We are really enjoying embroidering at the moment and are very excited about our upcoming embroidery workshops!

Delving into the history of this lovely craft the word embroidery originates from the French word meaning “embellishment”. It’s believed embroidery originated in the Middle East and Asia, when people discovered you could stitch animal hides together to make clothing or decorations but we see evidence of embroidery being widespread in many cultures from India, China to the West Indies.

Embroidery was used to embellish silk robes and create beautiful decorations also ornamented with gold, like boxes, for example. For many decades, it was seen as a respected craft, carried out to create items of high value. Possessing items that were embroidered was a sign of your wealth and because it was a craft, the techniques were passed down through families to children to keep the tradition and their profession going.

Then over time, in Europe, embroidery moved from being a craft to a hobby of wealthy young women. To be able to stitch well and create admirable patterns was part of one’s ‘social status.’

Fast forward to recent times, we’ve seen embroidery being elevated to an art form, incorporated in the most beautiful and inspiring of ways. Artists like Chris Ofili with his embroidered folding screens in his artwork Pink Daydream in 2023, the French embroidery artist Sandine Torredemer, whose work literally brings me to gasps of joy for it’s originality! (She can be found at la_filature on Instagram if you are interested.) Brilliant textile artists like Wendy Dolan. There were some fabulously talented embroiderers showcased at the recent Broderers exhibition in central London, sadly now finished and as well as locally to us talents like Sophie Levi-Kallin (Instagram tag - sewthescene.) Long may this beautiful craft of embroidery serve to delight them and us.

So if you feel inspired to flex your creative muscles and give embroidery a go we have two workshops coming up, taught by experienced and talented Kay Dudman, (Member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen) Embroidery workshop- beginners & refreshers in which alongside the basics you will also learn a variety of stitches for creating different effects and how to create a simple design that you can proudly take home plus an Embroider a Photo workshop where you will send us your photo and we will print it onto fabric for you and then show you how to embroider onto it with simple stitches to make a unique and creative piece of art. The finished embroidered photo is a lovely keepsake or personalised gift and you will take it home in the embroidery hoop ready to display.



Our Easter school holiday workshops have launched, hooray! And we have some fabulous activities for children ranging from crochet, block printing a tote bag, pom pom and finger knitting and over two sessions wet felting. Take a look below if you are interested and please don't delay as places are limited. Our workshops are taking place in Palmers Green- some in Arbeit Studios and some in the lovely Rita’s Cafe.

LATEST WORKSHOPS TO BOOK 

Embroidery workshop: Beginners & Refreshers Saturday 22nd March, 11-12.30, Palmers Green library, N13, £48

Knitting Workshop for Beginners & Refreshers; Saturday 29th March, 11-12.30, Holy Trinity Church, £48

Learn to use a sewing machine, Saturday 29th March, 10:30-12:00 at Raphi & Flo (Creative Scholars), Winchmore Hill, N21, £48

NEW! Mosaic Knitting workshop at Holy Trinity Church, Saturday 5th April, 10.30-12, £48

Sewing machine workshop: Next Steps- Tote Bag at Holy Trinity Church, Saturday 5th April, 10.30-12, £48

Patchwork and Quilting workshop for beginners and improvers, Saturday 12th April, 10.30-12.30, £48

NEW! Block Printing workshop- Print a tea towel at Holy Trinity Church, Saturday 26th April, 10.30-12, £48 

Sewing Machine, Next steps! Saturday 26th April, 10:30-12:00 at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Winchmore Hill, N21, £48

NEW!  Embroider a Photo! Saturday 3rd May, 10.30-12pm, Creative Scholars, N21 

NEW DATE! Box Making workshop, Saturday 3rd May, Southgate, 10.30-2.30pm, £48 

EASTER HOLIDAY KIDS WORKSHOPS

Crochet class, Tuesday 8th April, 10.30-12, Rita’s Cafe, N13, £13.50

Block print a tote bag, Thursday 10th April, 10.30-12, Arbeit Studios, N13, £13.50

Pom-Pom and finger knitting, Tuesday 15th April, 10.30-12, Rita’s Cafe, N13, £13.50

Wet Felt an Easter egg & a chick, Wednesday 16th & Thursday 17th April, Arbeit Studios, N13, £25

SPACES AVAILABLE on

After School Sewing Club, Wednesday after school, 4.30-6pm, 4 week block, £80

After School Sewing Club, Thursday after school, 4.30-6pm, 4 week block, £80

SOCIALS

Weekly Knit & Natter! Current venue @ Kiva cafe, 346 Green Lanes, Tuesdays, 10-12 (free but refreshment must be purchased)

Stitch & Knit Social! @ The Fox pub every Wednesday evening, 7-9pm, also known as Stitching Circle (currently weekly), £5

Let us know if you are interested in our Knitting - Correcting & Avoiding Mistakes, £48

PARTIES & GROUP BOOKINGS 
3 or more customers booking together can get 10% off the cost of a class. Please email hello@stitch.org.uk with enquiries about making a group booking for 4 or more people with any bespoke creative workshops you would like us to run, we’d be happy to help. Tel- 07903 614726

Have a lovely weekend everybody! 

Suzanne & the team at Stitch! X