Welcome to my August blog – this weather can’t make its mind up whether it’s August or October. I hope you’re staying dry and enjoying the sun when it does come out.
Our summer sewing club for children and young people, Little Stitchers, has been going on over the school holidays. On hot days we have moved the tables and chairs out into the arcade where they could benefit from some air flow. Despite the heat on the fist day the girls who came along produced some imaginatively decorated needle cases, of which they were rightly very proud. The final session is on August 22nd and we will see all the things they have made.


If you haven’t been into the shop recently there have been big changes in our little arcade at 12 High Street with some new shop units being built. The building work has been going on for some months but only recently has the dividing wall been taken out to reveal the new extension. Two of the new shops are already occupied by a beautician and a barber and our neighbours with the Antique shop will be moving into larger premises. It all looks so much brighter. Almost opposite The Corner Patch a comfortable seating area has been made – dare I say it is an ideal place to park husbands and partners while you browse the fabrics!
Meanwhile I have been opening a lot of fabric deliveries – always so exciting! I find choosing new fabrics so hard. When the reps come with their samples I usually want to buy everything and it is so difficult to choose between all the lovely fabrics. When those parcels arrive and I still love what I see it is a huge relief and I rush to share it with you on the shop Facebook and Instagram sites and upload it onto the website.
Recently parcels arrived from Lewis &Irene – the complete new colour range of Bumbleberries fabrics and some of their new Celtic Coorie collection. This is the Autumn Winter Bumbleberries collection and includes metallics as well as some pearlised fabrics. They make great blenders – and of course coordinate beautifully with Celtic Coorie which has Highland animals and birds on a Scottish hillside, thistles and plaids; they are fantastic quilting or dressmaking fabrics.


Metallics are popular at the moment. They are in the Christmas ranges of course, but also in the space themed range by Libs Elliott for Andover fabrics with Moon Age, Love Potion and Sunstars fabrics. Very appropriate as we mark 50 years since the first moon landings.
Other fabrics that I couldn’t resist were the cotton / linen mixes from Dashwood fabrics. This is the Nest collection by Libs Elliott with birds and flowers on grey, mustard and teal backgrounds – very much the colours of the moment. These fabrics are wider (60 inches) and are slightly heavier weight than the 100% cottons and would be ideal for dressmaking and home furnishing projects as well as patchwork. In fact Caroline, who works on Wednesdays in the shop, couldn’t resist! She has just finished making her first dress! It looks wonderful on her, so cool and flattering.
I was also tempted by some stretch corduroy, also from Dashwood. It is a fine needlecord, so soft to handle and being 98% cotton / 2% Spandex has a subtle stretch. It is in the most beautiful, rich, solid colours and I can see it being a great fabric for skirts, dresses and jackets for the Autumn.
All these fabrics are on the website and can be ordered online as well as from the shop.
Caroline did an individual workshop with me to work on her dress. I then did another dressmaking workshop on August 3rd when four more dresses/tunics went home. Lots of people have asked for this so it will be repeated as soon as I can find a date. All workshop dates are advertised on the website, Facebook and in my blogs so keep looking if you are interested as places go very quickly. I am also doing a session on Zips and Piping on 19th September – great if you want to have a go at making your own cushions.
Thinking of workshops, Barbara Chainey called into the shop to discuss the various hand stitching sessions she is delivering in October. The details of these are now on the website and on Facebook and places are going fast. Chris Franses also has a range of workshops scheduled for the next few months. There are currently three opportunities every month to work on her fantastic Block of the Month ‘House’ Quilt – but only a few spaces on the first month’s sessions remain. Book soon too for her lovely Christmas runner workshop on either 21st or 23rd November – again these are filling up quickly.
i have just returned from a week away on a course ‘Creating Fine Felt’. I had a fantastic week, learnt so much and came home with a felt corsage, a scarf and a handbag, as well as lots of samples and a head buzzing with ideas. I will be offering some wet felting classes in the New Year so let me know if you are interested.
We have workshops now planned for every Thursday and Saturday until the end of the year. With the Sit and Sew sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays the shop is busy, but there are some slots for individual tuition sessions. For just £10 / hour this gives you the chance to learn the basics and some ladies new to sewing bring their own sewing machines so they can familiarise themselves with the machine they will be using at home.
As always, get in touch if you are interested in any of the above. Email janet@thecornerpatch.co.uk, ring 01785 859360 or call in to the shop.
Dates for your diary:
Saturday 31st August Eccleshall Show. I am away at the West of England Quilt and Textile Show so Jane will be taking the shop to the show and would love to see you all there.
September 5th, 7th or 14th Block of the Month House Quilt Workshops at The Corner Patch with Chris Franses. The first block will be the Contrary Wife House Block. All sessions 10am – 2pm. £30
Thursday 12th September Mariner’s Compass Workshop at The Corner Patch with Margaret Benting. This is part 1 of two sessions. 10am – 12.30. £30.The second session will be arranged for a date to suit all participants.
Thursday 19th September Zips and Piping workshop at The Corner Patch with Janet. 10am – 12.30. £30
Saturday 21st September Roman Stripe Quilt Workshop at The Corner Patch with Chris Franses. 10am – 4pm. £35
The Staffordshire Patchwork & Quilters don’t meet in August. Their next meeting will be on 5th September with speaker Lis Binns on ‘What to do when it all goes wrong’. Walton Community Centre, Stone. 6.45pm