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BC-AC

With a few special events on the horizon, as well as our yearly stocktaking closures, please take note of these important dates.

High Street Quilting

will be closed for

Easter

(and stocktaking)

from

Saturday 1st April at 4pm

and will reopen on

Tuesday 11th April at 9.30am

We will also be closing for the Coronation of

King Charles III

on Saturday 5th May

Please consult our website for the adjusted dates of our monthly Saturday groups.

Now for a few, upcoming workshops,

please browse and get in touch if there is anything here that interests you.

Phone or email to register your interest and pop in to the shop to pay for the workshop as soon as you can.

Please check out our payment policy on our website   https://highstreetquilting.co.uk/workshop-policy

Springtime Placemat

Learn how to make this pretty little placemat in

a workshop on machine applique.

Wednesday 22nd March

1pm-4pm

£20

Small Zipped Purse

Make this neat little purse with

Jenthepiecemaker

in this short, one day workshop.

Saturday 29th April

10am -2pm

£40

Jenthepiecemaker returns with another popular workshop

Fussy Cutting

Saturday 24th June

10am-1pm

£30

FULL

Don’t worry, I’ll try to arrange another fussy cutting workshop in the near future.

Please phone to register your interest

Manipulated & Knotted

We are delighted that Deb Cooper has agreed to lead a workshop

at High Street Quilting on

Saturday 30th September

10am-4pm

£50

In this workshop you will create a textured piece of embroidery. You will explore texture, playing with simple fabric manipulation & some basic embroidery stitches in a single colour range; this technique can then be explored to create various pieces.

If you are unfamiliar with the work of Deb Cooper please check out her wonderful work on her website;

Debcoopertextiles

BC-AC

No not a new rock band, just my way of referring to life Before Covid and After Covid.

It’s now around three years since we shut up our shop because of the Covid pandemic and all I can say is that we’re almost getting back to normal.

Can you believe it?

We were flying BC – all our groups were full to overflowing and we were bursting at the seams with fabric. Well, the fabric stock levels are pretty much the same and our workshops and groups have grown back slowly and steadily.

There are lots of familiar faces in our groups and lots of new ones but there are some people who were regular customers and friends BC who have not reappeared AC.

There will be many reasons for this – perhaps they have developed new ways of working or maybe they’ve moved on to new hobbies.

All perfectly sensible and reasonable.

But I’d just like to take this opportunity to say that we are grateful for the custom that you gave us, we hope you are well and we wonder what you are up to now. So, if you’re passing – pop in and say “Hi”.

I continue to hope that in our new life AC, High Street Quilting will continue to be more than just a shop. I hope that it is a warm, safe place where you can safely try out new ideas in a “stress-free” environment.

If you have seen a workshop that appeals to you – please get in touch by phone 0191 4100868

or by replying to this email or better still, pop in to chat.

It’s always good to see you.

With love,

Hilary

Warm wishes

Warm Wishes from High Street Quilting

This year has taught us all so much.

We have experienced the hottest summer and the coldest winter.

We have felt the relief of freedom from Covid and the fear of extortionate energy prices.

It has been a rollercoaster of a year.

But, through it all – some things remain constant …..

The desire for peace,

The love of family and friends

The warmth of community

Our workshops have grown steadily throughout the year. Our regular monthly groups and weekly sewing sessions are thriving and we have interspersed these with some one-off workshops and short courses.

Hopefully, 2023 will see more stability (for all of us) and we have a few, new workshops planned that I hope will interest you.

Please take a look;

Get to know your machine.

Bring along your machine and play!

How many functions are there on your machine that you’ve never even noticed?

In a “no-stress” atmosphere we’ll set you up with lots of new skills.

Saturday 28th January 2023

10am-12 noon

£20

Free-Motion Quilting

This is a short course for anyone new to free-motion quilting.

-A skill that will change your quilting experience.

Saturday 28th January 2023

1.30-3.30pm

OR

Wednesday 8th March 2023

1.30-3.30pm

£25

Patchwork and Quilting Techniques

(A new series of 6 workshops for beginners)

Measuring and cutting fabric, sewing accurately, appliqué and quilting by hand and machine.

Tuesday mornings

14.2.23, 21.2.23, 28.2.23

14.3.23, 21.3.23, 28.3.23

10-12am

£15/session

Bow-Tie

A Quilt for Beginners

One full-day workshop suitable for beginners.

Measuring, cutting and machine sewing.

Saturday 25th February 2023

10am – 3.30pm

£40

Dresden Plate

Traditional hand sewing.

Using templates (provided), you will sew your very own Dresden plate and appliqué it to a background fabric.

Saturday 25th March 2023

10am – 3.30pm

£40

Have you found something you like?

Ring us or email to reserve your place.

0191 4100868

We will require payment, prior to your workshop, as soon as possible, please.

We’ll be closing for two weeks to spend some quality time with our families.

High Street Quilting

will be

CLOSED from Saturday 17th December at 4pm

until

Tuesday 3rd January at 9.30am

Let’s hope that amidst the chaos of Christmas, we can find new ways to build a kinder and fairer society in 2023.

In the small but beautiful world of quilting, we’ll be working hard to bring you lots of colour and sewing fun.

Join us if you can.

Snuggle up

Colour therapy

I was always a little cynical about the theory regarding the effect of colour on the psyche until I suffered a short bout of seasonal depression several years ago.

I decided that I would make a small quilt with “fruit pastille” colours and boy, did it have an effect!

Working with bright, light colours had a definite, positive effect on my mood and I would urge anyone suffering in the dark months of the year to try it out.

If you too are cynical, spend a short time in our bright, colourful shop and listen to the positive comments of our appreciative customers. Pop in and soak in the colour. It can’t do you any harm and it may give you a very welcome boost.

Snuggle up..

The clocks will be going back one hour on Saturday and the nights will be getting darker. It’s time to sort out those sewing projects that you’ve ignored for a while, dust them off and have a rethink.

At home we’ve all been very careful with our energy usage (and rightly so). We’ve turned down the thermostats and brought out the cozy quilts and throws to keep us toasty warm.

Here at High Street Quilting we’ve been careful too.

Now that we are open on Fridays again we are determined to use our space to good environmental benefit.

We have a busy, mentored group running in the mornings

And… we are planning another group to run on Friday afternoons..

FRUGAL FRIDAY afternoons

Frugal Friday afternoons.

We’re building a new social group on Friday afternoons. in these sessions participants will make things (their choice) from their own stash of fabric or from recycled sources.
To set the ball rolling, our first project will be a practical draught excluder. We are bursting with other ideas too, from zipped pouches to bags made with preloved denim.

Contact us at the shop (0191 4100868) to book a place in the group.
The group will meet weekly from 1.30 – 3.30pm
£5
Tea/coffee and biscuits included.
Beginning Friday 18th November

Turn your heating off at home and come along and share the warmth.

Christmas Surprise Placemat

Join us for a workshop in our beautiful, bright classroom. There are a few places still remaining on this workshop which is suitable for beginners.

Tuesday 22nd November

10am – 4pm

£40

Free-Motion Quilting

An extra date
for anyone wanting to take on their quilting to another dimension.

This is a “no-stress” workshop in which you can experiment with different styles of free-motion quilting.
Tuesday 29th November
1.30-3.30pm
£25

Phone to book a place.
(0191 4100868)

The shorter days are upon us now and as we draw the curtains and hunker down, we are all looking to find ways to save energy and to keep warm.

What better way to do this than to share our heat and to meet up with like-minded creative people?

• Check out our website for opportunities to come along.
• Pop in or phone to book a place.
• Turn off your heating at home.
• Come and join in the fun.
• You will be very welcome.

Stay warm,

love,

Hilary

Are You Ready?

Are You Ready ?

Is it time to think about learning something new?

Well, if it is, you’ve come to the right place.

Beginning at the start of September, we have something for everyone.

Workshops, courses and independent sewing groups.

Check out what we have to offer and get in touch as soon as possible….

A little note for your diary:

High Street Quilting will be closed for one week so that we can have a little break before the mayhem begins.

We will be closed from Sunday 27th August and return on Saturday 3rd September.

Let’s Make A Quilt

A stress-free course over 6 sessions that will take an absolute patchwork novice from start to finish.

We’ll cover – measuring, cutting, design, sewing, layering, quilting and binding and at the end of the course you will have your very own first quilt.

Time: 1pm-4pm

Dates; Wednesdays 7.9.22, 14.9.22, 21.9.22, 28.9.22, 5.10.22, 12.10.22

Tutor: Hilary

Price: £90

Ruler Workshop for Beginners

Once you’ve had a go at free-motion quilting you’ll be interested in trying some work with rulers. I know I am. This no-stress, first try will be just the opportunity to have a go.

You’ll need to have the appropriate “ruler” foot for your machine, but we’ll supply fabric and rulers (to borrow).

Time: 10am-2pm

Date Tuesday 27.9.22 (FULL)

OR Saturday 26.11.22

                                                                        Tutor: Jane Richie (of Janeslongarmstudio)

                                                                        Price: £40

Fussy Cutting Workshop

Once you’ve mastered English paper piecing , the next development is learning to accurately “fussy-cut” the pieces to make fascinating designs. This addictive technique will be taught by the master of fussy-cutting, Jenthepiecemaker

Time: 10am-1pm

Date: Saturday 24.9.22

Tutor: Jen Murphy

Price: £30 (bring a few fabrics with distinctive patterns, fine needles and fine threads- we’ll supply the rest)

Geese-Go-Round

3 useful skills in one cushion

Session 1 Foundation Piecing

Tuesday 11.10.22   10am -1pm

Session 2 Piping

Tuesday 18.10.22 10- 1pm

Session 3 The concealed zip

Tuesday 8.11.22 10-1pm

                                                       Tutor: Hilary

                                                       Price: £20/session

Christmas Surprise – A Placemat

The perfect, small project for anyone who has recently taken up patchwork. In this whole day workshop, we will cut and sew, layer-up and quilt, and (hopefully) bind the placemat.

We have three dates:

Tuesday 15.11.22 OR

Tuesday 22.11.22 OR

Tuesday 13.12.22

Time 10am -4pm

Tutor: Hilary

Price: £40

Applique 1 2 3

A short course in needleturn appliqué over three sessions.

This is a project in which you will learn and practice the hand-sewing skill of needleturn appliqué.

Dates; Wednesdays 19.10.22, 9.11.22, 7.12.22

Time: 1pm-4pm

Tutor: Jayne Kirkwood

Price £20/session

Stitch-In Texture

An experimental (no-stress) workshop in which we will explore a variety of stitch techniques that we can use to create differing textures in our quilting.

This is a hand sewing workshop.

Date: Tuesday 20.9.22

Time: 1pm-4pm

Tutor: Hilary

Price £20

(Please bring a little plain fabric, and some threads and needles)

Cactus Quilt

A one-day workshop in which you will learn the freezer-paper foundation piecing technique.

This block is best made in high contrast blocks and will create a stunning effect.

Date: Saturday 22.10.22

Time 10am – 3pm

Tutor: Hilary

Price £40

(Please bring along at least 2 fat quarters of high contrast fabrics as well as your machine and sewing kit.)

Free Motion Quilting

Have you always wanted to try, or do you want to try again free motion quilting in a stress-free class??

In this 2-hour session, I’ll teach you how to set up your fabric, your machine and yourself to begin this life changing technique.

Dates:

Tuesday 13.9.22 OR

Saturday 29.10.22

Time: 10am -12

Tutor: Hilary

Price: £25

(Please bring your machine with a free-motion or darning foot, we’ll supply fabric.)

AND… we are delighted to start a whole new kind of group on the morning of Friday 7th October

Eileen Swart (our amazing Baltimore tutor) has agreed to host a weekly

MENTORED group.

Each term, Eileen will bring a project that she will teach but if you prefer something else, bring it along and she’ll do her best to help you.

The class will run weekly on Friday mornings from 9.30-12.30 and be £10/session.

Places are limited and I know this group will be very popular – so – be quick.

Independent Sit ‘n’ Sew on-going sessions

You’ll need to book in to reserve a place in our weekly sit n’ sew sessions.

This is the ideal opportunity to sew alongside other enthusiasts, sharing your enthusiasm, ideas, and skills.

Choose between Thursday morning 9.30 -12.30 OR Thursday afternoon 1-4pm

Post Covid (we hope) we’ve lengthened the sessions from 2 to 3 hours, and we’ve changed the price to £20/month.

Turn down your heating at home and come along to share the warmth of our creative workshop.

Are you bamboozled? I am.

We’ve got so much planned for you this term.

I hope I can keep track of it all.

You’ll see that I’ve tried to squeeze in a lot of workshops around the regular sit ‘n’ sew sessions so that everyone has an opportunity to share in the joy and creativity that High Street Quilting brings to our community.

If you’d like to book into a one-off workshop, a short course, or to the regular sit n’ sew sessions, pop in or ring (0191 4100868) to reserve a place and then please come along to pay in advance.

The past two years have been unquestionably hellish.

We’ve survived- just, with your help and support – for which I am eternally grateful.

I know that you’ll be worrying about the future. As well as the possibility of another Covid surge, there’s the cost of living crisis looming. I hope you can see that I’m doing my level best to keep prices as low as possible (in the shop as well as the school).

We really are “all in this together”.

You may also know that as interest rates have risen, landlords have taken the opportunity to put up rents (some of them astronomically). Why? – There’s only one answer – GREED.

You may also have heard that many small quilt shops have closed or are about to close.

In fact, The Village Haberdashery in West Hampstead, London has closed, just this week. It was a wonderful, well respected, bright, modern environment. The owner, Annie, a master of social media and marketing is devastated. And understandably so.

After all that she’d been through in the last two years, her landlord decided to put up the rent by 55%. Outrageous!

PLEASE can I ask that every time you decide to buy fabric online, ask yourself – “Can I get this from a small, independent shop”? Then go and see what they have to offer.

Independent shops offer help and advice – FREE!

Try asking Mr Amazon for that!

Rant over…

Can you see just how much we have to offer?

We’re supporting our local quilting community with beautiful fabrics and essential accessories.

And… we have a programme of workshops, courses and independent sewing that is varied and vast.

I hope you find something in it to suit you.

We love to see the shop and the classroom bustling and busy again.

The oohs and aahs breathe life and energy into us.

Come and join us.

We’re ready and waiting…

Love, Hilary xx

New Year/New Start

Happy New Year

Let’s make plans.

Let’s dare to be optimistic and forge ahead.

We can’t go back to the old ways, as they were, but we can do our very best to focus on doing the things we love.

I’m not sure what I’d have done without my sewing. It has kept me busy and I have loved it more than ever.

So many people have found that they would like to take up sewing as a hobby and so you’ll see that many of the workshops below will be suitable to beginners or new starters.

Don’t worry if that isn’t you – why not look to joining one of our sewciable sewing groups? We have a few spaces (see below) and you’ll be able to share your knowledge and love of sewing with others.

“Let’s Make a Quilt” (by machine)

A course over 5 sessions, in which you will make a quilt from start to finish.

We will tackle the skills of cutting, sewing, layering,quilting and binding.

The pattern we will use is “disappearing 9 patch”.

Dates;

Saturday 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th January and  5th February.

Time 10am-12 noon

Price £80 (please note – this class will be upstairs)

“Catch All Caddy”                                                                                                                                                                          

Over 5 sessions, Mary Turner will take you through the process of making this useful sewing caddy.

There’ll be lots of skills to learn along the way and much fun to be had.

Dates; Tuesday 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th Jan and 1st Feb.

Time 10-12 noon

Price; £15/session

Pattern available to buy, at High Street Quilting

“Mary’s Sampler Quilt”

A 12 session project, suitable for the novice quilter.

Mary has taught this project before with incredible results.

If you’re looking to learn lots of new skills – this is the course for you.

Beginning Tuesday 4th January for 12 weeks

Time 1.30 -3.30pm

Price £15/ session

“Get to Know Your Machine”                                                                                                                                                                        

Have you received a new sewing machine for Christmas?

Do you want to dust off your old sewing machine and rediscover what it can do?

In this two hour session we will play with your machine and find out exactly what it can and cannot do.

You’ll grow in sewing confidence and feel ready to tackle new, exciting projects.

We have 2 dates to choose between; Wednesday 12th January  OR Wednesday 23rd February

1.30- 3.30pm £15

“Free-Motion Quilting”

Back, by popular demand;

a short introduction to the process of free-motion quilting.

If you’ve always wanted to have a go at this incredibly creative and versatile skill – get in touch and book a place.

Two optional dates for you to choose between;

Wednesday 19th January 1.30-3.30 OR Saturday 12th February 10am -12 noon

(please note, this session will be upstairs)

£25 to include all fabric needed.

“Handquilting, for beginners”                                                                                                                                            

A simple and stress free workshop that could well set you off on a completely new path.

We’ll transfer a simple pattern, layer up a block and show you the basics.

Bob’s your uncle.

Wednesday 2nd February

1.30-3.30 pm

£30  includes all fabrics and wadding

(please note – this workshop will be upstairs)

“Half and Half Quilt”

From 1 layer Cake (10″ squares) and an equal amount of background fabric we can make this beautiful quilt. ( If you look closely – you’ll see that I’m still busy with mine).

It’s a beautiful block – perfect for those with a little experience of patchwork.

Don’t expect to get the whole quilt made in one day, but you’ll get all the teaching you’ll require to make the whole quilt at home.

Date; Saturday 26th February

10am -3pm

£40 ( to include the pattern book – Jenny Doan’s Precut Companion)

Sewciable / Independent Sewing

Who’d have thought that when we closed up the sewing school 20 months ago, that we’d still be sorting things through and readjusting ourselves to the new normal?

Our groups have begun to reassemble, but they are going to be very different.

Some people have decided to give up on sewing or they’ve found new groups or places to sew that suit their needs and new people are wanting to come.

I still have a list of classes and payments made “pre-pandemic” please get in touch or pop in to the shop and ask for a refund of any fees paid then if you’re not able to return.

We have several small groups running and we’re adding two more BUT places are limited. If you’d like to come along to one of these groups please get in touch as soon as possible.

We have spaces available;

Wednesday afternoons, fortnightly, beginning 5th January 1pm -4pm   £7.50

Thursday afternoons, weekly, beginning 6th January , 1pm – 4pm  £7.50

While keeping to our mission of being a specialist quilting shop, I must say that we’re not going to stand still and let the grass grow under our feet here at High Street Quilting.

I don’t know about you but I love to try out new things – adding embroidery or rework to quilts or trying out new threads or experimenting with colour. We’re never too old to try out new techniques and explore new avenues.

And so, I’ve taken the bold step of buying a brand new DMC spinner, with 572 stunning shades of thread.

I hope you’ll love it as much as I do.

Jayne and I have already spent a lot of time marvelling over potential colour combinations. Sad but true!

Come and explore our beautiful, inspiring shop. You’ll find books and patterns, threads and fabrics to inspire and delight you.

We’ve been through a nightmare. There’s no denying it.

But the shortest day is nearly upon us and we can safely start to look forward to the bright, sparkling light of Christmas and the promise of brighter days.

I hope that you can find a way to join us next year at High Street Quilting.

We love to see you and to see your projects.

Everyday is colourful here at High Street Quilting but it’s you and your presence that makes it beautiful.

I wish you and all those you love, a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

With love,

Hilary

High Street Quilting

will be closed from Saturday 18th December 2021

and

will open again on Tuesday 4th January 2022