An Inspiring Two Days At Stitch Room Sewcial

Last weekend I attended Stitch Room Sewcial which I mentioned  here. I actually debated whether to write this post as there have already been some fab round-ups by Rebecca, Sue and Hila  but I really couldn’t let it go without a quick mention and by way of having a record of my fab experience.

Stitch Room Sewcial, which was held at Loughborough University art department,  was initially the brainchild of Anne Acosta who teaches at Loughborough (IG name @new_vintage_sewing. She was quickly joined by Lucy Regan of Sew Essential and between them, a plan was hatched and over the course of about a year, all of the organising was carefully completed. So much work involved!

Spanning over 2 days, a group of 16 bloggers and Instagrammers were brought together for sewing sessions, demonstrations, degree show tours, a photo shoot, an embroidery machine session and a tour of the print rooms and weaving rooms.

Friday started off with a meet and greet, then we were shown the amazing sewing room that we were to be let loose on for sewing projects that we had brought along. We then booked our slots for a photoshoot and to use and embroidery machine. Before these two slots though, we were treated to a look around the weaving department and print room. They were amazing! My mind was blown by the intricacy and planning for weaving of designs. Here is the jacquard machine making some pineapple design fabric

And here is a beautiful scarf in the making by the very talented Rosy Appleton who kindly showed us around

The screen print room was equally inspiring…the work that goes into layering each colour took my breath away and the colours of some of the designs made me want to make a whole new wardrobe! Just look at some of these designs:

After a full morning the surprises kept coming as at lunchtime…if seeing this awesome cake wasn’t enough….. (those figures are Anne and Lucy, aren’t they brilliant?) ….the goodie bags made us all feel like Christmas had come early. Check this lot out! (see pic) Thank you so much Anne and Lucy for the thought that went into preparing them.

The afternoon consisted of a go on an embroidery machine and later on, a photoshoot. If my photos turn out ok you’ll be seeing some of them in an upcoming blog post, but here is my embroidery. I may frame them in hoops for my sewing room wall.

A lovely afternoon of sewing our projects in the workroom and spending time chatting with all of the other wonderful sewists ended the fab first day. I will be sharing my sewing efforts in my next blog post very soon.

On Saturday after a full English breakfast in the very nice Burleigh Court Hotel within the campus grounds we were all treated to a tour of the textile degree shows and though I’m struggling to pick a favourite highlight from the two fab days, I think this might be it. I have never felt quite so inspired and full of ideas as I did strolling through the many rooms of amazing work done by all of the students. My head is full of ideas and I want to make so many things! My mind was awash with possibilities. Here are just a few of the beautiful pieces:

 

I felt exhausted at the end of the two days (not least due to struggling to travel with and walk with an Achilles tendon strain…) but I was exhausted in a good way and would do it again in a heartbeat. It was so amazing to meet so many lovely sewers, fellow bloggers and Instagrammers. Everyone was fab!

So I hope you enjoyed my brief summary and feel inspired too and if you ever get the opportunity to attend a similar sewing retreat grab it with both hands. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Anne and Lucy. xx

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