The Harrogate Show is a great place to buy fabric!

I am always being asked "where can I buy fabric?"

Well, how would you fancy lots of fabrics stall all under one roof? The various sewing shows are an ideal place to find the perfect fabric, and find new suppliers that sell just what you need! I always end up spending lots of money on fabric to add to my stash and I'm guaranteed to find what I want! Dave, from The Shuttle in Shilpley, sells a wonderful range of patchwork, quilting, dress, silks, bridal and fleeces.... and if you ask him nicely, he might find what you need from the shops stock when he gets back after the show!
Doughty's are a specialist in patchwork and quilting fabrics, wadding and quilting accessories, check out their website or why not pop in next time you are in the Hereford area?


I have added a page to this blog for Fabrics Shops, from soft furnishing, dress, bridal, patchwork and good trimmings and haberdashery suppliers.... if there is anywhere that you recommend that isn't listed, please drop me a line and I'll happily add on.


To find a Sewing Show near you, check out Twisted Threads and ICHF websites for details.

Need to find beautiful wools to use with your embellisher??

Beverley has been knitting for 40 years and it's her love of knitting and felting and collecting wonderful and interesting yarns that started her business a few years ago. She now imports wool and yarn from all over the world and sells them through her beautiful website www.knitting4fun.co.uk. Stocking major branded yarns from Adriafil, Debbie Bliss, Elle, Lanartus, Lang, King Cole, Twilleys and Noro. Knitting4fun has found exciting new producers of pure wools, including pure alpaca and also have a selection of natural and plant dyed wool, and are now building our range of natural fibre yarns such as cotton, cotton linen mix, Irish linen, nettle and hemp Bev loves taking her yarns to the Knitting and Stitching Shows in the UK, and is happy to help with any felting or knitting questions. Bev often teams up with Sandra Coleridge to bring embellishing workshops to the East Midlands area. Bev promotes the Janome FM725 felting machine and they can be purchased through her website www.knitting4fun.co.uk

Click here for more information on the Janome FM725.

Dionne Swift uses Janome Felting Machine in her "Drawing for Textiles" masterclass @ Harrogate!

Dionne studied at Goldsmiths College and received a MA in Textiles from UCE. She now works from a wonderful studio; Radiant Works in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. Where she draws, prints, dye's, stitches and embellishes – creating works for galleries and design shops.

Dionne often exhibits at The Knitting and Stitching Shows in the UK, and this year at Harrogate was no exception. She had a beautiful stand to display her work, book, DVD's and materials..... and some gorgeous scarfs!

Dionne also ran several workshops during the show on Devore, and a Drawing for Textiles master class. Janome are happy to support Dionne with her workshops and supplied several FM725's (felting and embellishing machine) for her students to use on the class, both at the show and her regular workshops throughout the year.

For more information on Dionne Swift, her work and workshops, please visit her website www.dionneswift.co.uk

Horn Cabinets @ Harrogate Show

When you sew... do you get stuff everywhere?? Your machine on your dining room table? Pins on the carpet? And when you have to tidy up.... where does it all go??
How about a Horn Cabinet?? These are so useful to keep all your sewing essentials tidy and easy to find, a safe place to store your sewing machine and overlocker and an easy Aitlifter! What could be better??

Jason, from Horn Furniture, was exhibiting with White Rose Sewing Centre at the Harrogate Show, and is happy to offer advice for which cabinet is best suited to your sewing needs. Why not pop in and have a chat with him at their exhibitions next year? or check out their website for full information.

Alison Smith @ Harrogate Show!

Alison Smith from her School of Sewing in Ashby de la Zouch has been promoting her dressmaking and tailoring wokshops at the Harrogate Show. She has a wonderful display of corsets, lingerie and an evening dress... so why not pop down to the lower floor of the hall to check them out? During the show Alison has been busy sewing on the Janome Horizon making some samples for future classes!

Isn't that dress beautiful? and the lingerie on the back display is very agent provocateur!

Alison workshops are ran from her shop in Ashby, where she also had the most wonderful shop of quality fabrics, trimmings and haberdashery.... so check them out next time you are in the area!

For full information on Alisons classes, check out her website www.schoolofsewing.co.uk

Gok Wan @ Harrogate!

This year at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate we had an extra special guest.... Gok Wan!!
Gok has been busy around Harrogate all week and has done a wonderful Gok make-over on four beautiful post ladies! On Friday night we were invited to watch one of his new Gok's Roadshow being filmed in the old theatre in within the exhibition hall.

Alison (from Fabulous Fabrics / School of Sewing who is also exhibiting at the show) and I, enjoyed the show and the glass of wine went down well after a very busy day!

And finally, the man himself! Can't wait to see the complete series on tele soon! Click here to follow Gok on Twitter.

Janome is exhibiting at the Clothes Show next week... so you never know... I might bump into Gok there as well!

Four Needle Embroidery Machine by Janome!

Ever fancied setting up your own embroidery business?? Why not have a look at the Janome MB4 four needle embroidery machine? The Janome MB4 embroiders with four colours and trims and cuts threads as it goes! How easy will that make embroidery! This makes the MB4 an ideal machine for people wanting to work from home or just love their hobby and want to embroider faster!
Andrew, from Stock Sewing Machines (below on the left) specialises in the Janome MB4 and also is the UK distributor for Iris threads. Nick, on the right... bad photo Nick ;) joined the company this year and is fast becoming a whizz on the MB4 and Digitizing software. Why not check out their website for more information, or visit them at Sewing for Pleasure at the NEC next year?

Or check out the Janome website for full speck on the MB4.

Sunflower Corner Quilting users the Janome 6600p @ The Harrogate Show!

Sunflower Corner Quilting are a family business based in the midlands and France. Sue and Derek sell quality quilting fabrics through their website http://www.sunflowercornerquilting.co.uk/ and exhibit at the main sewing and quilting shows in the UK.

Sue loves her Janome, and during the Harrogate show was demonstrating various patchwork and quilting techniques.

Knitting and Stitching Show @ Harrogate November 2010

This week is the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate. This is a huge event for crafters, with four halls of fabric, beads, wool, sewing machines and all things crafty!
We have got an extra special visitor this year as well...Gok Wan! He is running Fashion Fix's throughout the the whole show!

Here's me, any chance I have I'm on the Janome Horizon!
Phil from White Rose Sewing Machines is exhibiting Janome Sewing Machines, (he's the one playing with the Janome overlocker), and Maureen, (below) Morag and I to support him.

As always, Janome has wonderful display of samples to show off the features of our machines, and this show is no exception! These beautiful examples have all been made on our new Janome Horizon. The quilt and cushion has been made Lesley Brankin, and the pattern for the cushion can be found on our main website, just follow the link on the right hand side of this blog.

I'll be posting lots more photos and information about the Harrogate Show over the next few days... and if your local... why not come and see us and meet Gok!

A creative Horizon event @ Brewers Sewing Machines in Wolverhampton

On Friday I had a lovely day with Kathleen and Alan at Brewers Sewing Machines in Wolverhampton. We ran two Horizon Test Drive events, and all the ladies had a wonderful time being crafty on the new Janome machine! Just look at the smiles below! The book covers we made show all the main features of the new Janome Horizon, and are a great idea for quick and easy Christmas gifts! I'm sure a few more will be made over the next few weeks!
This was the last Janome Horizon event this year, and the "roadshow" has taken me all over the North of England... and Scotland! The farthest North was Keith, about an hour past Aberdeen! We held the workshop in a lovely room above the shop, and Kathleen and Frances (two ladies in the middle) kept us fed and watered with plenty of teas, coffee's and biscuits! Thank you ladies!

Kathleen took the opportunity to join in the Horizon workshop, and made a beautiful book cover sample for the shop... and even one for herself to keep!

Brewers Sewing Machines was established in 1958 and are the main agent in the area for Janome machine, overlockers, accessories and software.

For more information on Brewers, visit their website. http://www.brewersuk.co.uk/ or why not follow them on Facebook

For more information about Janome machines and events, check out www.janome.co.uk

Note for your Diary... Knitting and Stitching Show @ Harrogate 25th - 28th November!

Janome will be exhibiting with White Rose Sewing Machines at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Harrogate next week. White Rose Sewing Machines are based in Harrogate and are one of the largest Janome Retailers in the area. Check out their website for full information.

From the organises website......
"The Knitting and Stitching Shows are the definitive and best exhibitions for lovers of textiles in the UK and Ireland. As the name suggests, it covers knitting and stitching but SO much more; felt-making, shibori dyeing, jewellery-making, card-making, mixed media... the list goes on! There is so much to see and do you'll find it hard to fit everything into one day; hundreds of exhibitors selling specialist supplies that you can't find in the shops, galleries from leading artists and groups, plus hundreds of workshops to introduce you to lots of new subjects!"

We will have the latest range of Janome Sewing and Overlocking Machines and Accessories to inspire and tempt you.....
For an up to date list of Shows Janome are exhibiting at, check out the Janome website.
For full information on the Harrogate Show, check out Twisted Threads website.

A few crafty items I have made on my wonderful Janome Horizon!

Just thought I would share with you a few projects I have made on my Horizon....
I have wanted a fabric flower bib necklace for ages, and finally in the last week, I have completed it. Using various bits of fabrics and trimmings that have been in my stash for years, I love the finished effect. The three of the flowers have been made with the Ruffler Attachment on my Janome Horizon, and finished off with buttons. The centre front flower is made with three lengths of black satin ribbon which have been embellished with zig zag stitch and then plated, and hand stitched into a flower. I have to admit, one of the flowers (on the far right) is off an old necklace!

The bag below, many of you will recognise from the Horizon Test Drive events. It is a Simplicity Pattern and the pieces have been embellished with Play and Pictograph Stitches (many of which have been combined in the memory) and the Border Guide Foot.

I love the summery colours and I can't wait for some warm weather (think I've got a long wait!) so I can use the bag!

For some exciting inspirational projects.. why not check out Janome.com website!

David Nutt hosts a Janome Horizon event!

I had a busy day this week at David Nutts Sewing Machines in Bloxwich. Two full workshops of ladies who wanted to try the new Janome Horizon before they buy! I think some husbands are going to get a lot of sweet talking too over the next few days, and a few ladies are hoping Santa will bring will make this their Christmas gift! All the ladies had a wonderful time, and I think they will be making several book covers each to give away for Christmas presents.

The Acufeed on the Janome Horizon machine is fantastic for stitching over uneven and bulky seams, and top stitched the book cover below...no problem.

And look at the beautiful stitches, sewn with the Janome Border Guide Foot... no wonder the ladies couldn't resist wanting one for Christmas!

David Nutt hosts various sewing, dressmaking and free machine workshops in his classroom above the shop.

He is starting a new Sewing Club in the new year, with his regular tutor Marie Breslin. This club will meet the first and third Thursday of every month and the first Saturday of every month. You can bring your own project and work at your own pace, and Marie will be on hand to help. Places are limited to four people, so book early to avoid disappointment.

For more information, please see David's website or Maria Breslin 's website.

To find a Janome event in your area, check out Janome UK website.

Shelter from the cold weather and take a look at the Janome Horizon @ Superior Sewing Machines in Carlisle!

When ever I visit Carlisle it is always cold! And this visit was no exception, the wind was blowing and it was raining!
So to brighten the day up, we had a lovely workshop and staff training on the new Janome Horizon 7700QCP. You can see from the smiles below.... the machine was received well! Roz and Marie, who can be seen on the left below, both work in Superior Sewing Machines, and both have a wealth of knowledge on all things crafty and sewing. One of them is always in the shop to help with any sewing machine queries or general sewing advice.

Apart from Janome machines, the shops stocks a fabulous range of haberdashery, trimmings, patchwork fabrics and knitting wool. Well worth a visit next time your in town.
Paul, who wouldn't let me take a photo, owns Superior Sewing Centre and has years of experience in the trade. He can turn his hand to any machine to service and repair, and just look at what came into the shop while I was there for service. The two clog stitching machines below, come from the Clog Shop in Kendal... I've never seen anything like them before!

For more information on Janome machines and Superior Sewing Centre, please check out their websites.

A wonderful day out @ Whitley Bay!

Singer @ Whitley bay hosted an Horizon event in their dedicated sewing class room for ladies who were considering the new Janome long arm quilting machine.... but wanted to have to good play on it first! As you can see from the smiles below... everyone had a wonderful day and some had to take the machine home with them there and then! Singer @ Whitley Bay run a varied selection of workshops and regular classes, from dressmaking to patch work and quilting. Check out their website for more information or call the shop on 0191 2525825.

Apart from Janome sewing machines, the shop stocks a range of patchwork and quilting supplies, haberdashery and trimmings and various other sewing and knitting accessories... well worth a visit next time you are in the area!

To find a Horizon event in your area, check out the Janome website.