'In Stitches' January 2026

Date Created: Jan 3 2026 8:32AM

New year, new hobby—it’s the perfect time to try something fun and creative. A new year feels like a fresh page, and picking up a new hobby is a lovely way to relax, learn something new, and uncover talents you might not even know you have yet. Whether you’re curious about sewing, quilting, knitting, or crochet, this is your moment to do something just for you. Start small, enjoy the journey, and don’t worry about being perfect—it’s all part of the fun. We’re here to help with easy starter kits, inspiring patterns and books, plus friendly, relaxed day workshops and courses to guide you every step of the way. 2026 could be your most creative year yet!

We are delighted to have just taken delivery of the latest collection from Lynette Anderson, Fairy Garden. Perfect for spring projects—especially with spring just around the corner and the bulbs already popping through in our garden—this charming collection is full of gentle colour and whimsy. Australian designer Lynette Anderson is renowned for her distinctive and sophisticated naïve style. She designs patterns, fabrics, and her much-loved buttons, combining simple stitchery with appliqué and piecing to create timeless designs that appeal to embroiderers and quilters around the world. Lynette’s creative process begins with her own hand-drawn illustrations, which are then refined on the computer. Her limited-edition buttons are machine cut and lovingly hand-painted in Australia, making each one truly special. Her patterns span a wide range of projects, including bags, wall hangings, quilts, needle cases, and cushions. Since 1995, Lynette has been designing and creating patterns, books, and buttons from her home in Australia for the patchwork and quilting industry. Fabric design was once a dream—one that became a reality in 2001—and since then she has created more than 25 fabric collections. While retirement now beckons, her designs will continue to be re-coloured with her consent, ensuring we can still enjoy the fresh, whimsical fabrics we all know and love. This new collection is simply stunning.

Hand-Sewing. Stitching has been a lifelong passion for Kate Golby, a love that led her to found Bothy Threads Ltd. in 1993—not long after we opened our very first shop! We proudly stock a wide range of beautiful cross stitch, embroidery, and tapestry kits from Bothy Threads, alongside designs from many other talented designers and suppliers. Every kit is carefully hand-picked by us to inspire and support your stitching journey. Hand-stitching in all its forms continues to grow in popularity, and embroidery in particular is capturing the interest of many people. Perhaps this is because it feels less repetitive than cross stitch and allows for greater creativity through a variety of stitches and techniques. With a constant flow of fresh new designs being released, there’s always something exciting to discover and plenty of inspiration to keep our needles busy.

Have you tried needle felting? It’s a simple, beginner-friendly craft that requires just a few basic tools. For most beginners, carded wool or wool tops are easiest to work with, along with felting needles and a felting mat. Like many hobbies, it can quickly become addictive! We love using needle felting to create textured backgrounds that can then be enhanced with embroidery, either by hand or with a sewing machine. Many crafters also enjoy creating three-dimensional scenes and animals, which can be further embellished and even “dressed” for extra charm. We have beginner-friendly kits, inspiring instructional books, and all the materials and tools you might need to get started. Whether you’re making handmade gifts or simply looking for a calming hobby to unwind, needle felting could be the perfect creative escape.

Why Knitting and Crocheting? While knitting uses two straight needles to make thread loops out of yarns, crocheting uses a single, hooked needle to make intertwined loops. Multiples of these crafted yarn loops make the final product. Knitting and crocheting aren’t just about scarves and blankets—they’re powerful tools for mental and emotional well-being. The repetitive motion of stitching helps calm the mind, reduce stress, and even lower blood pressure and heart rate, much like meditation or yoga. These crafts encourage mindfulness, keeping you present while counting stitches, following patterns, and feeling the yarn between your fingers. They can also help with anxiety and depression by providing routine, a sense of control, and a feeling of accomplishment. This briefly explains why Yarn Crafts are so popular, and if they sound a little tricky, how about Macrame? The simple act of knotting can create amazing texture for all sorts of projects, from simple key rings to more complicated challenges. Again, we have kits and books to inspire you.

Patchwork & Quilting? Like many stitchers, we love to dabble in multiple crafts—and often combine them too. Many of our patchwork projects include hand or machine embroidery, or Redwork—but if we’re honest, cutting and piecing fabric for quilting or appliqué is still our favourite pastime. Even after all these years, a new fabric delivery still fills us with excitement! Patchwork and quilting has a rich history: its rise in 18th- and 19th-century Britain was driven by necessity, creativity, and social connection. Today, this timeless craft continues to inspire, blending heritage with contemporary trends. Whether you’re a quilting enthusiast or simply enjoy history, the story of British patchwork is a fascinating journey. Not every project needs to be a full-sized quilt. Cushions, table or bed runners, wall hangings, and bags are all popular—and our bag workshops are some of the most loved. After all, even if you have plenty of bags, they make perfect handmade gifts. Quilting classes are more than just learning—they’re social days filled with like-minded people, biscuits, coffee, and lots of inspiration. We offer workshops for complete beginners and experienced stitchers alike, along with fabrics galore, books, patterns, and all the equipment you may need. If you’ve never explored patchwork, now’s the perfect time to join us. You might only make one quilt in your lifetime—but it will open countless doors and leave you with a head full of ideas.

Finally, are you considering buying a new sewing machine or overlocker but are overwhelmed with the choice? We can help you to narrow this down and find the machine to perfectly match your sewing needs. Call in anytime for a no- pressure chat and demonstration. We endeavour to keep all models in stock and most importantly, we offer free tuition on most machines bought from us. The support is on-going as are our creative classes for machine owners. If however, you have a machine purchased elsewhere, we can still offer you tuition, but there is a charge. 

I hope this brief New Years Newsletter has given you ideas to keep you busy and fulfilled. Please call in or contact us if you are wishing to begin a new craft, we are always happy to help and advise you.

Wishing you a cozy Winter with time to spend Stitching, Knitting, Crafting and relaxing. Whatever you may do, find time to be kind and gentle to yourself . X