October 2025 Newsletter

Hello Happy Quilters! 

It’s been an exciting month at the SHQA Headquarters, with plenty of adventures, celebrations and new projects to share. Before we dive into the news, we’d like to start with some very special birthday wishes. Our wonderful Beryl, one of our Executive Leads of Wellbeing, Membership & Kindness, and Eloise, our Digital Media & Operations Manager are celebrating their birthdays soon. Thank you both for everything you do, and for being such a vital part of this journey with us.      

Since our last update, the SHQA team have been on the move. Rachel, our CEO, and her good friend Susan (a huge supporter of the SHQA) embarked on what can only be described as an ‘extreme day trip’ to the Belfast Quilt Fayre. Organised by Margaret and Yvonne and held at the Stormont Hotel, the show was packed with inspiration. Flying out from Gatwick in the morning and back again late that night was certainly a whirlwind, but the warm welcome from the Belfast quilting community made it more than worth it.

The show featured three rooms of incredible quilts. The Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild and Irish Patchwork Society collaborated on an exhibition entitled ‘One World’. Another room showcased a deeply moving collection of 70 scripture-inspired quilts by Sandra Weir of Hollow Oak Quilts. Sadly, time ran out before they could see the third display upstairs, but a full video of their trip is on its way. Until then, you can catch the livestream on YouTube and explore the photo album in our gallery.  

Another exciting milestone this month was the debut of the SHQA pop-up shop. Rachel was welcomed by the Polegate Stitchups Quilting Group, where she gave a talk on Sewing for Wellbeing. The group had the first chance to browse our patterns, fabrics and haberdashery, and the response was fantastic. A particularly special moment came when Jackie, one of our long-time supporters, gifted Rachel a new mouse for her sewing room collection. Thank you Jackie for such a thoughtful gesture.  

Straight after the visit to Polegate Stitchups, Rachel travelled to The World of Sewing in Tunbridge Wells, to choose a prize sewing machine for the Beginner’s Category at the Great Yorkshire Quilt Show, Doncaster, which the SHQA is proudly sponsoring this October. Garry and Richard were on hand to explain the different beginner-friendly models, and Rachel had a wonderful time learning more about the machines. While we won’t spoil the surprise, we can share that the chosen prize is a brilliant Janome model, soon to be revealed on our YouTube channel.  

Rachel enjoyed two days at the Karen Robb Sewing Collective (formerly the Isle of Wight Sewing Studio), teaching a Jelly Roll Race workshop. On day one participants created quilt tops from jelly roll packs, and day two focussed on quilting, backing, wadding and binding. Everyone left with a finished quilt and a sense of accomplishment. Rachel particularly enjoyed trying out a Brother sewing machine with Karen, the Isle of Wight dealer, it is always a pleasure testing new equipment!  

Rachel has been leading a series of patchwork wellbeing workshops across six NHS hospitals in Sussex, with one more still to come this year. These workshops invite staff to take time out of their demanding roles to create 4-inch squares using Hexiform, each one a small act of reflection, creativity, and connection. Together, the pieces will form a staff quilt, both a symbol of collective resilience and a celebration of the NHS community, that will first be displayed at the SHQA Quilt Show in September 2026. Afterward, the quilt will find a permanent home within the Trust as a piece of shared art, embodying the stories and hands that brought it to life.

One of the highlights of the month was Rachel being invited to become a Community Ambassador for the charity ‘From Me to You Letters’.  

During our livestream on 30th August, Rachel encouraged quilters worldwide to sew small cup mats of any shape, no bigger than five inches, with thin wadding so they can be sent easily in a standard envelope. Makers are welcome to add their name or an inspiring message. Once received, the SHQA team will add our Shine Embrace Wellbeing ethos label before passing them on to the charity. 

Send your completed cup mats to: SHQA, PO Box 252, Peacehaven, BN10 9EG

For those who’d like to support another way, ‘From Me to You Letters’ also welcomes donations of stamps and envelopes through their Amazon wish list. These practical items make a huge difference to their work.   

This September marked six months since the establishment of the SHQA! To celebrate, we released a special birthday video and joined National Sewing Month with a social media campaign. We’ve also officially started the countdown to our very own SHQA Quilt Show, which will take place at Brighton Racecourse on 5th and 6th September 2026. With top-name suppliers, inspiring demos, wonderful quilt displays and free parking, it promises to be a weekend to remember.  

October is shaping up to be another busy month for the SHQA team:

SHQA Advent Calendar (1st October): Our very first advent calendar launches in the SHQA shop, featuring 25 sewing-themed gifts. Only 50 available, priced at £75 plus postage.

Great Yorkshire Quilt Show, Doncaster (5th October): Join us at the show or via livestream at 2.30pm for the Beginner’s Category prize giving. Email us if you’d like a rosette to wear on the day.

Mental Health Awareness Day (10th October): We’ll be shining a light on how creativity supports wellbeing. To take part, wear or make something green; a quilt block, project, or even just a few stitches, and share your photos with us on social media.  

Autumn Quilting & Sewing Show, Malvern (17th – 19th October): Find us at stands 69 and 70, join in with our free make-and-take rosette activity, and browse our pop-up shop.   

The 24-Hour Big Sew Off (30th – 31st October): A 24-hour Sew-A-Thon in aid of ‘Tools for Self Reliance’. Funds raised will support the training of girls in Africa to become tailors and set up their own sewing businesses. Dip in and out as you please, support us by donating through our JustGiving page.   

One last date for your diary is 17th – 18th January 2026. Our annual free Zoom retreat for Quilts for Care Leavers returns. Over the weekend, we’ll sew, share, and connect online, creating quilts and blocks to gift young people leaving care. Maggie from Q4CL will join us too, making this a truly special weekend of stitching and community. 

Thank you all for your continued support. Together, we’re proving that quilting is more than just stitching fabric, it’s about connection, kindness and creativity.  

Sasha Fancy Spend over £25.00 and receive a free limited edition Prym tote bag

Netty Made - Netty’s a big supporter of Sew Powerful, and since Tools for Self Reliance is close to her heart too, she’s kindly sharing her Manx Log Cabin pattern as a FREE download for SHQA members and friends. All she asks is a small donation to our JustGiving page. Click here to grab your free pattern, 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 newsletters

iQuilt Studio - John Cole-Morgan 25% off longarm services with code ‘SHQA25’ valid until 31st August 2026  

9th – 19th October The Scarlet Thread - St Columba's Church, Church Street , Omagh, BT78 1DG - A unique ten day festival telling the story of the bible from Genesis to Revelation in thread, wool and textile  

19th October 10.30am – 3pm The Bees Needles, A Festival of Island Creatives – Northwood House, Ward Avenue, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 8AZ  

25th October 10am – 4pm Henley Warehouse Weekend Open Day - Lady Sew and Sew, Farm Road, Henley on Thames, RG9 1EJ  

31st October – 1st November 26th Anniversary Quilt Show by Pilgrim Quilters at St Ann’s Church Hall,  4 Brighton Road,  Banstead, SM7 1BS  

With much love

Rachel D'Ambrosio - CEO & Founder

and The SHQA Team