Kids half term crafting keeping Stitch! on trend….

Whilst we’re recycling and upcycling our way into spring!

As London Fashion Week drew to a close the good news for all us crafters and stitchers is that we have the Stitch Festival at Islington Business Design centre to look forward to coming up at the end of next week. Congratulations to customers who got lucky in our draw for 5 pairs of giveaway tickets. Don’t forget we still have our discount code-  STITCH2020 that can be used when booking. If you bump into any of us from Stitch dribbling over the Olga Prinku needlework section then do come and say hello! And please let us know on social media what particularly caught your eye this year at the festival….

A news item that sadly caught our eye this week was an ITV News report on fast fashion and something that really struck a chord with us here at Stitch! from iconic fashion designer Zandra Rhodes was her plea for children to return to learning the basic skills of sewing- fixing broken items of clothing and making new ones in their own unique style. To quote her-

“It would be better if we said ‘why don’t you try and create your own style,’ so that you’re not only aware of what’s in there but you can maybe come up with your own individuality,” she said.  “Maybe it’s instilling more how can we reuse so that we’re proud of what we do – and make our young people proud of what they’ve got.”

Definitely! We’ve had several conversations with parents and children in the shop about this issue and we feel heartfelt about facilitating children to take action and are currently putting together a funding application for children to run and lead workshops in clothes upcycling. We haven’t got much time but we are really keen for children’s input and opinions between the age of 9 and 16.
Please fill out our survey monkey at this link  https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RQ36KWT
or email an expression of interest at hello@stitch.org.uk

We will also be seeing some great examples of recycled or reused materials/crafts at our upcoming  Mother’s Day Craft Fair  on Saturday March 21 ^st.  We will be welcoming amongst others Wasteladystudio. This husband and wife team fashion waste into useful items, which can contribute to a plastic free lifestyle including cutlery rolls, beeswax wraps, bags, purses and cushions. We do have a few tables left so if you are interested then please get in touch. Our tables are £25 and the fair will run between 11 and 4pm with tea and homemade cake flowing!

During the craft fair our lovely mosaic tutor Alex McHallam will be running a Scarecrow Making activity for children in our workshop.  How fun does that sound? More details to follow….

Also lovely for our Stitching Circle to extend a warm welcome to Mandy and her crew of quilters who came and used our workshop space this week. Our workshop is available for hire at certain times as our sewing machines.

Talking of the Stitching Circle in a slight change to our published schedule there will be a stitching circle this coming Weds 26th February 7-9pm and then change to every other week so next one following 11th March, 25th March etc.

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WHATS NEW IN AT STITCH?

NEW STOCK!

As well as some beautiful new knitted baby garments made by local knitter Christine Watts in some gorgeous colours we have some fabulous material from Makower, Moda, Kaffe Fassett courtesy of  Creative Lady  Perfect for all your patchwork and quilting needs. Some fantastic kids fabric too!

NEW CLASSES!

An Introduction to Modern Calligraphy, Thursday 19th March, 7-9p m  We are delighted to be joined by local calligrapher, Sam Brown, @samslittlestudio who makes beautiful modern calligraphy products for weddings and special occasions from her home in Palmers Green. In her two hour evening workshop you will be taught all the basics of modern calligraphy and you will receive a lovely calligraphy starter kit to use in the class and take away with you afterwards!

• There are more new beginner and intermediate patchwork and quilting class dates released as listed below so if you are interested please see   https://stitch.org.uk/portfolio-category/quilting/   for full details.

•  Top of the Pots! Learn how to Macrame a plant pot hanger, Thursday 12th March, 7-9pm  Using t-shirt yarn you will learn how to make a macramé plant hanger! Come along an give it a go!

• As well as our usual Beginners crochet classes we have the following new crochet classes:-• Waffle and Basketweave Crochet, Saturday 14th March, 10.00-12.30pm
https://stitch.org.uk/portfolio/waffle-and-basketweave-crochet-saturday-14th-march-11-00-1-30pm/

• Floral and Filled-in Granny Squares, Friday 27th March, 11-1pm
https://stitch.org.uk/portfolio/floral-and-filled-in-granny-squares-friday-27th-march-11-1pm/

• Crochet Flowers and Leaves, Friday 15th May, 10.30-1pm
https://stitch.org.uk/portfolio/crochet-flowers-and-leaves-friday-15th-may-10-30-1pm/

Here is a full list of our workshops and activities….

Children’s Knitting- Make A Pair of Mittens! Sat 8th February, 10-11am & Saturday 22nd February 10-11am , £24
For children age 8+ FINAL PART. FULLY BOOKED.
If you have a child interested in joining another kids knitting class then please get in touch and we will look at scheduling a new date….

Learn To Use A Sewing Machine! Saturday 22nd February/ Saturday 29th February, 2.30-4pm , £25
With Pat Stevens, you will learn how to work with a sewing machine and you can choose to make a cushion cover or infinity scarf.
PLACES STILL AVAILABLE! DON’T MISS OUT!

Sew and Make with Seamstress Pat Stevens! £20
https://stitch.org.uk/portfolio/sew-make-with-seamstress-pat-1-2-30pm-weds-12th-26th-4th/
Held every Wednesday February & March, 1-2.30pm, £20
A continuous running class which you can book from week to week for as long as you need our help, we’re here to help you mend, sew or make whatever you want to (Not for total beginner dressmakers)

Knit & Natter, every Wednesday 11-12 FREE
Bring your knitting projects and have a sociable time in our friendly group with a cup of tea and biscuit.

Stitching Circle, Wednesday 26th February, Weds 11th March, Weds 25th March, 7-9pm £5 (no need to book)

Beginners Learning to Knit- Friday 6th & 13th March, 12-2pm  with Kay Dudman, £40

I ntermediate 2-parter knitting lessons, Sat 7th & 14th March 2-4pm  with Kay Dudman, £40

Introduction to Patchwork, 4 week course, Tuesday 10th March-Tuesday 31st March 1-3pm
With Pat Stevens. Learn the basics of patchwork including choosing fabric, cutting, using a rotary cutter, patchwork construction and putting the quilt together including the binding.

Quilting Techniques (Intermediate level) 3 week course, Weds 18th March, 25th March, 1st April 10.30-12.30
With Carol Balffe. In this course you will be introduced to several techniques of quilting to secure your layers together beautifully using a sewing machine and working with wadding. This isn’t a patchwork class, you will work on a piece. Mosaic for Beginners & Improvers with Alex McHallam, Sunday 15th March 10-4pm/ Sunday 15th March 10-4pm ,  £60
Come and learn how to make a simple mosaic using broken crockery and tiles.

Mothers Day Craft Fair, Saturday 21st March, 11-4pm
Lovely home made gifts by local makers and crafters.

Floral and Filled-in Granny Squares, Friday 27th March 11-1pm
With Denise Burrows from the Natural Yarn Barn £20
A great follow-on workshop for anyone who has learnt how to work the basic traditional treble crochet granny square – this class will introduce you to the ‘filled-in’ or plain granny and we will also add a pretty 3D floral design.

2-part Crochet for Beginners, Saturday 28th March & 4th April, 9.45-11.45am, £40
http:// https://stitch.org.uk/portfolio/2-part-crochet-for-beginners-saturday-28th-march-4th-april-9-45-11-45/

How To Make a Quilt for Beginners, 4 week course, Tuesday 21st April- Tuesday 12th May, 7-9pm, £80 EVENING CLASS!
https://stitch.org.uk/portfolio/how-to-make-a-quilt/

KIDS CRAFTS 

Crafty Kids Drop-in every Tuesday, 3.30-5pm or Saturday 10-12, £4
Come and enjoy some craft with your children. Each week we will have different activities laid out for you to enjoy in the shop.

Pre-school Craft & Sing every Thursday, 9.30-10.15am, £4
Craft, sing and play with your toddlers every Thursday morning at Stitch!

For more details and to book please click on this link
https://stitch.org.uk/courses-and-classes/

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Have a great week and we hope you find time to visit us at Stitch for a course or retail therapy soon 🙂

Best wishes from Suzanne and all the team at Stitch

You can find us on Facebook and Instagram at Stitch_N13