News

The programme of Workshops & Courses for January 2011 - October 2011 are now available, and will be running at both our Mostyn (North Wales) and Liverpool stores. Classes include Dressmaking, Felting, Machine Embroidery, Creative Fabrics, Beading, Fascinators & so much more!

More Information & Bookings. For more information & to reserve a place on a Workshop or Course, please click HERE

Download Brochure. For full details on all Workshops & Courses at Abakhan, including a diary of FREE Demonstrations & Events at Abakhan we suggest you download a Brochure - please click HERE

There are many ways that you can benefit from booking a coach party with Abakhan Fabrics, Hobby & Home. Here's an outline of discounts and benefits you may qualify for:-

. 10% discount for all party members *

. £10 credit note for the organiser (to be spent on the day)

. Free tea/coffee for all party members

. Free meal for the Coach Driver

These benefits will be discussed with you by one of our Coach Party Co-ordinators upon booking your coach party. It is always best to phone at least five days before you're due to arrive, so that we can get your £10 credit note and discount cards, if applicable, ready for you beforehand. These are available from our reception desk upon arrival.

If you would like to book a coach party please do not hesitate to contact our reception desk on 01745 562 100 where someone will more than happy to take details of your coach party.

Terms and Conditions apply, please contact our Reception Desk on 01745 562100 for further details.

Group Visit Booking Form

Please click HERE to download a booking form.

Metal needles are one of the most common, and certainly one of the most popular, due to there being relatively long lasting and fairly low cost. However, it’s worth noting that they are fairly unpliable, and that the clicking sound might irritate anyone in the vicinity!

Wooden knitting needles are certainly a great choice if you’re looking for a way to keep your knitting quiet – people won’t thank you for interrupting their TV programme, even if we know knitting’s the more rewarding activity! If you’ve ever struggled from carpal tunnel or any similar disorders, the wooden needles’ light weight will help you maintain your comfort over long periods.

Plastic needles are a relatively modern occurrence, but have plenty to recommend them. Their very light weight means that they can move speedily, which is very effective should you need to create a new design in a hurry. Whilst there was previously some concern about the potential for splitting, a lot of modern plastic needles have a metal centre, ensuring their longevity.

To view Abakhan’s full range of knitting kneedles, visit the main page here.

Fabric Comb. Wool is a wonderfully soft material when used in the right way, it’s important to ensure that any fuzzballs and pilling are removed from the material before use, and our fabric comb is the ideal way to get the job done. They’re available now for a bargain price.

Needles. Whilst this might sound obvious, you won’t get very far without the right knitting needles! There are a wide variety of different knitting accessories available at Abakhan, so take the time to discover which ones work best for you from the myriad of different materials, and you can be sure that you’ll have years of satisfied knitting to come.

Materials. There are a few different types of material that can be used as knitting accessories, from felt, to crochet to old fashioned yarn, and you’ll find them all available now at the Abakhan website. Again, to an extent you’ll want to experiment with the different options to see which ones work for you – but ensure that you continue to check into our site for the very best prices!

To view all of these and more of our knitting accessories, check the Abakhan catalogue here.

Trousers and shirts. These sewing patterns are a great investment, especially when you have a young son who’s always growing out of his clothes! Rather than having to invest money at the beginning of every school term, you can instead spend your time modifying and creating new clothes with existing materials. The far cheaper option!

Vests and Ties. There’s nothing a man enjoys more than dressing up to look his very best (well, apart from a good football match, obviously) which is why our sewing patterns for waistcoats and ties are a fine investment. With varying patterns and styles, you can ensure that the men in your life always look their best.

Dressing robe. If you’re looking for a great present to treat the men in your life, then why not use your sewing skills to create them the perfect robe for the chilly early mornings? With winter coming up, they’ll be grateful! In a variety of different colours, there is a pattern for everyone.

Click here to view more of our sewing patterns for men.

If the only time you get to work on your sewing is when all the kids (and possibly the husband too!) have gone to bed, you’ll likely be grateful for the Maglamp. Complete with an energy saving bulb, it’s the ideal way to obtain the maximum visibility whilst you work.

Whilst sewing and knitting are both rewarding hobbies, there’s no denying that they can be fiddly. The hands-free magnifier that you can buy here is the ideal solution, offering you a more in-depth view of what your hands are doing, making those complicated patterns a breeze.

The Stitchmaster Seat Stand is the ideal investment for anyone that wants an easy way to support their work, with the mobility and quality that comes from genuine craftsmanship. Enabling you to work from a variety of different angles, it’s a great investment.

To view these and more sewing accessories, visit the Abakhan catalogue here .

Having the ability to design and create clothes is not only a skill but an art. It is many a females’ dream to be able to have a perfect, one of a kind dress that is unique to her and no one else. Now with Abakhan , you can make that dream a reality with our avant-garde, creative and inspirational dressmaking courses

With Christmas and the party season fast approaching, what better way to attend an occasion but with a one of a kind dress. Or if dressmaking is not your cup of tea, but you have a friend or family member who is a budding fashionista, then why not buy one our bespoke dressmaking courses for a loved one this Christmas?

With a variety of courses available from our beginner, intermediate and advanced courses to our ‘Tips and Trim’s’ course that predominantly focuses on a variety of techniques, there is a dressmaking courses for any female no matter her age or ability.

Why not turn your hobby into professional status with our ‘Hobby to Professional’ dressmaking course? The ‘Little Black Dress’ course is a fabulous experience for any female determined to make her own ‘little black dress’. Is there a little girl in your life who you know would love nothing more than to look like a princess? Then why not attend our ‘Little Girls Party Dress’ course and turn a dream into a reality.

Our inspiring dressmaking courses range from £25+ and are available at a variety of locations on a number of different dates. Buy today, and no matter your level in dressmaking, you will be provided with the very best skills and knowledge to create the perfect, one of a kind, fabricated dress.

For more information on any of our courses, contact Abakhan by calling 01745 562 100, or pop into your local branch. Click here to find yours.

The night's have drawn in and the To Do list is starting to fill up with all manner of tasks for the festive season. Whilst I daydream of spend chilly winter afternoon's sitting in front of a log fire, supping hot chocolate and delicately hand quilting a fabulous throw, somehow this never seems to fit in with the reality of my busy daily schedule.

Like many creative folks, I find the process of stitching just as enjoyable and rewarding as the finished piece – so, how do you manage to find the time to fit in a creative hobby in amongst work, feeding the family, grocery shopping and walking the dog? It seems to me that during the busy winter months, when we all feel as though we are pulled in a million different directions at once, while we'd love to create large scale heirloom projects, it is often more realistic to work on something a little smaller or certainly more portable than that king size quilt!

I began pondering what new sewing project I could work on, something that could be fitted around my busy day – or even better, one that fitted into my handbag. I was looking for something that can be picked up during a quite five minutes, that I could carry around with me or that didn't require sitting up in my sewing room, away from that roaring log fire. Then it came to me - why not try some needlepoint?

With so many beautiful options from including ready-to-stitch cross stitch kits, a large scale tapestry design or work up a few embroidery motifs I was really spoilt for choice. For me, needlepoint projects are fantastic for getting that stitching fix during busy times. My top tip to maximising your sewing time is to keep your work in progress stowed in a work basket by the side of the sofa or carry it around with you in your favourite crafty tote bag, so you can dip into it whenever you have a few minutes to spare. By keeping these portable projects at your fingertips, you will be amazed at how quickly your make will progress by simply picking it up when you get the chance and working a few stitches.

With the end of my first cross stitch of the winter season in sight, I'm already looking for my next needlepoint project! What designs, kits and motifs are keep your creative juices flowing this wintertime?

Happy Stitching! Laura Cruickshank (Editor, Sew Magazine - www.sewmag.co.uk).

There is something inviting about a home that is dressed for Christmas. And whether you are having an intimate time with just a few friends or a large gathering, some festive touches will certainly help to set the scene. Here are a few suggestions that you might like to try.

The hallway

This is the first area that your guests will see so it’s worth taking the time to make it look attractive. If you have a spindle staircase you could wind lengths of different coloured ribbon around the poles. Use bright red and gold together and finish each one with a fancy bow. Create a low light in the hall with a lamp that has a fabric shade & if you pick an inexpensive red cloth one you can then add some handmade fabric flowers made from coiling lengths of leftover ribbon. If you have a hall table with a vase of Christmas flowers then make a pretty quilted mat - you can do this by simply sewing two circles of red curtain fabric and some wadding together (about the size of a dinner plate) remembering to leave an opening. Turn your mat to the right side, close up the opening and create a quilt pattern with the straight stitch on your machine.

The dining room

Traditionally this is the room that everyone expects will boast some colour at Christmas. If you have the time you could make some fresh seat cushions. Use foam seat pads and make some covers in a pretty tartan fabric. When your table is not in use you can decorate it with a runner (see the instructions below). You can co-ordinate the runner with your chairs by using a plain red cloth and finishing it with gold tassels and ribbon.

Festive place mats are quick and easy to make and will instantly give your table a facelift. For each one cut two rectangles in plain fabric and wadding, pin all the surfaces together with the right sides of the fabric facing outwards & then cover the outer raw edges with binding in a contrasting colour - finish by hand sewing the initials of each guest in the corner.

The sitting room

To make your sitting room cosy add in some fur fabric throws - they are practical and stylish. Either buy ready-made ones or make your own to fit the exact size of furniture. Add some colour to your soft seating areas with some Christmas cushions. Either buy or make some plain coloured covers, then, using machine embroidery with a hoop , try some free stitching working with a contrasting thread. You may like to practice on some scrap fabric first.

A child’s bedroom

Every child wants their room to look magical at Christmas. Start by making some bunting with them. First, using Christmas biscuit cutters, trace out some shapes on felt then cut them out. Take a long length of red ribbon and glue the felt shapes at intervals all the way along the strip. Make sure you leave enough room at each end of the ribbon to tie it up.

You could also make a fabric advent wall hanging. First cut a large rectangle in stiff cardboard then cover it with plain fabric using glue. Cut out 25 small squares in red and green felt. Arrange the squares on the fabric and make pockets by gluing three of the sides in place. Edge the board with narrow gold ribbon and finish by slipping a small chocolate into each pocket. Make a pretty bed cover by using a large rectangle of plain dark blue fleece. Finish the edges with machining. Draw out a crescent moon shape and cut it out in yellow felt. Then cut out a number of differently sized stars in white felt and glue them to the throw.

Top tips for Christmas styling

1. Using a colour theme is a great way to give your handmade furnishings more impact.

2. Items such as covered seat pads and throws, made in plain colours or tartan, can be used even after Christmas has finished.

3. This is a great time of year to get your children interested in sewing and crafts so involve them in some of your simple projects.

4. Start your furnishing pieces early so they’ll be completed before your gift buying.

5. If you want some Christmas templates use biscuit cutters or images from children’s colouring books.

How to make a Christmas table runner

MATERIALS

To find the quantity you need, measure the length of your table and then add a drop to each end. Then decide how wide you want your runner to be. Add a seam allowance to both of these measurements . Choose a firm cotton fabric or linen.

50cm of Christmas novelty fabric, featuring small motifs such as Christmas trees, snowmen etc

Firm iron-on interfacing

2 gold Tassels

Narrow gold ribbon

STEPS TO SEW

1. Make a paper pattern to the size you require your runner to be. Then create a point at each end.

2. Lay your pattern on your fabric and cut out twice.

3. With right sides facing stitch the pieces together leaving an opening.

4. Trim the seams and around the pointed ends and turn runner to right side.

5. Close the opening with hand stitching.

6. Take your gold ribbon and pin it to one side of your runner 2cms in from the finished edge. Machine it in place.

7. Cut out your Christmas motifs and iron interfacing to the wrong side. Position your motifs on your runner (equal distances apart). Then using a small zig-zag stitch work round the edges to hold them in place. Don’t forget to keep your needle down but lift your presser foot as you turn each corner.

8. Hand sew tassels to each pointed end to finish.

Sue Locke is a freelance writer and designer. She writes the monthly style pages for Sewing World magazine and designs fashion accessories. For more information or advice please contact Sue Locke - Click here to view Sue’s website.

Abakhan Christmas Makes

Hi, I’m Kerry and I blog at verykerryberry. In October, I was lucky enough to win a fantastic Christmas sewing competition, kindly sponsored by Abakhan and i was offered the chance to do a little write up here! I live a lot of my sewing life online and now that we are less than a month away from Christmas I thought the best thing to do would be a little round up of free tutorials from all around the sewing blog world!

So working clockwise from top left- here are the links!

1. The first is my winning competition entry- a Scandinavian Christmas Tree cushion. You can find the instructions for that here.

2. Number two is another one of mine - a mini tote, great for young children, this is a super quick project. I think it takes longer to cut out than it does to sew and you could use any design you like.

3. Next, there is a cute mini organiser designed by Leila from Where the Orchids Grow. I am making this for my daughter, a great little scrappy project.

4. Now for something perfect for the season, Christmas bunting by the uber talented UK blogger Lynne of Lily’s Quilts I could happily hang this every Christmas!

5. The next two designs are from Amy, who blogs at During Quiet Time. I never quite know how Amy manages to fit in her creative endeavours between the needs of three children and come up with beautiful designs like these, but I do know that I just have to make the Dresden bag, I need one of these! Design 1 & Design 2

6. Hadley of Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycleis another UK blogger who came up with this super useful tutorial for a quick and easy present entirely form your scraps. Your imagination is the limit with this key fob tutorial.

7. The final two designs are from one of my favourite bloggers. If you haven’t already come across Ayumi’s blog Pink Penguin, you are in for such a tutorial. These are just two of here fun and pretty tutorials for lovely handmake zakka gifts. Design 1 & Design 2

I hope you have enjoyed a little trip around the sewing blog world and now its time to get sewing, my plans are far greater than the time I have available but that is the case every year! Thanks Will for the opportunity to spend a little time over at the Abakhan blog! I only wished I loved closer to a store of Abakhan’s, I am jealous of all of you who do! Many thanks Kerry - verykerryberry