Stitch-School was founded in 2017 by Melanie Bowles with the aim to provide professional and inspirational guidance to reconnect to the benefits of embroidery through embroidery kits, workshops and community events around the large communal table embroidery called The Supper Cloth.
Stitch School are pleased to facilitate embroidery events based around the large 3 meter embroidery table. These events are called ‘The Supper Cloth’, providing a space for people to sit down, slow down and feed their creativity through stitching and co-creating a communal Supper Cloth in wonderful environments. Participants explore the wealth of embroidery stitches, learn together and create a communal supper cloth to celebrate the art of needlework. Discovering the benefits of stitching as a form of de-stressing, which encourages making as an antidote to modern life and a creating a sense of well being and relaxation.
Stitch-School's beautifully designed contemporary embroidery kits inspire the study of embroidery stitches with a playful approach for all ages to enjoy the art of needlework. Stitch-School’s foundation kit The A-Z of Embroidery stitches offers 26 stitches to learn, each letter of the alphabet has its own individual embroidery technique ready to practice. Stitch-School also offers a service to design bespoke kits as well as large embroidery cloths for community events.
In 2024 Stitch-School published the ‘50 Embroidery Stitches’ pocket book, a perfect companion and dictionary of stitches. Limited edition of 500, designed by Jane Chipchase.
Stitch-School is based in the heart of Brixton.
Clients include - Brixton Library funded by Cultural Seed funding, Peckham Festival, The Good Life Festival, V&A Dundee, Marie Curie, Dulwich Picture Gallery and Alexander McQueen 20/20, Trimarchi - Argentina (British Council), Marie Curie Hospice, V&A Dundee - The Future Sewing Box, Brixton X Harlem festival, Brixton, D-Day cloth D-Day Museum Portsmouth. Each Supper Cloth is themed to the event and environment.
Melanie Bowles has worked in the textile industry for over 30 years and is also a Senior Lecturer at Chelsea College of Arts, London. She is passionate about the benefits embroidery can have within a community and the individual.
