Another brilliant Sewing Bee episode this week, fabulous to see all the contestants getting involved with sheering. 

Shirring is two or more rows of gathers that are used to decorate parts of garments, usually the sleeves, bodice or yoke. This technique is very on trend. It is a great skill to learn and can be used for all sorts of projects once you have the basic technique mastered. As part of a new range of techniques classes we will be teaching shirring alongside other sewing skills such as zips, buttonholes, inserting sleeves and more. More dates and info to follow in the next couple of weeks so watch this space! 

If Sewing Bee has whetted your appetite for learning to sew on a sewing machine and you are a complete beginner our next beginners workshop is on Friday 10th June or Saturday 25th June! 
https://www.stitch.org.uk/sewing
 

There are plenty of spaces available left for our macrame workshop next Thursday evening being taught by local crafter Jenifer Pullar of The Knot Puller. The perfect activity to do with a friend over a glass of wine and nibbles (provided by us of course!) Your macramé plant hanger will make the perfect addition to your home or the special handcrafted gift for a loved one. And don't forget we offer a group booking discount of 10% on each person when four or more people book together. Please email hello@stitch.org.uk if you would like to book with the discount.

You will learn the main macramé knots that are used in almost all macramé projects and leave with your first finished project using sustainable materials that tread lightly on the planet. 

The perfect activity to do with a friend over a glass of wine and nibbles that will be provided! Your macramé plant hanger will make the perfect addition to your home or the special handcrafted gift for a loved one.

You will learn the main macramé knots that are used in almost all macramé projects and leave with your first finished project using sustainable materials that tread lightly on the planet. 

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Our Community Jubilee Project is coming along brilliantly and we are starting to join up our pieces in the next couple of weeks. We will be at the fabulous Grovelands Park Jubilee Celebrations on Saturday June 4th and our Commemorative Jubilee Collage will be on display, please come along, (it starts at 10.30am) and it will of course be displayed in Stitch the week after and in other venues to be announced throughout June and July.

FORGET ME NOT POST BOX TOPPER!
Look out for our post box topper going up tomorrow lunchtime, supporting Dementia Action week - it looks fabulous and will be there for the next couple of weeks, thank you so much to everyone who has contributed!

NEW HABERDASHERY ITEMS IN STORE
Fabulous new products just come in to our haberdashery section including:- pinking blades- perfect for cutting bunting, lovely dressmaking scissors, tracing wheel and carbon paper - for easy pattern transfer. Also some lovely soft grip crochet hooks. Grab them quick before they go!

New Haberdashery

CLASSES TIMETABLE!

SEWING & PATCHWORK

Weekly Knit & Natter (FREE) Tuesday 17th May, 10.30-12pm
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Weekly-Knit-&-Natter-FREE-Tuesday-17th-May-10-30-12pm-p448402270
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.

Sew and Make With Seamstress Pat, every Wednesday, Wednesday 18th May 12-1.30, £30
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Sew-and-Make-with-Seamstress-Pat-Wednesday-18th-May-12-1-30pm-p464092654
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. 

Introduction to Patchwork with Pat, every Thursday, 12-2pm, £35, next class Thursday 19th May 
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Introduction-to-Patchwork-Thursday-19th-May-12-00-2-00pm-p464100643
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, wall hanging or lap quilt. You will ideally be proficient on a sewing machine.

Learn To Use a Sewing Machine,
Friday 10th June or Saturday 25th June, £40
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Learn-To-Use-A-Sewing-Machine-Friday-10th-June-10-30-12-00-p465630460
or 
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Learn-To-Use-A-Sewing-Machine-Saturday-25th-June-10-30-12-00-p449307039

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! Hosted by expert seamstress Pat Stevens. You will earn your way around the workings, parts and components of a sewing machine, learn how to set up and thread a machine and how to wind a bobbin and learn how to set the correct tension. Learn how to sew straight seams, change the needle, use a zipper foot and a 1/4 inch seam foot. You will practice some stitching in order to gain the skills you need to tackle your future projects.

Learn To Sew Palazzo Trousers. Part 1- Saturday 21st May, 10.30 - 2.30pm and Part 2- Saturday 28th May, 10.30-2.30pm, £75.00
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/%E2%80%8BLearn-To-Sew-Palazzo-Trousers-Part-1-Saturday-21st-May-10-30-2-30pm-and-Part-2-Saturday-28th-May-10-30-2-30pm-p375701925
With expert seamstress Pat Steven. Learn new sewing skills and make yourself a fabulous pair of palazzo trousers with pockets. An intermediate 2-part sewing class on how to accurately cut out and make yourself palazzo trousers to take home. You will learn to make trousers with neat invisible in-seam pockets and elasticated waistband.

Sashiko - Learn the art of visible mending! 2-part workshop- Saturday 11th, June 10:30 - 12:30pm and Saturday 18th, June 10:30 - 12:30pm, £50.00
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Sashiko-Learn-the-art-of-visable-mending-Saturday-11th-June-10-30-12-30pm-and-Saturday-18th-June-10-30-12-30pm-p461466260
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 in this 2 part workshop using the Japanese art of visible mending: Sashiko.
 

                                CRAFTING

Macramé-knots for pots workshop! Thursday 19th May, 7-9pm, £40.00
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Macramé-knots-for-pots-workshop-Thursday-19th-May-7-9pm-p454403255
The perfect activity to do with a friend over a glass of wine and nibbles that will be provided! Your macramé plant hanger will make the perfect addition to your home or the special handcrafted gift for a loved one.

An Introduction to Modern Calligraphy, Thursday, 16th, June 6:30 - 8:30pm, £50.00
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/An-Introduction-to-Modern-Calligraphy-Thursday-16th-June-6-30-8-30-p461465263
Come and join us for an evening learning the beautiful art of Calligraphy with local calligrapher, Sam Brown. This relaxed two-hour evening workshop will teach you all the basics of modern calligraphy, and you'll leave with the equipment and the knowledge you need to continue writing beautifully at home.

        KNITTING 

Stitching Circle, Wednesday 25th May, 7-9pm, £5 (runs every other week)
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Social-Stitching-Circle-Wednesday-25th-May-7-9pm-p435761361
Join our bi-weekly Stitching Circle community for some lovely knitting and crafting chat - and share your knitting and sewing projects in a welcoming environment with wine, tea, coffee, biscuits.

Knit a "Colours of the World" Cable Edge Garter Stitch Shawl, Saturday 20th May, 10.30-12.30pm, £55.00
http://https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Knit-a-Colours-of-the-World-Cable-Edge-Garter-Stitch-Shawl-Friday-20th-May-10-30-12-30pm-p451599194
Learn to make this colourful shawl with our very own knitting expert Sharon. This shawl would be a great addition to anyone’s spring and summer wardrobe. This beautiful, colourful pattern and wool is by Stuart Hillard. Stuart is a designer, author and a previous contestant of the Great British Sewing Bee. The pattern uses two different wools which we are stocking in store.

Beginners Knitting with Kay, Saturday 18th June & 25th June, 1-3pm
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Beginners-knitting-with-Kay-Dudman-Saturday-18th-June-1-3-&-Saturday-25th-June-1-3-p452864541
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 in our two part course with expert knitter Kay Dudman.



CROCHET

Learn to Crochet Floral Hexagonal Granny Squares! Saturday 14th May, 10.30-12.30pm, £40.00
https://www.stitch.org.uk/shop/Learn-to-Crochet-Floral-Hexagonal-Granny-Squares-Saturday-14th-May-10-30-12-30pm-p454567534
Want to make gorgeous fabulous floral hexagonal granny squares that would make your grannies jealous! Come take a class with Sharon Wallin at Stitch to learn to create colourful, hexagonal granny squares.
 

USE OF SEWING MACHINES!

Our M100 Janome sewing machines are available for use at certain times in the shop at £8 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

Have a great weekend everybody!
 

Warm Wishes Suzanne and the team at Stitch!