Join Melanie to begin your 12 fishes embroidery challenge!

Learn 12 stitches and complete the beautiful sampler ready for display.

Learn how to transfer a design from paper to fabric and be guided through the 12 hand embroidery stitches for embellishment. Instruction and stitch illustrations provided so you can continue your project at home.

Based in Melanie’s workshop in Central Brixton, you will get a chance to be inspired by many of the embroidery projects that Stitch-School has worked on.

Materials and hoop provided.

Tutor Melanie Bowles is the founder of Stitch-School and a mending artist who extends the life of treasured garments through hand stitching. She is passionate about the benefits of embroidery within communities and for individuals, and has worked on numerous community projects bringing people together through stitching and shared narratives. Her clients include the V&A, the Barbican Centre, Oxfam, Alexander McQueen, and Marie Curie. Her recent practice focuses on reflecting, extending, and building new narratives with cloth through mending and embroidery.

Book here £35!

Maximum Class Size: 8

Open to all levels

Join Melanie to explore the range of embroidery stitches that can be used to embellish garments and textiles. Referencing the Stitch-School book '50 Embroidery Stitches', you'll learn a variety of stitches and build confidence in hand detailing and creative expression on cloth.

Working with our Ray Stitch linens and exploring garment shapes such as cuffs and collars, you'll discover how to integrate embroidery and personalise garments through thoughtful stitch placement. By the end of the workshop, you'll have a foundation of embroidery techniques and plenty of ideas to continue with your own projects.

Booking a class entitles you to 10% off all full price products in the shop (excluding books) from one week before your class starts through to the end of your course.

Stitches you will learn:

Foundation stitches for typography - whip, pekinese, chain, stem stitch

• Fill stitches for motifs - long and short stitch, weave stitches, Satin Stitch, Split Stitch

• Edging stitches - Blanket stitches, Rosette Stitch

• Stitch for lettering - Cross Stitch

Tutor Melanie Bowles is the founder of Stitch-School and a mending artist who extends the life of treasured garments through hand stitching. She is passionate about the benefits of embroidery within communities and for individuals, and has worked on numerous community projects bringing people together through stitching and shared narratives. Her clients include the V&A, the Barbican Centre, Oxfam, Alexander McQueen, and Marie Curie. Her recent practice focuses on reflecting, extending, and building new narratives with cloth through mending and embroidery.

Book here

Join Melanie founder of Stitch-School to practive and learn embroidery stitches for mending, creativity and mindfulness.

No skills needed just curiousity and socialbility. All materials provided, you are welcome to bring a garment or project you want to work with.

Join our taster class around Stitch-School large embroidery cloth called ‘Stitch Play’ - learn some embroidery stitches, socialise and discovery the creative and well being benefits to embroidery! Taught by founder Melanie Bowles

All ages welcome but under 16 has to accompanied with an adult.

Minimum age 12 years old.

7 participants per session and refreshments provided.

Tickets here

Maximum Class Size: 8

Embroidery Workshop with Stitch School – Suitable for All Levels

Discover the art of embroidery in this inspiring workshop with Melanie Bowles, founder of Stitch School. Using the ‘50 Stitch Embroidery Sampler’, you’ll learn a variety of essential and decorative stitches, building confidence to use embroidery for embellishment, mending, or creative expression. With expert guidance, you'll develop your stitching skills in a mindful and enjoyable way.

Melanie founded Stitch School in 2017 to reconnect people with embroidery through workshops, kits, and community events. With her supportive teaching style, she makes embroidery accessible and rewarding for all.

What’s included:

• A 50 Stitch Embroidery Sampler printed on linen

• A selection of embroidery threads

• An illustrated stitch guide poster

• Expert tuition in a relaxed and friendly environment

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a solid foundation in embroidery techniques and a project to continue at home, ready to display or refer to as you develop your skills.

Booking a class at Ray Stitch entitles you to 10% off everything in store within one week of finishing your workshop.

What Next?

Continue your embroidery journey with Stitch School’s beautifully designed samplers, kits, and books, available in-store and online.

Take a look at our Stitch Kits for more inspiration.

Cancellation Policy

Unfortunately, our classes are non-refundable. Due to our small class sizes, it is also very difficult to transfer your booking to a different date. If you are unable to attend and notify us at least two weeks before the class starts, we may be able to offer an alternative date, but this is not guaranteed. Please give us as much notice as possible to increase your chances.

Floral Embroidery Patch Making

• Thursday 13 March 2025

• 15:00 17:00

Floral Patch Making - inspired by the Alice Billing Community Cloth we will explore colour, texture, and imagination through embroidery and create your own personal narrative. Stitch a floral patch to embellish a garment, frame it as a wall piece or gift to a friend. Stitch together and discover the benefits of embroidery as relaxation, mindfulness and creativity. 

Part of Women’s History Month in East London

BOOK HERE

£5 pp including all materials

Join us at the Mid Century Modern Show alongside 85 vintage dealers and modern designers.

Buy tickets here

LCF: After Dark: Collective Care
Thurs 14 Nov, 18.00 - 21.00  

An evening exploring the connections between textiles and wellbeing with free creative workshops, wellbeing activities and performances.

Eventbrite tickets here

Learn a range of essential and decorative stitches for embellishment and mending, expanding your knowledge of needlework stitches and begin building your own personal language.

You will be introduced to the ‘50 Stitch Embroidery Sampler’ and begin the journey of discovering embroidery stitches which you will practice on the linen sampler which is provided. By the end of the session you will have gained confidence and spellbound by the fascination that embroidery stitches offer both creatively and technically. Gaining an insight into history and traditions of stitches.

Materials include 50 Embroidery Stitch printed linen sampler, the 50 Stitch Embroidery book and photograph of finished sampler. Threads and hoops are provived for the session only.

Book here!

Join Stitch-School to stitch the Cloth at Alice Billing House, Newham open studios. The 3 meter cloth depicts the history of Alice Billing House and Newham. Participants will explore the wealth of embroidery stitches, learn together and create a communal supper cloth to celebrate the art of needlework and the buildings history. Sessions are drop in and part of Open City Open House Festival 2024.

Alice Billing House

To celebrate the UEL School of Arts and Creative Industries Festival visit Stratford Town Centre on Saturday 7th September and explore the amazing creative businesses we have here in Stratford!

Join Stitch-School in St John’s Church for a day of free family fun with the SweatShop, a pedal powered sewing machine which you can use to make your own sweatshirt, face painting, drop-in creative workshops, garden games, ice cream and more!

Then follow our creative trail through the town centre to find more activities.

• Call in at Stratford Library to find the clues hidden in the children's library, the fastest at finding the secret word will win an amazing prize!

• Pop in to Discover Children's Story Centre to find yourself in a world of adventures. From 12-4pm get free entry to Discover Children’s Story Centre - including their amazing Story Street, Story Garden and a chance to take part in the Big Bright Feelings Garden Trail. Participating families should say 'Creative Community Day' at the front desk to be given free tickets. No pre-booking available, subject to capacity, only available from 12-4pm on Saturday 7th September.

• Visit The Orange Room for a DJ master class, learn basic music theory and participate with hands on experience with DJ mixing, taught by some of The Orange Room’s in house DJs. From 3pm-6pm families and young adults can spin records at the open decks. As part of the Creative Community Day you can also enjoy 20% off food.

• Head to Mary Ward to join free tasters in pottery, painting and jewellery making.

• Wander to Alice Billing House to see local Newham artist Andy Mac Manus specially commissioned artwork transforming the windows of the building, part of Grow Studios’ artist-in-residency programme. 

Join us for our Stratford Creative Community Day, for creative fun for all the family and to pick up our map of activity happening across Stratford. Find out more here

Join us and other textile enthusiasts for a sociable & inspiring day out.

Learn from the experts, try new techniques and enjoy a varied programme of workshops for all. Browse the curated marketplace for artisan fabrics and haberdashery to purchase for your own textile projects or buy unique handcrafted work from artists and makers. Exhibitors include textile producers, yarn purveyors, textile artists and makers.

Led by Stitch-School's founder Melanie Bowles who is passionate about the study and the origins of  embroidery stitches and how this craft can be an enjoyable, resourceful, creative and relaxing process. 

During this session you will learn a range of embroidery stitches and start your ’50 Stitch Embroidery Sampler’ which will become your future dictionary of stitches. We will look at how these stitches can be applied to motifs, lettering and embellishment to customise clothing, used in repair or to just enjoy the study stitch as a form of relaxation.

Stitch-School aims to keep the craft of embroidery alive through their educational embroidery kits, workshops and large embroidery community events. Melanie will be showing a range of samplers and projects by Stitch-School. 

Morning Class : 10:30 -1 pm

Afternoon Class:  2pm -4:30pm

Included in the workshop:

All materials and threads are provided.

An A3 fold out illustrating 50 stitches and a A3 linen 50 stitch sampler to stitch on are included.

Previous Stitch-School projects have been with Alexander McQueen, Marie Curie, V&A Museum, The Stitch Festival, The British Council, Dulwich Picture Gallery, London Craft Week and more. 

6 things you will learn:

• Learn and practice embroidery stitches and be introduced to the complete alphabet of stitches 

• Discover the benefits of slow stitching as a form of de-stressing as an antidote to modern life.

• Explore the wealth of embroidery stitches and celebrate the art of needlework

• Be inspired by the Stitch-School archive of embroidery books and samplers

• Become part of the Stitch-School community ready to share skills and benefits of embroidery

• Enjoy slow conversation through the act of making and creating together 

 About Melanie:

Melanie Bowles is a Senior Lecturer at Chelsea College of Art on the BA Honours Textile degree. She is a practising textile designer and educationalist with the focus on creating educational material through step by step graphics to make textile design accessible and inclusive for all.

We are so excited to host Adriana Torres from Argentina on her world tour, a true travelling stitcher comes to Brixton to share her embroidery skills and knowledge.

Join Adriana Torres of Miga de Pan, as she guides you through the art of embroidery and visible darning. Visible mending covers all textile techniques but it is also a philosophy to mend and preserve textiles.

You will be introduced to Adriana work and philosophy with a range of experimental mending stitches to add joy and character to your garment. With a printed fabric featuring a design inspired by her trip to Denmark, along with threads, needles, and a handmade guidebook, this truly one-of-a-kind workshop will provide you with all the tools you need to continue your embroidery journey at home. 
Please contact Adriana directly to book a place @soymigadepan

About Adriana Torres:

Adrian Torres is a textile artist and embroidery educator from Argentina who understands the passion and skill required for this craft.

In addition to embroidery, she also enjoys drawing, painting, and pottery. Adriana’s studies in Architecture, Graphic Design, Fine Arts, and Illustration have all contributed to her expertise in textile design. Adriana is the proud recipient of the Seal of Good Design from the Ministry of Industry in Argentina for her crocheted objects, recognising their innovation, commitment to local production, and high-quality design

To see more about Adriana Torres: here

Enjoy an evening exploring colour and embroidery in the wonderful surroundings of the Wallace and Sewell shop. Learn a range of essential and decorative embroidery stitches for embellishing and mending, expanding your knowledge of needlework stitches and building a personal language with stitch. The evening centres around conversation and relationship we have with textiles and our clothes. 

You will work creating a colourful sampler on linen which you can continue at home, All materials and threads provided. Book here

Run by Melanie Bowles founder of Stitch-School who brings together communities through the art of stitching. She is the author of ‘50 Embroidery Stitches’ published in May. 

We will be at the Dulwich Park Fair selling kits and chatting, alongside other stall holders and Punch & Judy, Vauxhall City Fram, dog show, choirs and local acts!

On Saturday 2 December I will be exhibiting at the Selvedge Christmas Fair St Mary's Church, Marylebone, Wyndham Pl, York St, London W1H 1PQ.

The Selvedge Fair is the perfect place to seek out special handmade gifts and meet the talented people who create them. Products on sale will range from £5 to £500. They will include Angora goat hair rugs made in Turkey by Vedat Demiralp of Coban Rugs, Jackie Parsons handmade pouches, Bleu Anglais’ hand-picked collection of vintage Chinese indigo cloths and hand-embroidered tokens inspired by folklore designed and made by the talented Megan Ivy Griffiths. We have collectors selling beautiful textiles and crafts from all over the world, including hand-knit fair isle sweaters from the UK, handmade quilts from India, linen thread from Sweden, and hand-embroidered clothing from Vietnam. We hope to see you there!

2FOR1FAIR. Enter this code at checkout and get two tickets for the price of one when purchased in advance.

Tickets and info here

We are thrilled to be part of a brand new, alternative Christmas experience designed and curated by HemingwayDesign launching at Westgate Oxford later this month – the centre will be home to ‘WasteLess Wonderland’ a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic Christmas market with a sustainable theme.

Launching on Friday 24 November and running until 22 December, join Stitch-School around the embroidery table to stitch a large banner to celebrate Xmas. Learn some new stitches, grab a break from shopping or have a chat, we hope to nurture your sewing skills!

For more information here

Come and join our celebration of textiles for a fun, sociable day out!

Browse the curated marketplace of haberdashery and fabrics, to buy supplies for your next project, whether you are a beginner or advanced sewist. Pick up tips to make your first creation, upcycle a much-loved piece or challenge yourself by embracing new techniques. Unique handcrafted textile works from specialist artists and talented makers will be available to appreciate and buy.

Take inspiration from expert guest speakers delivering talks and an exciting programme of bookable workshops.

Threads booking