Embroidery Notions, Aurifloss, Bohin and Hardwicke Manor

As you know we're all a bit embroidery mad at The Workroom at the moment as Victoria's hand embroidery classes - Needle Books and You Are My Sunshine Embroidery Sampler - continues to inspire us all.

I'm a huge believer in using the best notions that you can, because if you're investing time and creative energy in making something by hand, you want it to be the best quality, to be a work of art and there's something so pleasing about the tactile feel of a fine sanded beechwood hoop or the sheen of the finest Egyptian cotton embroidery floss.

To this end we have carefully sourced our new range of embroidery supplies from all over the world to bring you the best of everything for your sewing.

Our floss is AuriFloss, its 100% Egyptian Long Staple Cotton on a wooden bobbin instead of the more typical skein. We love this floss. The colour range is fantastic, you get twice the amount on the wooden bobbin so no running out midway through a design, the wooden bobbin is a crafters dream as a 'left over'- so many lovely things you could do with that! 

Having the wooden bobbin makes 'thread management' so much easier - anyone who has managed to tangle their skein of  thread so dreadfully that you almost can't pull a length out, will know what I mean!

After the floss, the next most important thing is the needle in my book. We have sourced my favourite Bohin needles from France. They are super strong, super sharp and somehow make your stitches just that little bit more elegant.  We are stocking the size 24 Tapestry needles (orange) which are perfect for cross stitch,and the size 7 Embroidery needle (pink)

Speaking of elegance, these 3.5 inch classic Bohin  'heart' scissors are an heirloom buy, so elegant, proudly Made in France since 1833. They just have a lovely substantial feel, smooth, heavy and sharp at the point. Perfection x

You know I'm fussy about my quilting hoops,and embroidery hoops aren't any different for me...these are my favourite polished Beechwood Hardwicke Manor hoops, super smooth, a pleasure to hold and use.

If you are taking an embroidery class with us this spring, pop in and stock up....inspiration guaranteed in every spool...xx

PlainStitch Autumn/Winter Class Schedule Now Booking

As you all know we have been working hard behind the scenes for months now to get our Autumn Winter Schedule packed full of as many fab classes as we can squeeze in. We've listened to your requests and are excited to add a whole range of additional hand work classes with Victoria and Penny from embroidery to cross stitch and knitting to crochet. We have designed two completely new big original quilting classes with Deb and Claire, the Arendelle Quilt and The WholeCloth Quilt as well as lots more dressmaking options from Jeanne and Val, with an all new Little Girls Dresses pattern The Oliver and S Carousel Dress, and two new exciting daytime and evening Bring Your Own Pattern classes where Val will be on hand to help you with your dressmaking. Of course all the favourites will be back with a new long awaited evening slot for Modern Applique, Simple sampler running am and pm, Fabric Baskets, Purses, Pouches, Baskets, Scarves, Sewing Machine Covers, Lampshades and much much more....

We have a full exciting schedule of Christmas Makes, starting nice and early to make sure those Christmas makes aren't a last minute stress. We will be making Christmas decorations with Victoria,hristmas Cushions with Deb & Jeanne,  Deb and Claire will be collaborating on some personalised Free Motion Patchwork Teacosies, Claire will be showing you how to make fabulous Handmade Free Motion Christmas Cards, we have a workshop planned to whip up whole batches! Victoria will be running a term long Modern Christmas Cross Stitch Sampler, as well as an Autumn inspired Embroidery project, and Penny will be showing us how to knit Chunky Cabled Cushions, and crochet Granny Square Blankets....I just don't know how you're going to choose which class to take!

To book a class if you are an existing customer and have taken a class before, just e mail us your class choice and pay via bank transfer or cheque or cash or card in the shop. We can only confirm your booking on payment and it will be a strictly first past the post system! If you are a new customer, please e mail deb@plainstitch.co.uk and request a Booking Form which you must fill in and return ( e mail is fine) with your booking and payment ( details of our banking account for direct transfer are included in the booking form).

Our Kids and Teens Sewing schools will also be back with a new range of original classes, starting this summer hols for Teens and in Sept for the Miss Stitch School. You can book for both now...

The ShopHop Prize - 1st and 2nd of May

The ShopHopPrize includes; a Moda Jelly Roll, 12 fat quarters including Dashwood, Heather Bailey and Art Gallery Fabrics. Three balls of DMC Cotton yarn, two balls of perle cotton, two YLI hand quilting threads, two machine Quilting King Tut threads, two rolls of lacy ribbon, two rolls of pompom/ricrac trim, a pair of stalk embroidery scissors, some gorgeous ceramic buttons, a pack of self threading needles, a hanky cover case, two gingham ribbons and a set of Tilda paper piecing templates........woo hoo...lets ShopHop!

 Shop Hop is back! For those of you who participated last year..you know the score..but if you've yet to ShopHop with us this is the deal.........

On Fri 1st and Sat 2nd of May we will be teaming up with our lovely friends  Sally from Sally's Sewing Box in Princes Risborough and Judy from Sew Patchwork. Visit all 3 shops over the two days pick up a sticker in each and be entered for our prize draw to win all of the items in the pictures above!

There will also be lots of fantastic special offers at all of the shops, our infamous Skinny Bolt Sale will be running for two days and we really hope that you can pop in and join in.

Round up your friends, make a date, book somewhere lovely for lunch and make a day of it...oh and good luck! I'm a little bit sad I can't enter myself! Love this springy coloured prize!

This week has been bathed in summery sunshine.

We've revelled in all the new space at The Workroom.

The sun has shone in, and creativity has blossomed everywhere!

We made gorgeous baskets

Saw fantastic quilts come to fruition....this one by Gillian from our Log Cabin Workshop..

Paula's wonderful Simple Sampler from last terms Simple Sampler Class..........

...............with it's amazing Modern Appliqué inspired back...

A nautically inspired half square triangle baby quilt...

We introduced another new class to their sewing machines at our complete beginners Get To Know Your Sewing Machine class, and our Bee in My Bonneters are pushing for the finish line with their quilts - it's all so exciting! 

We sold out two orders of Farm Girl Vintage and cleared out the UK suppliers of their remaining stock. I expect there is a preponderance of patchwork chickens springing up this weekend across the Chilterns!

 Today we kicked off our Patchwork Cushions class again....

These are going to be such wonderful cushions!

Tomorrow we pack our new room to the rafters with enthusiastic little sewing people as Miss Stitch hosts a sell out day of back to back classes of 7 - 12 year olds making springy wreaths. 

Next week we do it all again with the start of a whole new term of Simple Samplers...can't wait. Enjoy the sunshine this weekend and I hope you squeeze some sewing in xx

Embroidered Needlebooks Class is Back.. Fri 26th June

.......by popular demand we have put on another date for Victoria's Embroidered Needle books class. This class was a massive hit with the first graduates...there were multiple reports of needle book frenzy after the class. It is really THE most relaxing class I have ever taken and it created a creative frenzy of ideas...and what is so nice is that you get to play out each creative idea in miniature so it's a really do-able project - lots of quick satisfying finishes!

We think this class would be even more friendly and cosy and lovely in our new BackRoom at The Workroom so we will be running it again on Friday 26th June 10.30 - 1.30pm. We have a lovely new range of Aurifloss embroidery threads due in to the shop at any time so treat yourself to an indulgent class of colourful threads and quiet contemplation..........we felt positively Jane Austen-ish in our enjoyment of this class - don't pass up on the experience!

For those who want to take their embroidery skills up a level, Victoria will also be running her You Are My Sunshine by Sarah Edgar embroidered sampler class over three classes on Friday the 15th May, 12th June, 10th July, teaching a further range of stitches and techniques.