needle, read this company profile. Growing up, I knew Nordic Needle as a place where my friend’s mom worked, and I’d go there sometimes with my own mom so she could buy the occasional embroidery supply. Nordic Needle’s building hasn’t changed from what I remember growing up, and the company still has the same logo, some of the same staff, and a really friendly, homey atmosphere.

Historic Images of Nordic Needle | HandsOccupied.com

images of the store via Nordic Needle’s website

Inventory

Nordic Needle is huge, and their inventory boggles the mind. They have 12,000 kinds of floss, and another 8,000+ items like kits, scissors, canvas, and tons of other notions. Nordic Needle has 21 full time and three part time people on staff. They hold many embroidery design contests, clubs and an annual retreat in sunny Fargo. The company’s shipping business, both catalog and now internet-based, is significant. During my store tour, I learned that they ship to a lot of stores and individuals in the high plains states and Canada, but surprisingly, they do a big business in Asia as well. Particularly, Nordic Needle has many orders from Japan and South Korea, but almost none in Scandinavia. I guess that makes sense though – the supplies they sell are more readily available in Europe than North America or Asia.

PS: If you want to buy something from NN, check out their website.

Nordic Needle Store Tour | HandsOccupied.com

one of multiple floss walls

Nordic Needle Store Tour | HandsOccupied.com

some of their canvas, available by the yard

Nordic Needle Store Tour | HandsOccupied.com

kits, books, patterns, etc. 

Samples

Like I said at the top of this post, Nordic Needle is full of tons of embroidery supplies particularly geared toward the Scandinavian embroidery technique hardanger embroidery. In addition to all of the supplies, patterns, kits and accessories Nordic Needle’s shelves are full of examples of things you can make with their supplies. You could easily spend days on end in their store and not see all there is to see.

Nordic Needle Store Tour | HandsOccupied.com Nordic Needle Store Tour | HandsOccupied.com Nordic Needle Store Tour | HandsOccupied.com

What do they do with all those samples? When a kit or design pattern is discontinued, you can purchase the sample piece from the store’s display wall for a gift:

Nordic Needle Store Tour | HandsOccupied.com

Please note that I visited Nordic Needle of my own accord since it’s in my hometown and fascinating, I think, to you readers. Full disclosure, I grew up on the same block as one of their employees (who has worked there 28 years now), and my aunt graduated from high school with one of Nordic Needle’s co-founders. Fargo, ND may not be the smallest town in the world, but it’s just small enough that you’re always discovering new small world connections to people and places. :)

Filed Under: Craft Fairs & Store Tours Tagged With: embroidery, fargo, hardanger, huck toweling, nordi needle, north dakota, norway, store tour

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

Previous Post: « DIY Collar Inspiration
Next Post: New Product Faves from the CHA Conference »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • Store Tour: Unglued – Fargo, NDStore Tour: Unglued – Fargo, ND
  • Quilted Flower Tote & English Paper PiecingQuilted Flower Tote & English Paper Piecing
  • West Coast Love & A free pattern!West Coast Love & A free pattern!
  • Weekly ReaderWeekly Reader

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Comments

  1. teena prout

    April 24, 2013 at 7:25 am

    wow… you are so lucky to have such an amazing store with so many products. I am jealous.
    I live in a city that doesn’t have anything for hardanger or embroidery. I have to travel to buy anything.

    Reply
  2. Theresa

    January 10, 2014 at 7:15 pm

    I love Nordic Needle and WISH that I lived close to their shop. They have
    a huge inventory and great, fast service. Theresa

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi, an author, yarn craft designer and content creator specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. My work unapologetically features primary colors and vintage-meets-modern style. My first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is now available!

Professionally I’m most known for: advanced intarsia knitting design & modern latch hook design.

work with heidi

UPDATES BY EMAIL

Get a free pattern + biweekly updates sent to your inbox.

Let’s be friends!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi Gustad

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. / #latchhookbook out now!
.
knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
“You’re telling me words can be pronounced in “You’re telling me words can be pronounced in different ways and mean the same things?!” 👀 Posting this here, just to make it clear: when anyone says skayne, skeen, or skyne, it can be safely assumed we’re talking about a bundle o’ yarn,  a SKEIN. It’s not necessary to shame someone for using a word that is known to have MULTIPLE common pronunciations. 🧶
.
.
Can you plz comment sharing how you say SKEIN and where you learned it? The OED happens to say SKAYNE, but it’s not a personal attack if someone says SKEEN and you say SKYNE or even Saskatoon. I’m legitimately curious. We don’t all knit or crochet the same way, and craft evolves a bit like language - it is passed on. There is so much value in having conversations about & embracing these variations! ✌🏻
.
Pictured: A blond woman holds a skein of mustard yellow yarn up to her head like a phone, looking shocked. She’s wearing glasses & a knit sweater. 
.
#handsoccupied #heidigustad #skein #yarn #yarncraft #knit #crochet #yarnaddict #knitincolor #soldotnacrop #language #englishisweird #oed #oxfordenglishdictionary
Sometimes my weekend projects involve hair rather Sometimes my weekend projects involve hair rather than yarn. Here’s the latest mediocre-but-improving result of my slow quest to learn to set vintage inspired curls. 💇🏼‍♀️ I’m hoping to be able to wash my hair less using a regular vintage set, but we’ll see if it ends up being practical. 😆 Hair frustrates me so much more than crafts! 
.
Do you also style your hair using vintage methods? If you have any tips for vintage hair styling or good resources to share, please do!
I suppose this is one way to decide what yarn colo I suppose this is one way to decide what yarn color suits your pooch. 😆 Navy really might be Woodrow‘s color - what do you think? 
.
Pictured: A medium sized, brown, senior dog asleep on a green bed. For some reason a donut ball of navy wool yarn sits on his head.
The first stitch tutorial of the new year is live The first stitch tutorial of the new year is live on YouTube! Diamond Brocade is a great knit+purl only stitch for beginners or anyone wanting a classic look for their knitting project. Find the video with a written stitch pattern on the blog or head directly to the video on YouTube. Both are linked in bio. ✌🏻 
#kpambassadorsfeb21 #sponsored
When your WIP loves ya back! 🥰 This may or may When your WIP loves ya back! 🥰 This may or may not be the third sample I’m making for an upcoming YouTube series on knitting seamed & vintage sweaters. I figure I’ll get to wear them all at the end, so why not? 🧶🤓 
.
Pictured: A few rows of knit ribbing on long circular needles arranged in the shape of a heart on a cream background. The yarn used is @knit_picks Twill worsted weight in Crabapple (wine red). The glasses stitch marker was a diy. 
.
#kpambassadorsfeb21 #sponsored #handsoccupied #vintageknitting #sweaterknitting #redyarn #knitinspiration #knitincolor #wool #redheart #handmadewardrobe #knit #heidigustad #knitpicks #knitpickstwill
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy