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Teachers & Practitioners
Pat Stevens
Sewing practicioner & teacher
I learnt to sew at my mother's knee. She acquired her seamstress skills at Peggy Page's, a clothing factory in Edmonton. I took needlework to A level at school and college. I discovered patchwork by accident and loved it from the get-go as it fed my appetite for fabric, pattern, colour and geometry. (45 years later I'm still intrigued!)
I started giving talks and demonstrations at ladies' groups which led to me teaching needlecrafts at Enfield College. A few years prior to this two friends and I started a business from home called 'Tears and Tiers'. Rosemarie and I sewed all manner of clothing whilst Angela made the cakes.
Rosemarie had always had an ambition to have a sewing and craft shop and in the early 80's we opened 'Material Girl' in Cheshunt, which became a huge success. We taught all manner of crafts and sewing in the shop and were walking adverts by wearing clothes we had made from the fabric we sold.
It was on a return journey from the 'Knit and Stitch' show at Ally Pally in April 2019 that I found 'Stitch' was opening in the old 'Grout's' shop in Palmers Green. I got involved and have loved my return to teaching. I love getting other people hooked on patchwork and spent lockdown making and designing quilts and cushions which has kept me sane.
Sharon Wallin
Knitting teacher
Sharon has always been passionate about textiles and design. She began sewing, knitting and designing items as a young child. Her love of the creative process led her to study textiles at degree level and has continued throughout her life.
Sharon is an enthusiastic knitter and always has a number of projects on her needles! She also enjoys crochet, weaving and spinning on a traditional spinning wheel. The latter has led to working with some amazing fibres including alpaca, yak, cashmere and a variety of rare sheep breeds. Sharon loves to teach her craft, come and meet her at Stitch!
She can often be found at our Wednesday evening Stitch & Knit Social.
Kay Dudman
Knitting, crochet and embroidery teacher
It’s my belief you can’t go wrong with handicrafts for creativity and relaxation!
I have over 35 years of experience in teaching — 25 years as a university lecturer in computing, and more than 10 years in teaching knitting, crochet, hand embroidery and tatting (lace made with a shuttle). I design and create handmade items using these traditional techniques under the business name Crafty Cavy, and I enjoy helping others get pleasure from learning and extending their skills with these crafts.
When I was a lecturer, handicraft was one of my hobbies, so it was a natural progression for me to teach these skills too. Computing might seem a world away from craft, but knitting and crochet patterns are rather like computer programs, giving step-by-step instructions — and helping people correct mistakes in knitting and crochet is similar to program debugging!
I enjoy using colour and texture in knitting and crochet to echo nature, for example, the colours of autumn leaves and burgeoning spring flowers, the delicate tracery of lace designs like frost or snowflakes, cables reminiscent of ripples and waves in water, and the changes in hue offered by variegated yarns. I use this inspiration in designs for hats, headbands, shawls, cowls and cuffs; I also create delicate lace collars recreating the elegance of a bygone age.
Examples of my work have been on display in several of the Arts & Crafts Showcases at the artsdepot in north Finchley, and at Forty Hall in Enfield. I’ve even had some of my crochet bees on display in the Museum of Enfield as part of the exhibition about Broomfield House; they have now “buzzed off” to help raise awareness of the plight of bees.
I have a Certificate in Mixed Needlecraft, and I have taught knitting, crochet, hand embroidery and tatting at Forty Hall, at Let’s Learn in north Finchley, and I was invited to run knitting and crochet workshops alongside Canadian singer Melanie Gall’s concert “Stitch in Time: A Knitting Cabaret” at the artsdepot in 2019. I am also running a Hand Sewing course in conjunction MIND and Barnet & Southgate College.
Anna Araujo
Specialist childrens craft teacher
Anna has taught textile arts including dressmaking, knitting, crochet & embroidery for 12 years. She specialises in teaching children and has extensive experience in teaching in a Steiner school and also working with Homeschool Collectives.
She grew up in Brazil and learned her textile skills from her grandmother who was a seamstress, bookbinder and general creative. Ann feels her grandmother gave her a great gift in teaching her the creative arts and now she enjoys passing this gift on to the children who come to her classes.
She has been running our Teen Sewing club for the last two years and her holiday classes are always creative and nurturing.
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Alison Ferrary
Knitting and crochet teacher
One of my earliest memories is of sitting in the big armchair at my Grandmother’s house with 10 stitches on the needle and her showing me how to do garter stitch. I think I was probably about 5 years old and someone had given me a child’s knitting kit. Since then I haven't stopped knitting and learning about the craft. I can turn my hand to all types of knitting but my main loves lace, particularly from Shetland. Most recently I have done a workshop in the design of Shetland Haps (shawls) and am hoping to create my own designs soon.
Over the years I have turned my hand to other crafts including crochet, tatting, dressmaking and for a while I knitted on a machine. More recently I have learned to spin yarn and now have two spinning wheels and several hand spindles. This allows me to make yarns that uniquely mine.
Since retiring in 2019 I have had the time to indulge my hobbies and discovering Stitch has been key to that. I was looking for a local knitting group and to make some knitty friends. I have always wanted to share my knitting knowhow and have been able to do so at Stitch by running knitting workshops that cover more advanced techniques for those that want to improve their skills such as making socks, colourwork and lace. I love teaching and supporting others with developing their skills and the biggest joy is seeing the items made as a result of my workshops.
