Seasons Greetings from Stitch! I can't quite believe it but it's our last newsletter of the year! 2021- what a year it's been with us being physically closed until April and yet lots of fabulous memories to reflect upon going into our third year of business and with us being able to properly open in our new shop home at 364 Green Lanes in the Post Office.

THANK YOU!

We've been so pleased that in spite of the challenging times of Covid our local community has stayed with us and continues to grow. Thank you to all our customers who have supported us throughout 2021, we remain incredibly grateful to each and every customer that chooses to shop and take classes with us. To everyone who shopped locally and showed their support for the shopkeepers, traders along Green Lanes and the surrounding streets of N13, thank you for your patience with masks, changing rules and most of all for the encouragement you gave us all to keep going. 

We have witnessed such wonderful creativity at our workshops this year in all our crafts from crochet to sewing fabric crackers, our garment making classes and our kids crafting. We were so pleased with the groups of enthusiastic children from West Grove Primary School and Year 8s at Broomfield School, looking at "fast fashion" and symptoms of our throw away society where we also taught mending and up-cycling skills. The staff and children involved were delightful and we hope to be able to do similar workshops at local schools in the future.

And of course a massive thanks to the enormous generosity of spirit from dedicated members of our stitching circle and community knitting our yarn bombed postbox and making squares for the Nightingale Trust.

In the meantime we have one week until Christmas Day and Stitch is open and our online shop until Thursday 23rd and raring to go. We have some fabulous Christmas fabrics still in stock to make festive tablecloths, napkins and for general Christmas crafting. See below for ideas for Xmas decorations too!

Christmas Fabrics

CHRISTMAS FAN DECORATIONS!

If you are interested in easy Christmas projects look at these beauties! Please visit our social media for instructions and give us a like! On Facebook @N13crafts and on Instagram stitch_n13. These fans make a lovely hanging ornament.

We have some great crafting kits for gift and stocking fillers for children and adults alike, for example this Anchor Crochet Lamp Kit.

Crochet Lamp Kit

NEW WORKSHOPS COMING IN 2022

We are really looking forward to extending our range of classes in the New Year starting with our Craft & Coffee at Stitch! on Thursday 13th January. Beat the January blues by joining us at Stitch for an hour and half on Thursday mornings. We'll get creative and dabble with a range of crafting mediums.  We will also be starting a Knit and Natter on Tuesday mornings (free) from 10.30am.

And not forgetting new workshops in-
* Embroidery
* Tatting
* Sashiko!

We are currently planning new garment workshops such as making a pair of dungarees, sewing knickers, trousers, making a sweater and other items such as make a laptop bag, an oversize (swimming) bag. If there are any workshops that we don't currently offer but you would like to see us run then please let us know at hello@stitch.co.uk as we would love to make them happen for you!

DISCOUNTS AT STITCH

Please don't forget we have our special offer - when you book a second class you will receive 10% off - discount code NEWBIE21. And we offer group booking of 4 friends with 15% off, please email hello@stitch.org.uk if you are interested.

2022 CLASSES TIMETABLE!

LET'S GO!
 

SEWING & PATCHWORK

Weekly Knit & Natter (FREE) Tuesday 4th January, 10.30-12pm
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Weekly-Knit-&-Natter-FREE-Tuesday-4th-January-10-30-12pm-p426401899
Bring your knitting and stitching projects and come and make new friends in Stitch whilst enjoying a cup of tea/coffee and biscuits. This session is free. You could book online or just drop in on the day.

Craft & Coffee at Stitch! (Origami) Thursday 13th January, 10.30-12pm, £12.00
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Craft-&-Coffee-at-Stitch-Origami-Thursday-13th-January-10-30-12pm-p426374225
Beat the January blues by joining us at Stitch for an hour and a half of crafting and coffee on Thursdays. During this particular session we will be focusing on paper-crafting - origami. Based on patchwork design, we will create a beautiful folded star.
 

Sew and Make With Seamstress Pat, every Wednesday 12-1.30, £30
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Sew-and-Make-with-Seamstress-Pat-Wednesday-22nd-December-12-1-30pm-p426991018
Come along with a simple item or garment you are currently making, adjusting or starting and that you need help from Pat with. This is a continuous running class which you can book week to week. We have Janome sewing machines for you to use, cutting mats, scissors and rotary cutters. 

Stitch Social Sewing Bee, every Thurday 1.30-3.30pm, £12
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/STITCH-SOCIAL-SEWING-BEE-Thursday-6th-January-1-30-3-30pm-p413073086
Come and enjoy a few hours spent with people who share your passion for sewing. This is not a group with a teacher in attendance but as all crafters know it is very beneficial and enjoyable to be sharing your sewing experience and we can all pick up tips and knowledge sewing together. We have 4 Janome sewing machines for you to use and sewing tools or you can bring your own equipment. This is a sewing group for adults.
 

Introduction to Patchwork with Pat, every Thursday, 11.30-1.30pm, £35
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Introduction-To-Patchwork-Thursday-23rd-December-11-30-1-30pm-p413056425
This is an introduction to patchwork course for sewers/ quilters starting out or continuing your journey in patchwork machine sewing. In this course you will learn the basics of how to make a patchwork cushion, wallhanging or lap quilt. You will ideally be proficient on a sewing machine.

Learn To Use A Sewing Machine, Saturday 8th January, 11-12.30pm, £40.00
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Learn-To-Use-A-Sewing-Machine-Saturday-8th-January-11-12-30pm-p387478442
Are you a complete sewing beginner looking to make sense of how to use a sewing machine? This is a one-off class for beginners perfect for you! All equipment and material provided. We have Janome sewing machines on site.

A DRESS IN A DAY! Learn to Make A Practical All-Seasons Pinafore Dress, Saturday 15th January, 10.30-4.30pm, £75.00
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/A-DRESS-IN-A-DAY-Learn-to-Make-A-Practical-All-Seasons-Pinafore-Dress-Saturday-15th-January-10-30-4-30pm-p424456107
Join Pat Stevens, our expert resident seamstress and improve your sewing skills by making yourself a fabulous and versatile pinafore dress. This dress is suitable for all seasons and could be worn on its own or over another garment, come winter or summer. This is an intermediate sewing class on how to accurately cut out and adjust a pattern to make an A-line dress with a zip and bound neckline and arm holes.

Stitching Circle! Wednesday 12th January, 7-9pm (every 2 weeks) 
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Social-Stitching-Circle-Wednesday-12th-January-7-9pm-p413067099
Join us for some knitting and stitching chatter whilst you work on your individual projects. Wine, refreshments and biscuits provided, £5. Please email hello@stitch.org.uk if you are planning to come along, thank you.

Sashiko! Learn The Art of Visible Mending, Saturday 22nd and Saturday 29th January 2022, 10.30-12.30am, £50
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Sashiko-Learn-The-Art-of-Visible-Mending-Saturday-22nd-and-Saturday-29th-January-2022-10-30-12-30am-%C2%A350-p419972134

Are your favourite garments becoming unwearable with holes and frays? Are you keen to learn how to repair them rather than buy new ones? We are all learning more about the resources required to make our clothes and the problems of ‘fast fashion’. Give your garments a longer life and learn how to repair them using the Japanese art of visible mending: Sashiko.

KNITTING 

​Learn to Knit Workshop - Beginners or Refreshers (2 part) Friday, 4th & 11th February 2022, 11.30-1pm, £55.00
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/%E2%80%8BLearn-to-Knit-Workshop-Beginners-or-Refreshers-2-part-Friday-4th-&-11th-February-2022-11-30-1pm-p422443175
The ABC of Knitting! With Kay Dudman. Would you like to learn to knit? Perhaps you tried it years ago, but your project ended up in a bag behind the sofa… and now you feel ready to get started again with some help. Please get in touch if you are interested in us running any beginner or intermediate skills knitting workshops.

Learn the Art of Tatting, Friday 28th January, 11-1pm, £40.00
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Learn-the-Art-of-Tatting-Friday-28th-January-11-1pm-p422415408
With Kay Dudman. This tatting workshop will get you acquainted with the basics of this beautiful skill so you can start making a dainty motif that can be used as a decoration, trim or bookmark. Tatting is a form of lace made with a shuttle using a cotton thread. Popular in Victorian times, with a revival in the 1970s, tatted lace is now becoming fashionable again. Typically worked in white as a traditional lace, interesting effects can be achieved by using more vivid hues, working in two colours or using variegated threads.

More intermediate knitting workshops coming in 2022.

CROCHET

Crochet for Beginners or Refreshers,
2-part workshop, Tuesday 8th & 15th February, 7-9pm or
Friday 18th & 25th February, 10.30-12.30pm

https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Crochet-for-Beginners-or-Refreshers-2-part-workshop-Tuesday-8th-&-15th-February-7-9pm-p422443453
or
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Crochet-for-Beginners-or-Refreshers-2-part-workshop-Friday-18th-&-25th-February-10-30-12-30pm-p422443454
Over the 2 weeks you will learn how to get to grips with the hook and yarn, work the foundation chain, double crochet, treble crochet, turning chain, simple pattern reading and basic finishing techniques. At the end of the course you’ll take away some small, fun items that you will have made.

Corner-to-Corner Crochet, Saturday 26th February, 1-3pm, £40.00
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Corner-to-Corner-Crochet-Saturday-26th-February-1-3pm-p426652096
Corner-to-corner crochet (C2C) is a technique that works (as you would expect!) from one corner to the other. You will learn how to crochet little ’tiles’ at a diagonal, increasing each row one tile at a time until your project is tall and wide enough, at which point you start decreasing.

Waffle - Special Crochet Stitch, Friday 25th March, 1-3pm, £40.00
http://https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Waffle-Special-Crochet-Stitch-Friday-25th-March-1-3pm-p378894570
Some crochet stitches make the perfect foundation for large throws and cushions. In this class I will teach you how to crochet the texture-rich waffle stitch, working round both the front and back posts. Different edging techniques will also be demonstrated.
 

EMBROIDERY 

The ABC of Embroidery - Beginners and Refreshers, Saturday, 5th February 2022, 10.30-12.30pm, £50.00
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/The-ABC-of-Embroidery-Beginners-and-Refreshers-Saturday-5th-February-2022-10-30-12-30pm-p419971312

With Sharon Wallin. Have fun creating some simple designs using a range of embroidery stitches. This class is aimed primarily at beginners, but could also suit you if you have done some embroidery before and would like a refresher.

USE OF SEWING MACHINES!
Our M100 Janome sewing machines are available for use at certain times in the shop at £12 an hour. Please email Suzanne at hello@stitch.org.uk if you would like to book a slot to use. 

OPENING HOURS
Tuesday and Thursday 10-5
Wednesday 10-2
Friday 9-2
Saturday 10-3

CHRISTMAS CLOSURE
The shop will be shut for Christmas holidays from 4pm on Thursday December 23rd, reopening Tuesday 4th January.
_______________

SEASONS GREETINGS AND THANK YOU!
So all that leaves me to say is a big thank you to all of our wonderful, hard working and brilliant staff in 2021 - Liz, Amelia, Maia, Sarah, Anissa, Ashley. Thank you to our creative, talented and dedicated teachers - Pat, Susan, Carol, Sharon, Denise, Tricia, Anna, Kay, Sam. 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year everybody! Take care of yourselves and we look forward to seeing you in the shop this coming week or in the New Year!
 

Warm Wishes Suzanne and the team at Stitch!