Add to FavouritesStitchtopia Festival
18 March 2022
- Enjoy two included workshops of your choice
- Stay at a lovely four-star hotel, half board
- Spend a fantastic weekend with likeminded people, indulging in your favourite crafts
- Included use of the hotel leisure facilities, swimming pool, spa pool, sauna and gym
- Enjoy evening talks and entertainment
- Additional workshops can be added to your package – coming soon!
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Stitchtopia Festival 2022
It may be a year later than we had planned but Stitchtopia Festival is back! With a new venue for 2022, this is the ultimate weekend residential event for all knitters, crocheters, quilters and embroidery lovers. Eight of our most popular experts will be offering workshops across the weekend and the fun continues after dinner with optional evening entertainment.
- Book your Stitchtopia Festival ticket now to secure your chosen room type.
- Book your chosen workshops through our form (link emailled after booking)
- Download your workshop details on this page - each class has a list of items you will need to bring and a kit cost for materials supplied by your expert. This amount will be added to your booking invoice, payable with your final balance.
Please note: we have a limited number of spaces on each workshop, and so spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Friday Afternoon:
Make your own way to De Vere Staverton Estate, arriving from 3pm. This evening is your first chance to meet your fellow crafters for dinner, followed by a welcome from the Stitchtopia team and a fun quiz.
Saturday Morning:
Relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities, or choose one of our available workshops:
- Gilded & Decorated Ceremonial Elephant - Sewing with Pat Archibald
- Hoopies Galore – Sewing with Mandy Shaw
- Clover hand embroidery picture – Embroidery with Janet Clare
- An Introduction to Modern Monograms - Embroidery with Jessica Aldred
- Clematis Flower – Embroidery with Deborah Wilding
- Corner to Corner in the round – Crochet with Emma Leith
- Entrelac Knitting in rows – Knitting with Carol Meldrum
- An introduction to Sequence Knitting – Knitting with Anna Nikipirowicz
Saturday Afternoon:
Relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities, or choose one of our available workshops:
- Little Oriental Floral Circle - Sewing with Pat Archibald
- Small Sewing Roulade – Sewing with Mandy Shaw
- Hand stitched applique picture with quilting – Sewing/Embroidery with Janet Clare
- An Introduction to Silk Shading - Embroidery with Jessica Aldred
- 3D Star Brooch – Embroidery with Deborah Wilding
- Summer Lanterns – Crochet with Emma Leith
- Knit & Crochet Combination – Knitting and Crochet with Carol Medrum
- Slipstitch Colourwork – Knitting with Anna Nikipirowicz
Dinner this evening will be followed by a guest speaker.
Sunday Morning:
Relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities, or choose one of our available workshops:
- Mini Landscape Pictures - Sewing with Pat Archibald
- Hoopies Galore – Sewing with Mandy Shaw
- Drawing with your Sewing Machine – Sewing with Janet Clare
- An Introduction to Modern Monograms - Embroidery with Jessica Aldred
- Clematis Flower – Embroidery with Deborah Wilding
- Corner to Corner in the round – Crochet with Emma Leith
- Entrelac Knitting in rows – Knitting with Carol Meldrum
- An introduction to Sequence Knitting – Knitting with Anna Nikipirowicz
Sunday Afternoon:
Relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities, or choose one of our available workshops:
- Sweet Heart Pin Cushions – Sewing with Mandy Shaw
- Clover hand embroidery picture – Embroidery with Janet Clare
- An Introduction to Silk Shading - Embroidery with Jessica Aldred
- 3D Star Brooch – Embroidery with Deborah Wilding
- Summer Lanterns – Crochet with Emma Leith
- Knit & Crochet Combination – Knitting and Crochet with Carol Medrum
- Slipstitch Colourwork – Knitting with Anna Nikipirowicz
Our final workshop will end at 4pm, when you can depart at your leisure.
Included in our package:
- Two nights in four-star accommodation on a full board basis, starting with dinner on Friday and ending with lunch on Sunday
- Two half-day workshops of your choice
- Tea, coffee, mineral water, biscuits and fresh fruit during workshop breaks
- Evening talks and entertainment
- Use of the hotel leisure facilities, swimming pool, spa pool, sauna, gym
Gilded & Decorated Ceremonial Elephant - Sewing with Pat Archibald
In this workshop with Pat, you will learn how to easily print fabrics with wooden printing blocks. These fabrics will be used to make a small elephant collage. This playful little elephant will then be bonded to a background ready for simple machine stitching. Exotic gilded finishes can be applied using metallic foils, sequins, beads and hand-made fabric tassels In addition Pat will demonstrate a decorative edge-stitching technique. At the end of this workshop you will go away having learnt some new techniques and with a piece of work that can be further embellished ready to go into a frame.
- All fabrics
- Wadding
- Backing fabric
- Use of Pat’s printing blocks and inks
- All-purpose machine threads (grey/black plus bright colours) to suit plus fine metallic machine threads
- Hand sewing kit including pins and needles
- Fabric scissors
- Machine needles No 12 and Metallica needles No 14 if you are bringing metallic threads
- Apron
Little Oriental Floral Circle - Sewing with Pat Archibald
In this workshop you will work with Pat’s unique oriental inspired rulers and templates that feature acer, gingko and cherry blossom designs. Use these templates to create a variety of leaf and blossom fabric appliqué shapes that can then be fused in a circular design on a background fabric. The floral shapes can be hand-stitched in place and decorative touches can be added with gilding and foiling. Pat will demonstrate a lovely edgestitch finish so that the completed piece can be popped into a frame. At the end of the workshop you will be familiar with working with the templates and rulers, fusible web appliqué and gilding and foiling techniques.
- All fabrics
- Wadding
- Backing fabric
- Use of Pat’s templates
- Hand sewing kit including pins, small safety pins and needles
- Embroidery needles size 9
- Fabric scissors
- Scissors suitable for cutting out fabric with fusible web attached
Mini Landscape Pictures - Sewing with Pat Archibald
Join Pat to make a miniature landscape using hand-stitching techniques. These atmospheric little views are simply stitched but the layering of nets and the use of colour creates the illusion of perspective. Add hand quilting, surface embroidery and beading to give more detail. The finishing touches are given by applying a light dusting of a metallic shimmer to the final piece. The completed piece can be mounted in the frame that is supplied as part of the kit.
- All fabrics
- Wadding
- Backing fabric
- Mounting board
- Frame
- Threads
- Hand sewing kit including dressmaking pins, small safety pins and needles
- Embroidery needles size 9
- Fabric scissors
- A neutral coloured (mid-grey or cream) machine thread
- Quilters Ruler, rotary cutter and small mat (if you have them)
Small Sewing Roulade – Sewing with Mandy Shaw
Hoopies Galore – Sewing with Mandy Shaw
A lovely relaxing hand sewing workshop embroidering a 4-inch design in a wooden embroidery hoop. There will be many designs to choose from plus our new themed alphabet. The embroidery is finished off with a bespoke wooden frame.
- Includes all materials
- Hand sewing kit
- Small scissors
- Medium scissors
Sweet Heart Pin Cushions – Sewing with Mandy Shaw
It was during World War 1 that Queen Mary realised the potential of using the practice of decorating sawdust filled hearts, as a means of therapy for convalescing soldiers. She organised kits to be made and distributed to hospitals where wounded and shell-shocked soldiers were recuperating. The hearts were adorned with whatever notions were available and once decorated were sent to loved ones at home, gaining the name Sweetheart pincushion, although they were not necessarily pin cushions just decorated hearts.
We are going to be inspired by these pin cushion and make our own using a wonderful collection of French tapes and ribbons. If you have any precious pieces of ribbon or fabric that you would like to include in your heart, please bring them along to the workshop to add to your decoration.
- Includes all materials
- Hand sewing kit
- Small scissors
- Medium scissors
Drawing with your Sewing Machine – Sewing with Janet Clare
In this fun workshop I will give you an introduction to free-motion stitching with your sewing machine. This is my favourite technique and a really important part of how I achieve my appliqué and quilting style.
You learn how to draw using your sewing machine through a series of fun exercises. I will teach you all my tips and tricks to enable you to confidently create your own thread sketches. You will see how free-motion stitching can transform and personalise your appliqué and breathe life into your work!
Honestly, no real-life drawing skills are required. I will be right there to help you design and draw anything you need to create your very own unique projects.
Includes:
- Black/dark sewing thread
- Calico/Plain neutral fabric
- Stitch ‘n’ tear paper
- Wadding pieces
- Hand sewing kit
Hand stitched applique picture with quilting – Sewing/Embroidery with Janet Clare
In our fun workshop you will learn all about fusible appliqué and create a hand stitched and quilted picture to frame.
We will walk step by step through the process and learn how to create the appliqué and then explore how considering the negative space and positioning of the appliqué in your design makes a big difference to the finished result.
We will work on the picture, using hand stitching and embroidery to add character to the final piece and then look at options to finish and mount your lovely piece of textile art!
Includes:
- Plain fabric and wadding
- Fabrics for the appliqué
- Fusible web for appliqué
- Sewing threads
- A4 mount board and glue dots
- Sewing thread and needles for hand stitching
- Water soluble pen (for marking up quilting)
- Portable light with a daylight bulb if you have one
Please note: Janet will be designing something new for this event so photos provided are for illustrative purposes only
Clover hand embroidery picture – Embroidery with Janet Clare
Embroidery has to be one of the most relaxing and therapeutic past-times. This little project will give you hours of pleasure, both in the process of making and the time you subsequently spend admiring and enjoying your artwork!
This kit makes my ‘Clover’ wildflower picture - the finished embroidery measures 4 x 7 ½ inches and looks lovely mounted in an A3 picture frame.
With the embroidery template pre-printed onto adhesive soluble fleece, there is no tricky process required to transfer the design. Simply peel off the backing, stick onto the fabric and begin stitching! Once the stitching is complete, rinse in luke warm water and the pre-printed sticker dissolves away very easily, leaving just the stitches on the fabric.
As well as the water-soluble embroidery template, the line drawing of the embroidery is also included in the pattern to enable you to use other transfer methods and reuse the embroidery design for personal use.
Includes:
- Linen/rayon fabric for background
- 3 skeins of cotton embroidery thread
- 1 embroidery needle
- Full colour detailed instruction sheet
- Printed embroidery template
- Wadding
- A3 mountboard
- Glue lines
- Normal sewing kit
- Portable light with a daylight bulb if you have one
An Introduction to Modern Monograms - Embroidery with Jessica Aldred
Suitable for both beginners and experienced embroiderers this project includes a selection of basic stitches such as satin stitch, stem stitch, French knots and eyelets worked in variegated threads.
Includes:
- Fabric
- Needles
- Threads
- Design and instructions
- Embroidery scissors
- Ring frame (ideally with a seat stand or barrel clamp)
- Lights and magnifier (if you normally use them)
An Introduction to Silk Shading - Embroidery with Jessica Aldred
Suitable for both beginner and experienced embroiderers this project covers silk shading as well as turkey rug stitch for the fluffy body.
Includes:
- Fabric
- Needles
- Threads
- Design and instructions
- Embroidery scissors
- Ring frame (ideally with a seat stand or barrel clamp)
- Lights and magnifier (if you normally use them)
Clematis Flower – Embroidery with Deborah Wilding
This class is suitable for students of all ability, there is an element of repetition taking into consideration stitchers with more experience and those new to the skill. The design includes satin stitch, padded satin stitch, whipped stem stitch, closed fly, French knots and the application of beads to the design.
Includes:
- Full instruction book
- Embroidery hoop to display
- Embroidery threads
- Printed material
- Beads
- Metallic thread
- Needle
- Embroidery scissors
- Ring frame (ideally with a seat stand or barrel clamp)
- Lights and magnifier (if you normally use them)
3D Star Brooch – Embroidery with Deborah Wilding
This class is suitable for students of all ability, there is an element of repetition taking into consideration stitchers with more experience and those new to the skill. The brooch design includes the application of felt padding to a base fabric, surface couching, stitching a variety o.f beads. We will then talk through the finishing off and construction to make the 3D shape brooch.
- Full instruction book
- Felt shapes
- Embroidery threads
- Backing material
- Variety of beads
- PVA glue
- Needle
- Backing felt
- Brooch back fastening
- Embroidery scissors
- Ring frame (ideally with a seat stand or barrel clamp)
- Lights and magnifier (if you normally use them)
Ombre Bag – Crochet with Emma Leith
This workshop is all about combining colours confidently to create a beautiful shoulder bag. You will be guided in the art of blending colours seamlessly following Emma’s simple pattern and colour guide and will be shown how to make sturdy strap that won’t stretch when the bag is full! Working in the round this projects makes use of the elongated double crochet to add texture and stability to the finished bag.
- Written pattern with colour step by step photographs
- 8 Balls Ricorumi dk cotton 25g
- 3.5mm hook
- Scissors
- Stitch marker
- Yarn needle
Please note: Participants will be confident in double crochet and will have experience in working the round.
Summer Lanterns – Crochet with Emma Leith
This is the perfect project for those wishing to extend their crochet skills beyond the beginners granny square. This project introduces a variety of stitches and includes crocheting around a circular frame. Each lantern will be unique to you as you choose your own colour combinations from the carefully curated palette of Ricorumi cotton dk. You will leave with new skills and a pretty lantern that will brighten up the home and garden.
- Written pattern with colour step by step photographs
- Wire hoop
- 6 balls of Ricorumi dk cotton 25g
- 3.5mm hook
Knit & Crochet Combination – Knitting and Crochet with Carol Medrum
Modular blocks are the perfect way to use up your yarn stash. We’ll combine knit and crochet techniques to create colourful hexagons and join them as we go. On the day we’ll cover working in the round and joining blocks together for crochet and picking up stitches and decreasing methods for knit.
- 5 x 25g balls DK contrast colours
- 4mm needles
- 3.5 or 4mm hook
- Locking stitch marker
- Yarn needle
Entrelac Knitting in rows – Knitting with Carol Meldrum
Learn how to manipulate your stitches using a combination of increasing. Decreasing techniques and picking up stitches to create an Entrelac design. This type of fabric gives a wonderful woven effect and is great for exploring colour combinations.
- 5 x 25g balls DK contrast colours
- 4mm needles
An introduction to Sequence Knitting – Knitting with Anna Nikipirowicz
Discover how to create new and interesting textures by repeating a sequence of stitches in different formats and multiples. You will start by testing out a couple of different approaches before moving on to a slouchy hat project.
- 100g ball of pure wool
- Pompom maker
- 4mm knitting needles
- Knitters sewing needle
- Scissors
Slipstitch Colourwork – Knitting with Anna Nikipirowicz
Create beautiful patterns with a technique that looks far more complicated than it is! Knitters will discover that they are only ever working with one colour at a time, whilst still being able to create intricate patterns. You will work on a small purse project using different coloured and textures of yarn as well as adding beads.
- 3 x 50g balls of cotton yarn
- Small amounts of textured yarns
- Beads
- 3.25mm knitting needles
- A fine–eyed or beading needle pre-threaded with cotton
- Knitters sewing needle
- Scissors
Anna Nikipirowicz
Anna is a crochet and knit designer, tutor and author of several crochet books. Her designs are regularly featured in craft magazines such as Inside Crochet and she also is a regular on Yarn Lane TV where she shares her designs and techniques. She works closely with West Yorkshire Spinners, LoveCrafts and other yarn brands.
Anna attributes her love of knitting and crochet to her very talented mother whose stranded colourwork jumpers and hats were legendary. Even though she admits herself she really didn’t appreciate the skills in her childhood.
She is an experienced tutor who started her knit and crochet career as a Rowan Design Consultant. She teaches regularly at John Lewis Partnership and independent yarns stores, and also virtually. Anna constantly explores new techniques and incorporates them in her classes. Confidence and skill-building is very important to her, she wants everyone who takes her class to learn something new and leave with feeling self-assured that they have unlocked their creative potential with new skills.
Deborah Wilding
Based at the RSN Bristol Satellite, Deborah has been studying with the Royal School of Needlework since 2010. She began with the RSN Certificate course, for which she was awarded a distinction in 2012, before graduating from the Future Tutor Programme with a distinction in June 2015. Whilst a student Deborah was awarded both the Teaching Award in 2013 and the Elizabeth Elvin Goldwork Award in 2015.
Over the last three years, work produced by Deborah has featured in both The Times and Guardian newspapers. As well as the Certificate and Diploma course in Bristol, Deborah also teaches classes across the UK, including Hampton Court Palace and internationally and also works as a studio stitcher in the commercial workroom of the RSN at Hampton Court.
Emma Leith
Jessica Aldred
Jessica is a designer and embroiderer from West Yorkshire. She is a graduate of the Royal School of Needlework and has over 15 years experience teaching embroidery and carrying out commissions. She has worked in costume at the Royal Opera House, taught needlework to prison inmates for Fine Cell Work, co-authored a book called Adventures in Needlework and was a member of the team who embroidered the wedding dress and veil for HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.
Jessica has always loved history, antiques and vintage fashion, and these elements often influence her work. Her business, House of Heyday, is where all of Jessica's skills, experiences and passions come together. As well as teaching embroidery and doing commissions she is also a vintage hair stylist and make-up artist and gives talks and presentations about vintage fashions. Alongside all of that she works for an arts organisation for adults with learning disabilities.
Jessica loves sharing her knowledge and prides herself on her classes being friendly and inclusive.
Carol Meldrum
Carol Meldrum is a textile designer, workshop tutor and author of many popular knitting and crochet titles. She is also the creative force behind the fashion accessories label Beatknit. She has worked within the textile industry as a designer for many High Street fashion outlets as well as internationally renowned hand knit label Rowan. Carol is also a successful workshop tutor teaching all aspects of knit and crochet on an informal basis to both groups and individuals.
Janet Clare
Janet Clare is an artist, textile designer, teacher, author, quilter and all-round creative thinker. She is inspired by words, sayings and lovely phrases that she comes across and also by children and the joy they find in the mundane.
Janet has created a range of quilt and stitchery patterns, written five books and designed eight fabric collections in collaboration with Moda. Her products retail in quilt shops across the UK and in her online ETSY store, as well as featuring on Create and Craft TV, where Janet presents a live show once a month. Her work features frequently in patchwork and quilting publications and as an experienced speaker and teacher, she regularly hosts talks and workshops at quilt shops, guilds and in her own studio focusing on the design process and the creative techniques she uses.
Mandy Shaw
Queen of Redwork Mandy Shaw, is an experienced designer and well-known personality within the craft community. Her vintage designs are instantly recognisable and often feature her trademark red and white stitching or charming applique details. Throughout her career, Mandy has contributed to a number of publications and is the author of a number of handmade crafting books which share her quirky crafting style.
Mandy is also the owner of Dandelion Designs, a well-established family run company and is a regular on Create and Craft TV showing her gorgeous patterns & kits for handmade and machine craft projects. She has also appeared on Kirstie Allsopp’s Homemade Home.
Pat Archibald
Pat is a UK textile artist and tutor based in Edinburgh. Her fascination for fabric began in her childhood when she discovered her grandmother’s scrap bag bursting at the seams with exotic fabrics and by the age of 11, she had created her first piece of patchwork. Throughout her creative career, Pat has exhibited her work worldwide, won some wonderful awards and even established Scotland’s first dedicated patchwork and quilting shop.
Pat loves to travel both around her home country as well as further afield. As her own horizons grow literally, then so too do the experiences that she can then express in her quilt making. She feels that each collection of quilts has its own unique identity and captures the essence of her view of the country or city.
Meet us at our hotel in the UK
Travel to our hotel is not included in this package. If you require any further information to assist with your travel plans, please contact our friendly reservations team who will be happy to help.
Dates:
18th March 2022: 3 days
Prices:
Holiday prices are per person and include two workshops, without kits
Twin/double room to share: £469
Double room for sole use: £519
Deposit: £100
Subject to availability at the hotel, you are also able to stay the night of Sunday 20th March. All prices are per person. Please contact us to request
Twin/double room to share: £80
Double room for sole use: £135
We are not taking bookings for additional workshops at this stage, but, depending on availability, these will be available at a later date
Additional workshops: £25 + kit cost
Your Accommodation
Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club
★★★★
Overview
This stylish and contemporary four-star hotel is ideally located in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside. The bright and airy event spaces are perfect for our workshops, the modern restaurant serves up the best of seasonal and local food and the newly refurbished bar is the perfect place to relax after a fun days crafting.
For those looking for more active relaxation, Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club have a gym and pool and golf enthusiasts can test their skills on the PGA European-tour standard 18-hole golf course in the grounds. (Note – gym and pool open subject to government guidelines).
In a convenient location, Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club is easily accessible from the M1, M6, M40 and Birmingham Airport, and is just a short drive to Northampton and Coventry.
Free, superfast Wi-Fi with a maximum bandwidth of 1Gb is available throughout.Hotel Facilities & Amenities
- Free WiFi
- Restaurant
- Bar & coffee shop
- Leisure club with gym
- Swimming pool
- 18-hole golf course
Room Facilities & Amenities
Relax in peace and quiet in the standard guest rooms (13 sq m). Thoughtfully furnished, these rooms offer modern amenities and make an ideal base for your stay. All rooms are equipped with the following:
- Tea & coffee making facilities
- Hair Dryer
- TV
- Iron