December 2025 Newsletter

Hello Happy Quilters!

The past four weeks have been filled with Christmas preparations and some wonderfully inspiring trips.

After the success of our Malvern stand, the SHQA team headed to Newmarket Racecourse for the Autumn Quilting and Sewing Show run by Grosvenor Events.

We had a fantastic time and would like to give a warm welcome to several of our new SHQA members, especially David, Rhonda and Cathy. We also want to thank Bernice and her husband, who joined us at our make and take table, and gifted Eloise £1 purchase a pin badge from another supplier.

Visit our gallery to see photos of the fabulous suppliers who exhibited at the show. Our full video of the show will be coming soon to our YouTube Channel.

Content warning for this section: topic of suicide

The SHQA team flew to Edinburgh to visit the Lothians Speak Their Name community group. We first met them at The Festival of Quilts when we interviewed Susan and Una, two inspiring women, who created blocks for the quilt in memory of loved ones lost to suicide. Their quilt was entered into our Joy of Sharing Category, and when we met the group we knew we wanted to spend more time with these remarkable people who honour their loved ones, and support each other through needlecraft.

In Scotland we received the warmest of welcomes, we were collected from the airport and taken to see the quilt on display in Kirkcaldy. We spent a truly meaningful day with the strong and compassionate individuals who form this group, including Donna, who created Neil’s Hugs Foundation in memory of her son Neil. The foundation offers help, understanding and support to those affected by suicide through wellbeing activities such as crafting groups.

Support for anyone affected by suicide is available, and we encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out. Speaking with a GP, local mental health service or trusted community organisation can be a vital first step. If immediate emotional support is needed, Samaritans are available any time on 116 123, and similar services operate across the country. No one has to face these feelings alone, and support is always within reach.

Check out our photos in the SHQA gallery from this unforgettable visit.

See video below from our visit, and interviews with some of the incredible individuals involved.

Many of you will have seen from our previous posts that we have been visiting NHS hospitals in Sussex to run wellbeing patchwork workshops. We have now completed our 2025 round of workshops, sewing with teams in seven different hospitals.

The NHS staff have created a total of 171 squares, and these will be stitched together to form one or possibly two NHS quilts. They will be showcased at the SHQA Quilt Show on the 5th and 6th of September 2026 at Brighton Racecourse.

In time, these quilts, lovingly made by staff who dedicate so much of themselves to caring for others, will be displayed as a work of art within the NHS trust. They stand as a reminder of creativity, connection and the strength found in shared moments.

Take a look at some of the photos from this wonderful project along with a short video in our SHQA gallery.

Many of you will know that Rachel, our CEO, has a deep love for Liberty fabrics, something that became very clear during her recent livestream where she shared her Liberty stash and several works in progress.

With that love in mind, the SHQA team headed to Liberty in London to enjoy the Christmas displays and explore the fabric collections. There were fewer Christmas fabrics than we had hoped to see, but after a very welcome break for tea and cake, we took a good look at the beautiful sewing gifts available for Liberty fans. From Liberty scissors priced at £12.99 to a stunning box of Liberty cottons at £209.99, there were treats for every wish list. You can watch the video on YouTube, and start planning your festive favourites.

What a wonderful 24-hours we shared, sewing from 9am on Thursday 30th October through to 9am on Friday 31st October, all in support of a truly worthwhile charity. Members and followers joined us at different times throughout the event, creating a warm sense of community as we stitched together.

We spent time talking about the work of Tools for Self Reliance and how the funds raised will support two girls in Africa to complete a year long tailoring course. At the end of their training they will receive a sewing machine and the skills needed to build their own businesses, setting them on a path toward independence. We are thrilled to be following their journey in 2026 as they work toward self reliance.

Our JustGiving page is still open for anyone who would like to help increase the number of young women we can support. To learn more about the charity, please visit their website.

The long Zoom sewing session was such a joy, that plans are already underway for a series of ‘Sit and Sew with the CEO’ sessions in 2026. Keep an eye on future newsletters and our events page for dates. In the meantime, if you would like to join a talk on Sewing for Wellbeing and help raise more funds for the charity with a £5 donation, you can sign up for the session on 16th January 2026 at 7pm.

We have just completed our very first SHQA Sewing Retreat at the Felbridge Hotel in East Grinstead. It was three days filled with wonderful food, inspiring sewing time, learning new skills, and enjoying the company of fellow quilters. New friendships were formed as we sewed, chatted and took part in a Sewing for Wellbeing talk and a festive Christmas wreath workshop.

Dates for our 2026 retreats have now been confirmed. The spring SHQA Sewing Retreat will take place from 24th to 26th April, and our Autumn Retreat will run on 30th October to 1st November. The cost of £525 includes a warm, welcoming community and a full retreat experience. For more information, please email us at hello@shqa.co.uk.

In the meantime, take a look at the album in our gallery to see the fun and creativity that filled the weekend.

Many of you will know that Rachel is a Community Ambassador for the wonderful charity From Me to You Letters. We would love everyone to join in with our cup mat initiative. To find out more, take a look at our video.

We are holding a Free Zoom Sewing Day to make cup mats on Sunday 1st February 2026 - Click here to register.

Please send your completed cup mats to:

SHQA

PO Box 252

Peacehaven

BN10 9EG

Read the recent blog written by the ‘From Me To You’ Team.

Livestream: Favourite Christmas Makes (30th November 2025 7pm)

Livestream: Highlights of the Year, 2025 Roundup (14th December 2025 7pm)

Sewing for Wellbeing Talk in Aid of Tools for Self Reliance (16th January 2026 7pm)

Quilts for Care Leavers Free Online Weekend Retreat (Saturday 17th - Sunday 18th January 2026)

Come along to our first SHQA Quilt Show at Brighton Racecourse on 5th and 6th September 2026, book via our website:

World of Sewing Special Offer, 10 lucky dip fat quarters for £15

The Quilted Bear Use code 'SHQA10' for 10% off (valid until midnight on 1st January 2026)

Netty Made - Manx Log Cabin pattern FREE download for SHQA members and friends for a donation to our Tools for Self Reliance JustGiving page.

Click here to donate to Tools for Self Reliance.

Sewbox 10% off with code ‘SHQA’ valid until 31st December 2025

Knit Stitch Chill Free P&P on your first order when you sign up to the newsletter

Sasha Fancy Spend over £25 and receive a free limited edition Prym tote bag

Native Lighting 3-in-1 light (usual price £149.00) contact Clare on sales@native-lighting.com to receive the discounted show offer price of £115.99

With much love and a Merry Christmas

Rachel D’Ambrosio - CEO & Founder

& The SHQA Team