About Us

Hello, and welcome! I'm so glad you're here.

My name is Kelly Cross, and I am the owner of The Coastal Stitch. My love of stitching began in the 1980s when my mother taught me how to cross-stitch. As life became busier, I eventually set the hobby aside.

Then, in 2024, my daughter came home excited about needlepoint. I smiled and told her, “I can do that!” That simple moment reignited my passion for stitching, and the rest is history. What started as a childhood hobby quickly became a creative journey that I fell in love with all over again.

In late 2025, we decided to open an online needlepoint shop to see if there was a need in eastern North Carolina. The response was overwhelming! The encouragement and support from the stitching community confirmed that there was a place for The Coastal Stitch. By October, I took a leap of faith and opened a brick-and-mortar store.

I never imagined that I would leave my 8-to-5 job to own a needlepoint shop and share my love of this wonderful craft with others, but here we are! It has been an incredible journey, and I am grateful every day for the opportunity to help others discover the creativity, relaxation, community, and joy that needlepoint brings. Whether you're a seasoned stitcher or picking up a needle for the very first time, I'm excited to be part of your stitching journey.