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National Needlework Archive
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The Old Chapel Textile Centre in Newbury, home of the National Needlework Archive, offer courses, workshops and exhibitions in sewing, haberdashery, needlecraft, textiles, embroidery, cross stitch, quilting and textile art. Our shop carries an extensive range of all needlework and sewing products including fabric, threads, wool, zips and patterns. We have an archive of historic textiles and patterns and are home to The Country Wife mural.
Workshops
Workshop Programme 2025
This year we are offering two workshop options on Saturday afternoons. Themed workshops with links to our exhibitions together with a brand new set of tailoring workshops. All are two hour workshops which will run from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.
All materials will be provided. Coffee/Tea included.
1st March: Learn hand embroidery stitching to make a spring garden themed mindfulness panel for mounting and framing. Cost: £28
5th April: Make a pretty Easter themed gift bag for a special present or egg.
Cost: £28
3rd May: Make a useful needle case using recycled fabrics & haberdashery. Cost: £28
7th June: Make a useful 3D pincushion and decorate it with cross stitched features and embellishments. Cost: £28
5th July: Beginners -
2nd August: Summer themed machine stitched postcards. Cost: £28
6th September: Learn to draw and stitch your own Celtic knot type patterns then use them in a unique wall panel or quilt block. Cost: £28
4th October: Make a note-
1st November: Christmas themed mini projects. Enjoy a hot drink & mince pie while making a tree decoration from the selection offered.
Morning session from: 10:30am to 11:30am.
Afternoon session from 1:30pm to 2:30pm.
Cost: £5 per person.
6th December: Big End of Year Sale. (No workshops)
The March workshop should be booked by email by 21st February 2025. Email to octc@live.com. Please include name, address and contact phone number in the email. Any queries, or if unable to use email, please leave a message on 01635 38740 and our staff will respond.
We are also offering -
Introduction to Tailoring –
This eight month course, offered on Saturday afternoons, once a month, is designed to give competent dressmakers a wider skill base of advanced techniques in unhurried but high level sessions. The 2 hour classes take place on the first Saturday of the month as listed below, between 1.30pm and 3.30pm. By the end of the course students will have learned traditional tailoring methods to expand existing dressmaking expertise.
The classes will be booked in two parts, as a three week term (1)
followed by a five week term (2).
Term 1. The first three sessions cover the most requested techniques to get started.
1st March: Tailored buttonholes. -
5th April: Tailored pockets. -
3rd May: Tailored Zip. -
Cost for Term 1 = £90 including materials.
Term 1 should be booked by email by 21st February 2025. Email to octc@live.com. Please include name, address and contact phone number in the email. Any queries, or if unable to use email, please leave a message on 01635 38740 and our staff will respond.
Term 2.
The next five sessions take the student through more new techniques while making a woollen half jacket sample to broaden and improve skills. Techniques will include – Lapel collar, sewn in interlinings, seams, hems, fitted linings, set in jacket sleeve, shaping and pressing tailored garments. At the end of this term students will have covered all skills required to make a lined tailored jacket with traditional stitched interfacings.
Dates -
1st November 2025
Cost for Term 2 = £150 including materials
Maximum 8 students per group. Students undertaking Term 1 classes will be given preference for Term 2 enrolments if booked early.
Students are welcome to bring their own sewing machines, or to borrow a machine at class.