Hedgehog Handworks: Company History

Hedgehog Handworks was founded in 1987 by Joady Gorelick and Isabel Loriente in conjunction with their participation in a Medieval and Renaissance recreation group (The Society for Creative Anachronism).

Unable to find appropriate supplies for embroidery and costuming, they began their own business. As time went on, the focus of Hedgehog expanded to other time periods and groups.

Its list of customers now includes re-enactors in every time period from the Middle Ages to the turn of the 20th Century. Hedgehog Handworks' customers also include ecclesiastical embroiderers, textile conservators, museums and historic sites, theatrical costume designers as well as embroiderers and costumers who work just for the love of it.

They regularly ship to customers on every continent on the planet (except Antarctica).

Today, Joady operates the business with the able assistance of her husband, Jerry, who is also a physicist working in the aerospace industry.

Joady inherited her love of all types of needlework from her mother, Madelaine, who taught her to embroider at a very early age. Her mother continued to do handwork into her 80’s. Joady hopes to follow in her footsteps.


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