30 May 2019
Loughborough University hosts sold-out sewing event for second year
A staff member at Loughborough University will be hosting a weekend event dedicated to all things sewing later next month.
The Stitchroom Sewcial – which sold out in moments – was created as an opportunity to unite the UK online sewing community for one weekend.
It launches again this summer with over double the guests that attended last year, and more than 80% of the group from the first Sewcial will be returning.
Technical Tutor in Textiles, Anne Acosta – who also runs the New Vintage Sewing Instagram account – will be running the event in collaboration with Lucy Reagan from online sewing store Sew Essential.
The sold-out event takes place 14-15 June and will be based within the Stitch Room in the School of Arts, English and Drama. Other Technical Tutors and School staff will also be involved at the event to run workshops and provide additional support.
Attendees will have the opportunity to visit the 2019 Arts Degree Show, take part in a two-hour workshop of their choice and hear from guest speaker Heather Jacks, who won the second series of The Great British Sewing Bee.
Guests can choose to undertake a workshop in weaving, embroidery, freehand embroidery, photography or print.
Blogger Hila Willing, who is attending for the second year, commented: "The Stitch Room SEWcial is a fantastic event. It’s a rare experience offering opportunities to weave and print textiles, sew with embroidery machines, meet other creatives and so much more.
“With a smorgasbord of activities to explore my creative side, I am delighted to be attending again this year.”
Lucy Reagan added: “We are thrilled to be co-hosting the Stitchroom Sewcial event again this year and it is great to be able to increase the number of attendees.
“As a business, we love bringing likeminded people together to enjoy sewing. This has always been an important focus for my mother-in-law, Angela, who co-founded the business with my husband, Ed, in 2004. Angela has run sewing and machine embroidery clubs for over 20 years.
“Sewing isn't just a business for us, it is a way of life.”
For more information, please contact Anne Acosta by emailing C.A.Acosta@lboro.ac.uk.
A video of last year’s highlights can be viewed below.