TRY SOMETHING NEW: Needle Felting

It's holiday season and we are all thinking about relaxing and taking a break from our daily routines, so why not try something new?
Needle felting is the interlocking and compacting of wool fibres by using specially designed pointed and barbed needles.

One of our newest designers is Beth Connors of Fibre Space.  She designs and produces these wonderful felt brooch kits. Each one contains everything you need to make three lovely flower brooches.

 
All the bits come packaged in a box made from recycled card and, at £10.00 each, and available in five colours combinations, they make perfect gifts too.

Here they are!  Linky Dink Felted Brooch Kits

A peek inside our Horsham shop

As well as being online we have two long-established shops in West Sussex. I thought a little peek inside at the wonders of the Horsham shop would be nice.
The shop is really central - opposite the bandstand in the Carfax - with car parking just a minute's walk away.

Inside it is filled to the brim.  All the basic essentials are there, from sewing machine needles to velcro by the meter as well as all the exciting haberdashery bits we all love - velvet ribbons rolls, spotty buttons, sparkly threads, feather trims, fabrics ...

Fat Quarters, sewing threads, craft tools, braids, bias bindings, elastic, curtain hooks .... (pauses for breath)...

Felt, PVC, Velboa, fuzzy stuff, trimmings, craft kits, sewing boxes, sewing machines and heaps and heaps and heaps of good solid advice.  You might even catch me in there!  If you are in Horsham - and thinking of popping in - let me know and I'll see if I can catch up with you!  Or just say "Anna sent me"!

Handmade Heaven: Pin Cushions

There is much change a-foot at The Cloth Store.  I am a-looking and a-finding some deliciously creative folks who produce handmade haberdashery to stock our two bricks and mortar shops and also to add to our online shop.
Our first item has arrived online and is this witty pin cushion hand-printed and sewn by talented Charlotte Brooks.

Being able to scout for things for the shop is a dream occupation for me, but it has it's consequences ... I want to buy one of everything!

Treat yourself! 'Please Enter Your Pin' handmade pin cushion

When it's too hot for duvets...

We've had a whole lot of rain here in Sussex over the last three days, a relief from that hot, hot weather previously.  But more of that scorching, dry weather and hot, sticky nights are forecast again and we will be, once more, throwing off our duvets.  Duvets are much too bulky and, somehow, a sheet is not quite enough so how about running up one of these for the kids?

Lovely 'snow leopard' velboa backed with bright blue fleece.  One metre of each is perfect for a small boy!  It's just the right weight to feel 'covered' but not as bulky and annoying as a big old duvet can be on a hot night.

So simple to make - just put the two fabrics wrong side together and sewing machine round, leaving a gap large enough to enable you to turn it right way round.
After turning the right way round,  fold the edges of the gap neatly in and stitch over the gap, then keep sewing all the way round the edge again.  Don't worry too much about the colour of the cotton as the stitching recesses into the texture of the fabrics and won't show.  The purpose of going round on the right side of the blanket is to stop it slipping out of shape at the edges.  And it's done!

You can buy Velboa and fleece by the metre from The Cloth Store Shop.
(By the way, the original choice was Snow Leopard with purple fleece but it was quickly decided - by me - that that was a little too 'boudoir' for a 6 year old boy and he was steered towards the blue!)

JUST ARRIVED: Moda

It's all happening at the moment, a big lot of stock has arrived in Horsham and I have been rushing around getting it onto the website and all ready. 
We have Moda!  These are from the 'Tweet tweet' range by Keiki.

See them in the shop here

Now those could all be whipped up into the cutest of little girls' summer dresses.  If only I didn't have three boys. It does save me a fortune in fabric!  What? I buy it anyway? I know, I know..

All Out Fabric Love!

I am totally in love with this fabric!  I want to cover notebooks, zoom up purses, stitch cushions and possess it in all it's hippy glory.  It is summery, retro, funky, fabulous and we have a lovely big roll of it all ready to be sold by the metre or chopped into my favourite things - fat quarters!

It's 100% cotton, £4.99 a metre, or £2.50 per fat quarter.  What's not to love!  Over you go, here's the link >>> Peace & Love Fabric at The Cloth Store

Gorgeous gift ribbons

I have just added these scrumdiddlydalicious new ribbons to the website...

They are 'snowflakes' of 3m of gorgeous velvet and lace ribbon in four different colours.  They are irristable so treat yourself!

Also 5m flakes of Grosgrain ribbon in orange, lime and blue.  There are all in the 'Just in - New Arrivals' section of the shop where all the action will take place from now on.