From Museum to Canvas: Our Sophie Taeuber-Arp Collection
We are beyond excited to share a project that has been in the works since the beginning of this year - our new Sophie Taeuber-Arp needlepoint kit collection in collaboration with the Fondation Arp! This is not just a new set of designs, but a labor of true admiration for one of the most inspiring artists of the 20th century.
Let me tell you the story of how this beautiful collab came to be :)
When Art Meets Craft: Why Sophie Taeuber-Arp?
It all started with a trip to New York for Shoppe Object in 2022. While in the Big Apple for the trade show, I had the opportunity to visit MoMA and I stumbled upon a Sophie Taeuber-Arp exhibition.
Her work completely captivated me, especially her textile designs. Sophie was a visionary who broke down traditional barriers between "high art" and "craft." Her abstract, geometric forms were way ahead of their time, and her dedication to textiles, embroidery, and weaving spoke to me deeply, being a proud stitcher myself and having a business that revolves around needlework. I even bought a book about her work on the gift shop, which later served as inspiration for this collection.
Needlepoint is often seen as a "traditional" craft, but in our business, we believe it’s more than that—it’s art. Sophie herself was a passionate advocate for the idea that crafts like textiles and embroidery should be held in the same esteem as painting and sculpture. This resonated with me, and I knew I wanted to find a way to bring her world into ours!
The Chance Opportunity: A Serendipitous Meeting in Paris
Fast forward two years, and another trade show—Museum Connections 2024, in Paris—presented me with an unexpected opportunity.
While there, I had the incredible fortune of meeting Étienne Robial, president of the Fondation Arp, which is dedicated to preserving Sophie Taeuber-Arp’s legacy. To my amazement, Étienne had been searching for a way to introduce Sophie's work to embroidery lovers, allowing people everywhere to stitch their own Sophie Taeuber-Arp artwork. It was as if the stars had aligned—Sophie’s artistic spirit brought us together or something! Soon enough, we were discussing what would become our collaborative collection of needlepoint kits.
It has been an honor to partner with Étienne and the Fondation, and to help bring these beautiful, bold, and modern designs into the hands of embroidery artists everywhere.
From Museum to Needlepoint: The Journey of Creation
Once we formalized the partnership, it was time to start selecting which of Sophie Taeuber-Arp’s works would be perfect for this first stage of launching. We pored over her designs, seeking those that would translate beautifully into stitch form. After many exciting discussions, we settled on three iconic pieces for the first launch. We treated the artworks with the utmost respect, making sure that the intricate details and geometric brilliance were translated to the canvas the best way. After choosing thread colors, stitching samples and refining, our kits were born!
The Sophie Taeuber-Arp Collection
Our Sophie Taeuber-Arp collection features three needlepoint kits that will allow you to bring her artistic vision to life in your own hands. Each kit comes complete with everything you need—premium canvas, threads, 2 tapestry needles, needlepoint booklet with instructions and a flyer with color threads mapping so you can start stitching quickly.
All of these designs are beginner-friendly, so if you're a fan of Sophie Taeuber-Arp but never picked up a needlepoint canvas in your life, don't worry, any of these kits will be easy to follow and a super fun activity :)
The Next Stitches in the Story...
And this is just the beginning! We’ve already started brainstorming new designs for future releases. Some of Sophie's most daring works are still in the queue, and we’re thrilled to continue exploring her artistic universe. Stay tuned for more needlepoint kits that will expand the collection and keep you inspired! Here are some sneak peeks of the designs that we've been testing:
The Art Rebel Behind Our Collection: Learn more about Sophie Taeuber-Arp
Sophie Taeuber-Arp was a revolutionary artist whose impact on modern art and design cannot be overstated. Born in Switzerland in 1889, she trained in fine arts but chose to dedicate much of her career to the world of applied arts—textiles, embroidery, and furniture design—elevating these crafts to the realm of fine art. In an era when craft was often seen as "women's work" or secondary to painting and sculpture, Taeuber-Arp fought against these norms, showing the world that textiles and embroidery could be powerful forms of artistic expression.
Her work is rooted in geometric abstraction, an art movement that sought to break away from traditional representational art by focusing on shapes, colors, and lines. She was also a key figure in the Dada movement, which emerged in the early 20th century as a response to the chaos of World War I, embracing absurdity, spontaneity, and non-traditional materials into her work.
But what truly set her apart was her belief that art and everyday life should not be separated. She saw beauty and creativity as essential in all things, from a painting on the wall to a textile draped across a table.
Join Us in Celebrating Arp’s Legacy
Through our new needlepoint collection, we hope to bring Sophie's vision into your home, continuing her mission of bridging the gap between art and craft. Her bold shapes and vibrant patterns translate seamlessly into needlepoint, offering both a creative challenge and a piece of modernist history you can stitch yourself.
Happy stitching!
