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The Stitch Team
Suzanne Kelly
Manager and one of the founding Directors.
Following a Visual & Performed Arts degree, I worked in arts television and multimedia production management for 15 years before having children and returning to work firstly running a kids music group and then embarking upon starting up Stitch! Crafts & Classes in 2019. The closure of our local craft emporium Rodwins in 2018 was the catalyst for our new venture.
Having always had a passion for arts and crafts and navigating naturally towards Rodwins in Southgate most weekends for supplies when owner Josie mentioned that she was closing to finally enjoy her retirement, with her encouragement, I saw an opportunity to launch a Community Interest Company (CIC) aimed at satisfying the needs of a fast-growing army of crafters, sewers and makers from beginners to experts. I met my future business partners Carol and Karen through the school gates of all places. Both were keen dressmakers and quilters and saw the potential of a CIC that combined a strong retail offering along with a range of craft workshops led by a hand-picked group of talented and enthusiastic teachers.
With the help of the Palmers Green Action Team we found a vacant space in Palmers Green to ‘pop-up’ – formerly the iconic Grouts and set to work. On 1st May 2019 we opened for business.
A year later we moved across the road to an unused area of the Green Lanes Post Office which we converted ourselves into a shop and workshop area. We later made a third move to a quirky office space around the corner in Hazelwood Lane.
In May 2024 the worsening economics of retail meant we were forced to close our shop premises. We then spent a further year solely concentrating on running workshops in various locations around Palmers Green and Enfield.
Stitch has been an absolute joy to run, through all the ups and downs, and I have gained such far ranging skills in team management, finding and working with our inspirationally talented teachers and practitioners, shopkeeping, creating shop displays, managing financial budgets and payroll, curating stock provision, creating marketing campaigns, writing weekly newsletters and social medias and securing corporate creative workshops.
Over six years I am proud to have successfully secured financial grants from- School for Social Entrepeneurs in the Community Business Trade Up programme; Arts Council ‘Let’s Create’ fund to create the Community Platinum Jubilee Collage; the Enfield Neighbourhood Fund from Enfield Council to run creative therapeutic workshops to help with people’s mental health in our local community; the London Community Foundation, Youth Social Action Fund to run fashion upcycling workshops in local schools.
A massive thank you to our inspirational teachers and the incredible Liz, to our welcoming community, and every crafter who walked through our doors.
Thank you Stitch for the wonderful memories, our legacy lives on in the wonderful crafting community we have created and nurtured.
Liz Fish
Assistant Manager
For six wonderful years, I was proud to be part of Stitch, a community interest company rooted in creativity, connection, and craft. Based in our cosy haberdashery shop, we offered a welcoming space where people could come together to learn new skills, share ideas, and build lasting friendships through knitting, crochet, sewing, and more.
My role at Stitch was as varied as it was rewarding—I worked in the shop, managed stock and buying decisions, taught children, managed our website and social media, and helped plan and prepare the many crafting classes we ran. Whether it was welcoming a beginner to their first workshop or helping spread the word about our latest events online, I loved being part of a team that put community first.
Although Stitch has now closed its doors, the spirit of what we created lives on. I still regularly attend the “craft and natter” groups we started—joyful gatherings that continue to offer creativity, connection and community to anyone who walks through the door.
Now, as I enter a new chapter in midlife and prepare for an empty nest, I’m channeling my love of craft and community into a fresh adventure: flown2day. This new project focuses on upcycling clothing with unique crochet patches—breathing new life into old garments—and sharing the journey through a YouTube channel dedicated to finding creativity, confidence, and connection in life’s second act. It’s about making, mending, and embracing the freedom to reinvent. Please follow the links to follow my journey.
Kay Dudman
Knitting, crochet and embroidery teacher
It’s my belief you can’t go wrong with handicrafts for creativity and relaxation!
I have over 35 years of experience in teaching — 25 years as a university lecturer in computing, and more than 10 years in teaching knitting, crochet, hand embroidery and tatting (lace made with a shuttle). I design and create handmade items using these traditional techniques under the business name Crafty Cavy, and I enjoy helping others get pleasure from learning and extending their skills with these crafts.
When I was a lecturer, handicraft was one of my hobbies, so it was a natural progression for me to teach these skills too. Computing might seem a world away from craft, but knitting and crochet patterns are rather like computer programs, giving step-by-step instructions — and helping people correct mistakes in knitting and crochet is similar to program debugging!
I enjoy using colour and texture in knitting and crochet to echo nature, for example, the colours of autumn leaves and burgeoning spring flowers, the delicate
tracery of lace designs like frost or snowflakes, cables reminiscent of ripples and waves in water, and the changes in hue offered by variegated yarns. I use this inspiration in designs for hats, headbands, shawls, cowls and cuffs; I also create delicate lace collars recreating the elegance of a bygone age.
Examples of my work have been on display in several of the Arts & Crafts Showcases at the artsdepot in north Finchley, and at Forty Hall in Enfield. I’ve even had some of my crochet bees on display in the Museum of Enfield as part of the exhibition about Broomfield House; they have now “buzzed off” to help raise awareness of the plight of bees.
I have a Certificate in Mixed Needlecraft, and I have taught knitting, crochet, hand embroidery and tatting at Forty Hall, at Let’s Learn in north Finchley, and I was invited to run knitting and crochet workshops alongside Canadian singer Melanie Gall’s concert “Stitch in Time: A Knitting Cabaret” at the artsdepot in 2019. I am also running a Hand Sewing course in conjunction MIND and Barnet & Southgate College.
Kay can be contacted to arrange 1-2-1 lessons in all sorts of crafts, she offers in person or zoom lessons.
Pat Stevens
Sewing practitioner & teacher
I learnt to sew at my mother's knee. She acquired her seamstress skills at Peggy Page's, a clothing factory in Edmonton. I took needlework to A level at school and college. I discovered patchwork by accident and loved it from the get-go as it fed my appetite for fabric, pattern, colour and geometry. (45 years later I'm still intrigued!)
I started giving talks and demonstrations at ladies' groups which led to me teaching needlecrafts at Enfield College. A few years prior to this two friends and I started a business from home called 'Tears and Tiers'. Rosemarie and I sewed all manner of clothing whilst Angela made the cakes.
Rosemarie had always had an ambition to have a sewing and craft shop and in the early 80's we opened 'Material Girl' in Cheshunt, which became a huge success. We taught all manner of crafts and sewing in the shop and were walking adverts by wearing clothes we had made from the fabric we sold.
It was on a return journey from the 'Knit and Stitch' show at Ally Pally in April 2019 that I found 'Stitch' was opening in the old 'Grout's' shop in Palmers Green. I got involved and have loved my return to teaching. I love getting other people hooked on patchwork and spent lockdown making and designing quilts and cushions which has kept me sane.
Anna Araujo
Specialist childrens craft teacher
Anna has taught textile arts including dressmaking, knitting, crochet & embroidery for 12 years. She specialises in teaching children and has extensive experience in teaching in a Steiner school and also working with Homeschool Collectives.
She grew up in Brazil and learned her textile skills from her grandmother who was a seamstress, bookbinder and general creative. Ann feels her grandmother gave her a great gift in teaching her the creative arts and now she enjoys passing this gift on to the children who come to her classes.
She has been running our Teen Sewing club for the last two years and her holiday classes are always creative and nurturing.
Anna will be continuing to run children's after school and holiday classes in the Palmers Green and North London Area, she currently has The following after school classes:
Wednesday 4:30-6pm, Machine sewing, The Fox Pub, Palmers Green
Thursday 4:30-5:30. Crochet, knitting and hand sewing, Arbeit Studios, Palmers Green.
Please email Anna for more information.
Alison Ferrary
Knitting and crochet teacher
One of my earliest memories is of sitting in the big armchair at my Grandmother’s house with 10 stitches on the needle and her showing me how to do garter stitch. I think I was probably about 5 years old and someone had given me a child’s knitting kit. Since then I haven't stopped knitting and learning about the craft. I can turn my hand to all types of knitting but my main loves lace, particularly from Shetland. Most recently I have done a workshop in the design of Shetland Haps (shawls) and am hoping to create my own designs soon.
Over the years I have turned my hand to other crafts including crochet, tatting, dressmaking and for a while I knitted on a machine. More recently I have learned to spin yarn and now have two spinning wheels and several hand spindles. This allows me to make yarns that uniquely mine.
Since retiring in 2019 I have had the time to indulge my hobbies and discovering Stitch has been key to that. I was looking for a local knitting group and to make some knitty friends. I have always wanted to share my knitting knowhow and have been able to do so at Stitch by running knitting workshops that cover more advanced techniques for those that want to improve their skills such as making socks, colourwork and lace. I love teaching and supporting others with developing their skills and the biggest joy is seeing the items made as a result of my workshops.
Alison can be contacted to organise one to one knitting classes.
Sharon Wallin
Knitting teacher
Sharon has always been passionate about textiles and design. She began sewing, knitting and designing items as a young child. Her love of the creative process led her to study textiles at degree level and has continued throughout her life.
Sharon is an enthusiastic knitter and always has a number of projects on her needles! She also enjoys crochet, weaving and spinning on a traditional spinning wheel. The latter has led to working with some amazing fibres including alpaca, yak, cashmere and a variety of rare sheep breeds. Sharon loves to teach her craft, come and meet her at Stitch!
Sharon is taking a break from teaching but she can often be found at our Wednesday evening Stitch & Knit Social.
