SEWTASTIC

Kate fi nds out why sewing, knitting and other creative crafts are so popular with everyone, regardless of age or gender, and where you can fi nd supplies and workshops

IFAILED MY sewing O’ Level, which is not an easy achievement. I only had to make two garments, write a project and make a macramé pot holder. I did manage the latter quite successfully. It was the threading of the sewing machine and measuring of the pattern that threw me. I ended up with an oversized pair of trousers and too tight a blouse. Not a great look.

My Mum wasn’t too impressed as she’s a whizz with the sewing machine and has earned herself the title of ‘sweatshop Grandma’ in our house as we all give her our dressmaking jobs to do. She’s always been very creative: she’s knitted, dabbled in crochet and fabric painting, is a brilliant flower arranger and in recent years has beco e an expert in patchwork. She’s travelled to exhibitions in New Zealand, Japan, USA and France. Some of her quilts have been on display at exhibitions too, and she’s won several prizes. But she’s not in it for the prizes.

Like thousands of other people, she does patchwork because she’s passionate about it. She loves to design the patterns, choose the fabric and then spend hours hand and machine sewing huge quilts to cover the family’s beds.

During lockdowns it was the one thing that kept her sane and occupied, except she missed going to her patchwork workshops. There she meets up with friends, shares ideas and whiles away many an hour engrossed in a creative flow so eti es with gin! or shops are not ust or women or the more advanced in age either. Plenty of men are getting in on the act, think Tom Daley and his passion or nitting or shops are a wonder ul way to a e new riends have a laugh and learn different s ills – they truly are ‘sewcial’ events.

There are lots o creative wor shops on offer in our area ranging from patchwork to Knit and Natter, felting, upholstery, dressmaking, embroidery, macramé and crochet (and more) with some wonderful teachers who impart their skills, generally with a sense of humour, and share their knowledge of the correct techniques and the best tools to use for the job. e are also ortunate to have any local haberdashers also willing to share their time and expertise. You might be a complete beginner, perhaps inspired by the Great British Sewing Bee on TV (strangely addictive) or an expert in one cra t but een to try another hatever your level there is a workshop for everyone.

Where to take part

There are many small informal groups in the area who eet in village halls and co unity roo s that offer the space to bring your sewing or knitting to do alongside others. Teaching is generally done on the basis that there will always be someone in the room who can sort out a beginner s uddle Tea coffee and biscuits are always in good supply. And there are more structured classes where you can pay or the day or or a course with a uali ed teacher who gives instruction and advice.

Lyndon Nature Reserve

From stitch to papercrafts, print to knits, whatever you are interested in, come along with your own project, or even try your hand at something new. No experience needed.

These are drop in sessions on Tuesdays from 10:30am12:30pm so there’s no need to book. The cost is £3 including refreshments and basic materials.

Contact Laura at lbrady@lrwt.org.uk

Stamford Arts Centre

ane cho eld a ta ord based creative, runs adult craft workshops regularly at the Arts Centre. Her next one is Easter garlands on March 26 from 10am-12.30pm. She will demonstrate how to make hanging garlands using whatever is to hand (bits of fabric and felt) in light spring colours.

Bring small pieces of fabric/felt and a basic sewing kit with you (scissors, needle, pins, thread). Aged 16 or over, £10. www.stamfordartscentre.com

The Place

The Place on Stamford’s St Mary’s Street is a crafter’s dream. They hold workshops for all ages. Craft and chat workshops are very popular and are exactly as described. You can turn up with your own ongoing craft or there’s always a project for you to try, and like minded people to chat to.

As well as workshops if you have crafts to sell you can rent a shel in their shop To nd out ore visit

www.theplacestamford.co.uk

Sew Ab Fab

If you want to learn anything about sewing, knitting and crochet, and everything else in between Caroline at Sew Ab Fab based at the King’s Centre in Barleythorpe near Oakham is who you need. This Saville Row trained tailor runs a sewing school where everyone is welcome from beginners to improvers aged from nine upwards. As well as dressmaking courses she has other experts who run classes as well.

The list o classes on offer is huge and people co e to meet new people and for mindfulness as well as to learn new skills. And you will be welcomed with open arms, ‘it’s all about having fun,’ says Caroline.

www.sewabfab.co.uk

Knit and Natter

Oakham Knit and Natter is a drop-in community group of about 40 held at Oakham Community Hub, Lands End Way. Members knit and crochet for charity and for personal use. Help, advice and teaching is given as needed. New members always welcome. Cost is £2 per session.

Contact Helen at knitsockmama@gmail.com

‘This Saville Row trained tailor runs a sewing school where everyone is welcome from beginners to improvers aged from nine upwards.’

Stamford Stitchers

Stamford Stitchers are an embroidery and textile art group based in Stamford. Meetings take place at 7.15pm, on the third Thursday of the month in the Stamford AFC Social room at Borderville Sports Centre.

Letzcraft

Sewing and knitting aren’t the only workshops available locally. Ursula and Cara opened Letzcraft in Oakham last July. They had met at work and found they had a shared love of crafts, particularly glass fusing. They started teaching family and friends and it grew from there.

They focus on traditional crafts including willow weaving, silversmithing, calligraphy, chainmail, felting, stained glass and loom weaving as well as wood carving; and others too. Their craft hub is a hive of activity with different local e perts co ing in to run wor shops ary is de nitely going bac to try the silvers ith course watch this pace.

www.letzcraftworkshops.co.uk

Where to buy supplies

The Stamford Fabric Company

Sewers need to be able to buy supplies. And there are some local specialists who have all the fabric, cottons and tools you need as well as lots and lots of knowledge. One of these is Lucy at the Stamford Fabric Company in Stamford Walk.

Since reopening after Covid Lucy has been rushed off her feet. Many, many of us turned to sewing, crafting and knitting whilst at home and went to Lucy for advice, fabric and materials.

‘My customers range from people who’ve been coming to the shop for 40 years to someone who is staying in the town and needs a needle and thread to sew a button back on.’

Lucy has a lot of customers who are patchwork quilters and sells ‘fat 1/4 yards’ especially for them as well as off cuts of some lovely materials. Embroidery hoops are available, thimbles, threads, sewing machine accessories including bobbin boxes, needles and darning mushrooms. ‘I’ve sold so many of them,’ she told me.

There are lovely curtain fabrics as well as clothing textiles. And of course patterns for virtually anything you can think of. And for those not so keen on sewing Lucy offers a making up service as well.

‘Many people who were furloughed got their sewing machines out during lockdowns to make masks and scrubs for NHS staff and they have carried on sewing ever since. I am also finding that a lot of youngsters are taking up sewing and crafting as well.’

Lucy assures me that anyone who can follow instructions should be able to use a pattern but would need to be able to thread a sewing machine. She is friendly, knowledgeable and very willing to give advice so pop in and see her.

www.thestamfordfabriccompany.com

Rutland Sewing

Rutland Sewing based at Rutland Garden Centre in Ashwell opened eight years ago. Owner Lynn Vale has years of experience in the business starting sewing at the age of three!

‘I danced from the age of three (and still do) and my parents made all my costumes. I got all the scraps of materials so my dollies and teddies had some very exotic outfits!’

This love of sewing led her to study fashion and design and then work in the Husqvarna studios (now Coles) in Nottingham. In 2011 she moved back to Rutland to be nearer her family and ended up living opposite the garden centre in Ashwell, and had her eye on the unit she is now in. ‘It was empty for a couple of years, I was missing my job and I just thought it would be a perfect space to do something similar, so I did!’

The large premises offer everything someone interested in sewing could need. Lots of fabric, crafting gear, patterns, paraphernalia, haberdashery and sewing machines as well. Anyone who buys a machine from Lynn ‘gets tuition to learn how to drive it.’

As well as being able to buy anything concerned with sewing and crafting Lynn runs a sewing school and many workshops including dressmaking, quilting, patchwork and many more that I don’t have space to mention.

Rutland Sewing really is a friendly place. Lynn, her staff and her students all welcome you with open arms. Tea and cake are always on hand and you just feel you can slot right in. Beginners are very welcome as are the more experienced.

www.rutlandsewing.co.uk

Uppingham Yarns

Step through the doors of Uppingham Yarns and you won’t believe what s behind the rather ordinary door ou ll nd yourself in a treasure trove of yarns and threads. e started off supplying the achine nitting ar et in 1980 and now supply anyone who needs a thread yarn,’ says owner ic Traylen ow achinists hand nitters spinners weavers cra ters elters and fly tyers buy our yarn e carry a vast range o stoc including la bswool erino hetland alpaca cash ere and ohair a ongst other natural bres e have reflective yarns organic and sustainable yarn and cottons biodegradable nylon and other synthetic bres e supply custo ers all around the world probably because it s a niche ar et and we supply lots o interesting stuff e used to get coach loads o people in but nowadays it tends to be smaller groups and we see a lot of grannies co ing in with their grandchildren een to ta e up nitting Lots o hand nitters wal in as we do various thic nesses o hand nitting yarn and accessories too

There was a resurgence in hand nitting about ten years ago and then again during the ovid loc downs nd ic is the per ect person to as or advice e visits universities and colleges ro al outh to berdeen to tal to ashion textiles and design students, even students on printing courses

In the textile trade everything happens slowly but there are ore and ore sustainable yarns beco ing available and interest is growing ro the world o ashion as ed ic what he d say to so eone who thin s it s too e pensive to nit your own u per when you can buy one ro ri ar or e agreed ast ashion is a big ar et To produce your own gar ent will be ore e pensive but it s all about creating so ething uni ue that will last ou have the i ense satis action o saying ade that

www.wools.co.uk

Ewe Shop

achel at the we wool shop in ta ord al is a very e perienced nitter who sells yarns and patterns or all budgets with prices co parable to online he can offer advice to so eone who is new to nitting and will even teach you to nit ro scratch and will do the casting on or you or shops are ust restarting you buy your yarns ro her she is always on hand to offer advice and is ore than happy or you to pop in with your nitting so she can give you a hand nd as a pattern writer she nows what she s tal ing about he sells so e beauti ul natural bres ro sil s to alpaca ohair and cash ere The shop is a flagship one or owan arns any o her custo ers travel ar and wide to visit and since loc down she has been selling worldwide he can also offer a a ing service with a tea o nitters available. nitting is therapeutic says achel and rather addictive and any o her custo ers will agree

www.i-love-ewe.com

Dot and Dab

ec y at ot and ab in t ary s oad in ar et arborough has had her cra t supply shop or eight years he started out selling beads at the indoor ar et which grew into a shop selling all cra t supplies ec y is very e perienced and can offer lots o advice s well as a haberdashery ec y also sells wool there isn t a day when we don t sell wool ra ting and nitting grew during loc down and is still very popular now

www.dotdab.co.uk

Well upholstered

Kate took her piano stool to a class in Uppingham to discover what upholstery is all about

I HAVE A piano stool in desperate need of re-covering so I went along to one of Jo Sutton’s upholstery workshops at 40 High Street East, Uppingham. She immediately told me it would be very simple to do. She always advises her students to bring along a piece of furniture they have a passion for as they’ll be going on a journey with it. You just don t now what s underneath until you ta e off the top cover t s li e an investigation you ll nd out how old it is and you may even want to research who made the frame. Upholstery is all about layers eople o ten start off with one item then move on to another project. And you are also going on a journey with others in the room. o currently has up to ve people per class and you boo in for the day or days. Many people work on their projects at home in between classes. They are held in a beautiful old building which has been likened to Gepetto’s toy making workshop, and the sense of easy companionship is palpable.

Some students already knew each other being part way through re-upholstering their items of furniture. Emma had been working on a pair of French beds that looked very elaborate. Andrew, a retired design and technology teacher, had been given a gift voucher by his partner as he’d acquired his chair in an auction years ago and it had been languishing in a shed. No stranger to woodwork, he had to ll in old tac holes be ore he could even thin about starting on the panels. Sonia was attaching webbing to the back of her chair; Abi was tacking a layer of calico to her panels and Helen was turning a ‘red velvet monstrosity with a broken leg’ into a beautiful new incarnation for her daughter-in-law. elen told e she nds the classes rela ing a way o switching off and a great way o eeting new people Andrew is keen on rescuing things so is looking forward to restoring his chair to its former glory but he’s also planning to design and build his own chair.

Constantly moving through the room, Jo seemed to always be on hand with calm, reassuring advice and a wic ed sense o hu our hatever uddle you ay nd yoursel in she nds a solution nd the coffee and homemade cake breaks give another opportunity to unwind and chat.

You can borrow Jo’s tools or buy them from her and the process always follows the same pattern: you start with the frame then work on the webbing, hessian, springs, horsehair or coir bres Then depending on the pro ect you ay add elt calico and cotton floc be ore you nish with your top fabric.

‘If you pay an upholsterer to do it for you,’ Jo told me, ‘the labour and top abric costs are the ost e pensive you do it yourself, you save on that and create something completely unique.’

Jo found her way into upholstery when she saved her university friend’s chair from being sent to the tip. She discovered while taking a night class in upholstery that doing something crafty gave her a great sense of release after a busy day working in marketing. Fast forward a few years a ew different roles and having astered the cra t o had the opportunity to buy the building she’s in now. And she took over former teacher Betty Wilmer’s classes as well. The bene ts o upholstery are the pure en oy ent and satisfaction of doing it yourself. You also learn a range of skills in the process. Some people arrive who have never held a hammer, others have never handled a sewing achine t doesn t atter you re all at different stages and you learn as you go along.’ For details about the classes and gift vouchers, visit www.joatno40.co.uk