Shop The Letter Party Kit

There’s something deeply connective about learning a new skill alongside someone else. Your hands are busy and the conversation drifts toward things that we don’t always make space for everyday. As Jess, the artist behind the hand embroidery brand Letter Party, put it, “It’s fun to learn a new skill together, but you’re also talking about life.”

When I sat down for a conversation with Jess that feeling was immediately present. Her work is rooted in tradition and sustained by connection. Her art has been passed down through generations of women who always had a needle and thread nearby. In this conversation, we talk about her creative beginnings, how Letter Party slowly took shape, and why creating together matters just as much as the finished piece. 

Can you tell me a little bit about your backstory? Has creativity always been in your life?

As a kid I would take drawing lessons and just loved art class. Drawing, which really is a big part of what I do, is kind of my first love. I've tried out a million different things and embroidery is the one that stuck.

If you could describe a perfect day of crafting for you, what would it be?

I would be totally alone. I would have a very neatly organized studio, which never happens. Good music, and just time to be creative.

Who taught you how to sew?

Both of my grandmothers always had a needle and thread around. They showed me how to do a regular running stitch and the basics. Embroidery wise, I watched a lot of videos to teach myself.

I’ve seen this type of skill passed down in my family as well. My great-grandma taught my mom how to knit and now my daughter is learning to knit from her grandma. It's just such a cool thing to watch. Do you notice common hesitations people have when they’re just starting out embroidery? 

Threading the needle is the most annoying thing, for sure. I always say that the set up is going to be tedious, and then once you get going, that's the good part.

I think the other roadblock people hit is that they don't feel creative. They're learning a new skill, and they feel like they have to be creative. But they don't know how easy it is if you just get started.

Is Letter Party something that has always been in the back of your mind, or did it kind of evolve slowly?

It definitely evolved slowly. I had no real plans to even start a business. When I started embroidering during covid people wanted to buy my embroidered masks. I opened an Etsy shop because I was like, why not? I'll just see what happens. No plans at all, it just evolved.

It's awesome that you saw a direction your business could go and went for it.

Yeah, exactly. I’m still not sure where it’s going to go. It’s like building it as you fly it. You have an idea, and you're, like, okay, let's try this.

You're releasing a kit through the Maker Program with Inner Grandma. What can people expect when they open up one of those kits?

They can expect that it's very easy to use. There's a lot of choices in the kit. Even though the kit has certain patterns and certain colors, there's a million different combinations you can put together. There's a pen in the kit that kind of allows you to personalize the designs and hopefully inspire people to create their own designs. 

Who did you create these kits for and what do you hope people gain from it?

I think this kit in particular is geared towards people who appreciate traditions, that are ready to use their hands and slow down.

Letter Party feels really community driven. Why is building that connection important to you? 

Most people that I connect with are women. I think that's a natural gravitation for me to be around women who are interested in the same things. It's fun to learn a new skill together, but you're also talking about life. To be around women, it’s a joy, really.

It’s really amazing that you're creating a space for women where they can relax, be creative, talk to each other. It's a vital thing to have.

Yeah, and I think it's totally vital. It creates a spark and I think that’s a cool thing to see in people.

Nurturing that spark, the moment someone realizes they can make something with their own hands, is what makes a creative community so important. Community is a thread that runs through everything Jess does with Letter Party. Whether it’s teaching someone how to thread a needle for the first time, sharing a new design or technique, or just gathering with others around a source of shared inspiration, Jess’s work has created a place of connection and growth. And that’s a tradition I hope we can all pass on.

          Shop the Kit or to Learn more about becoming a Maker with Inner Grandma.