Term of the Week: LNS

For some reason I thought I had done this Term of the Week already… it’s such a common one to see! When I realized I hadn’t I immediately put it in the queue as the next article!

To put it quickly and simply, LNS stands for Local Needlework Shop. In general, the term is used for the small business, ‘mom and pop’ stores that offer almost exclusive cross-stitch or needlework supplies. But over the years, especially with a lot of local shops closing in the US, the term has evolved to mean any sort of shop or store nearby that carries cross-stitch supplies.

Sometimes there aren’t even any big retail chains (Michael’s, Joann’s, Hobby Lobby) anywhere near stitchers, and the big superstore chains (Wal-Mart, Meijers) don’t offer needlework supplies at all. At this point, stitchers have turned to the Internet and online stores, and now even those are being referred to as LNS. The term is evolving to mean cross-stitch shops in general, rather than just local needlework shops.

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“Term of the Week” is a weekly blog post highlighting a new word or phrase commonly used among cross-stitchers but not found in an ordinary dictionary. These posts are to help explain the words’ meanings in context and provide a resource for anyone wondering what a term like “frogging” means. Check back every Thursday!