News

To confirm that with that with effect from Thursday 4th August 2016, Bolton & Birkenhead will no longer have a late night opening.

The last late night for both will be Thursday 28th July 2016.

From Thursday 4th August, both stores will close at 5.15pm.

Inspired by the YSL design, this EXCLUSIVE Vogue Mondrian (V1557) Dress Semi-fitted, is lined dress with front yoke and inset bands and is available from Tuesday 14th June at all Abakhan stores, please check in advance to ensure availability. This pattern has been especially made and is a limited edition with limited stock.

This pattern is avaiable to buy at ALL stores!

Abakhan stores at Mostyn, Bolton (& Manchester mid June) sell a fabulous range of chalk type paints called Grand Illusions Vintage Paints. These paints were developed by Grand Illusions for their Painted Furniture Company back in the 80’s – you may remember them on the television programme Changing Rooms or Change That?



Replicating the milk-paints of the 18th and 19th century, these water-based paints are made with natural earth pigments and have a very high chalk content (over 45%).

Our Mostyn store delivers workshops for you to have a go and build your confidence to tackle your furniture at home. We also give regular demonstrations on just how easy this paint is to use. Come along to the Interiors Department at our Mostyn Store where our staff will talk you through the processes of painting different pieces of furniture from start to finish. You can also see the many pieces of furniture which have been painted using the French-Nordic Palette of Vintage Paint colour.

From Painted or Varnished to Waxed or Stained, here at Abakhan we can show you how to create that vintage look on furniture. To book a workshop or to find out about Free Demonstrations please call our Reception team on 01745 562100 or book online here

Ten knitting tips for beginners

There’s always a buzz around the Abakhan Café in Mostyn when our Knit and Natter group meet on a Thursday morning. With a mixture of very experienced knitters and some who picked up their needles relatively recently, there’s always plenty of advice being shared, amidst the chatting and cappuccinos. We caught up with the ladies to ask for their top 10 snippets of advice for anyone new to knitting.



1. A word about needles: Don’t buy the cheapest needles available if you are new to knitting or picking it up again after a few years. Cheap needles can be enough to put you off knitting for life!

2. Metal needles don’t suit everyone: Bamboo needles by brands such as Clover can be a Godsend if you have arthritis in your hands but don’t want to give up knitting. One of our ladies swears by knitting for helping keep her hands mobile despite arthritis.

3. Visit your yarn shop: These shops are sadly becoming quite rare, but the staff can be a treasure trove of advice on different yarns and patterns.

4. Be realistic: Don’t expect to create a fabulous garment on your first knit or be too hard on yourself if it’s not perfect. You don’t expect to create a gourmet meal if you've never boiled an egg! Knitting is the same, it takes practice and patience.

5. Simple is best to start with: A simple pattern, some smooth double knitting yarn with a pair of 4mm needles are all you need to get started.



6. Make a swatch: As you progress on to more complex patterns you need to make sure that the tension is right and the best way to start is to make a swatch.

7. Check your abbreviations: When you get a new pattern read it through before you start. There will be a section on abbreviations as these can vary between patterns, so a couple of minutes reading can save a lot of pain later!

8. Make notes: It always pays to keep a knitting notebook and keep track of exactly what you’ve done row by row. If something doesn’t go quite right, you can look back over your notes and see exactly what went wrong.

9. Go online for tips: YouTube has lots of videos to help you get to grips with the basics and move on to get new skills. There are also some great forums, such as www.ravelry.com where you can get advice from knitters across the globe, plus patterns and recommendations for yarn etc.

10. Join a knitting group: We may be biased, but these groups are a fantastic way to get advice and make new friends with a similar interest. Just a short while ago, none of us knew one another in the Abakhan, Mostyn group, and we now have a circle of knitting friends that we look forward to meeting up with once a week. You could say we just ‘clicked!’



The Abakhan Mostyn Knit and Natter group meet at Thursday morning at 9.30am in the Café and are always happy to welcome new people. The group are currently knitting blankets and bonding squares for the special care baby unit at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, as well as dog blankets and knitted mice for North Clwyd Animal Rescue. They would welcome donations of balls of wool or knitted squares for the dog blankets, which can be dropped off at Abakhan.

Five easy ways to Sew with Lace

Lace is one of the key trends for Spring/Summer 2016, but is it wearable for all ages and sizes?
Sewing expert Celia Banks explains how to introduce lace to a garment and bring a sense of occasion to the everyday.



Whatever your age, there’s no getting away from the fact that Lace is one of the enduring trends of 2016! Adding a touch of luxury to special occasion and everyday pieces, lace is a fabric that has a timeless appeal and is surprisingly easy to wear. From Flat Lace through to a classic Broderie Anglais, there is a huge array to choose from whether you are looking to design a formal wedding dress or just an everyday top. (Abakhan has a great selection).



On a practical level, I’d advise anyone who sews with lace to use a shorter stitch of 2mm and a Fine Needle. Another tip for sewing with lace is that it’s best to avoid too many seam lines. Zips can also be tricky because heavier lace fabric can be difficult to fold back on itself.

The most important thing to remember about the trend for lace is that it works for casual as well as formal wear. To create a subtle effect for daytime wear, try adding lace inserts to garments. For instance take a plain t-shirt, put lace on the shoulder and cut the fabric away underneath, to create an instant update to a casual staple. My sewing tip with this type of insert is to make sure the lace is flexible so that both pieces of fabric stretch together.

Lace can also be simply sewn to the bottom of a jumper or a blouse, to create interest and give it a fresh look. Ladies may also want to insert lace around the neck of a garment to make it a little more modest. A trend common among fashion bloggers is for styled, buttoned up business shirts. To add a bit more femininity to this look, simply take the yoke out of the back of a man’s shirt and sew in a lace section. This type of shirt can look great gathered with a belt at the waistline.



For a more formal look, take a basic cotton or linen dress and overlay the top half with lace, to create an elegant update on a simple design. A lace sleeve can create an elegant look for those who may be conscious of a bit of “fluff” around the upper arms (as I prefer to call it!) These sleeves can be sewn into formal or daywear with equal success.

For an example of how to create a dress that can incorporate lace in a subtle but elegant way, I would recommend the sewing pattern Simplicity 1195 Finally, once you’ve created your lace garment, be sure to only use a medium heat when ironing to keep the lace looking smart.



Sewing specialist Celia Banks is known on both sides of the Atlantic as a leading expert in her field. She is the lead instructor for the Palmer Pletsch method of tissue fitting patterns in the UK and Europe and holds City & Guilds qualifications in Tailoring and Lingerie. Celia has also studied and assists with Haute Couture workshops with Claire Shaeffer in Palm Springs and brings a wide range of experience and skills to her classes at Abakhan

Ric Rac is a popular trim that can be used to edge garments or add interest wherever needed. It is a narrow braid woven in zigzag form, used as a trimming for clothing or curtains.

It can be used for all sorts of needlework and crafts

8 great colours to choose from: Black, Royal, Red, Yellow, Pink, Green, Orange & White

32mm

Warm hand wash.

Buy your Jumbo Ric Rac here

Check out these great ric rac tutorials from U Create

Custom by Me allows even absolute beginners as well as creative upcyclers to instantly transform a plain white tee, bag or scarf, cushion or pet blanket, in fact any fabric item, into their on unique creation! It allows beginners and experienced stitcher's to instantly transform any fabric item with their own chosen design. Magic rinse away sheets have cross stitch designs on them which are a guide for the stitches and then washed away with warm water. Simple!



Custom by me!, even simpler! Each kit contains everything you need to achieve good customization. A magical sheet A5, a needle, a cardboard and a two-colour brochure explaining the step by step. Indulge, there remains only you choose the perfect support for your customisation!



Wear your style and customize t-shirt, pants, dress, bag and other well with this thread united Custom by me! With this thread mono-filament 100% cotton, personalize ready-to-wear, accessories and shoes! Rather glamorous, chic or sport? Choose a magical sheet of the 6 themes, paste, follow the cross stitches and rinse! The sheet will dissolve in seconds and give way to the design of your choice. An original concept that you can still play and still thanks to this range of united son declined in 18 colours.



Custom colours scissors by me!, The essential accessory for any customization! 4 fresh colours and patterns! Choose from black, orange, green or pink! Size: 9 cm



Pack of 3 Custom sharp needles by me, the accessory to be able to customize your carrier, bag, t-shirt, basketball .... chenille needles size 24.



Also available: The Magic Sheet contains up to 6 units to allow you to customise your fashion accessories. 9 thematic motifs are available: It is self-adhesive, re-positionable and soluble.

So what are you waiting for learn how to customise your desires with the concept - head over to Mostyn, Liverpool, Manchester, Hanley or Birkenhead and get creating!!

For store details please click here

Brand new for 2016! A brand new range of adhesives to use with materials!! These fantastic new adhesives can be used with material, fabrics, badges, foils, fibres, lace, net and much more…



The Craft and Mixed Media Iron is a brand new tool for 2016 launched in conjunction with the Stix2 with Heat range. This Iron can be used with fabric pens, inks and pads to heat set. Cover the item with you've coloured with Parchment Paper then simply press the Iron onto each area moving around the image for even heat to set and make permanent.



Parchment Paper is designed to be used with the Craft and Mixed Media Iron to protect your Iron and projects. Lay a piece over your project before applying heat from the iron. This helps to protect your project and it also protect the plate of the Iron from any excess adhesive.



This sheet has been developed and tested to be used with delicate materials. Therefore it can be used to adhere onto silk, finer cottons, organza, winder ribbons, under garments, sportswear etc. The Delicate Material Adhesives can be used when ironing badges onto finger material such as leotards, swimwear, raincoats and uniforms.
Wash between 40 - 60 degrees, Can also be dry cleaned.



This product has been developed to be used with die cutting machines or large punches allowing you to create your own appliqué shapes. Using the Craft and Mixed Media Iron, apply the Various Materials Adhesive to your chosen fabric, allow to cool and then Die-cut. You can also use this with the iron to secure badges, motifs and pre-bought appliqués.
Wash up to 40 degrees, Can also be dry cleaned.



The Hemming Tape is used for creating hems which is adhered simply by heat transfer using the Craft and Mixed Media Iron and a piece of Parchment Paper. Tested with Craft punches, guillotines and trimmers. When using a punch it is recommended to use a piece of Diecut Release Sheet to the shape eases away from the punch. Always test a piece first.
Wash up to 40 degrees, Can also be dry cleaned.

For store details please click here

Check out the NEW Coloris Stranded Cotton available at Mostyn, Liverpool & Manchester stores only.

• 8 metre skein • Made in France • 100% cotton • 6 strands • 24 colours



Multi-coloured Coloris stranded cotton, combining four complimentary colours in each skein of six stranded cotton. The complete colour change every 5cm enables you to easily achieve intricate effects with one thread!

Take a look at these great cross-stitch projects



For store details please click here