March Stockist of the Month: Creative Quilting

A specialist patchwork and quilting shop based in Hampton Court Village in Surrey, Creative Quilting, staffed by a team of dedicated quilters is the perfect place to find not just supplies but also to get advice with your project. Their fabric assortment which now includes Liberty, is chosen with potential projects in mind and the shop offers a wide range of classes as well as Turn-up and Learn Tuesdays. We spoke to manager Nicola Whayman to find out more. 

Tell us about the history of your shop and the team?
Creative Quilting was founded back in Oct 1989 by Val Nesbitt at No.3 Bridge Road back in the day when there was only puffy wadding on offer! 15 years ago the shop moved into its current location of 30-32 Bridge Road ,Hampton Court Village, KT8 9HA and Val and I now head up a fairly large team of ladies who are all addicted quilters and patchworkers.
  
What do you offer that makes you stand out from other retailers?
As a specialist shop  we don’t just sell products – we help and advise and because the team are all dedicated quilters, they are invested in helping our customers create their own wonderful projects.  As well as a wide range of classes we are also now running a Turn-up and Learn Tuesday slot where we share information on how to use patchwork equipment and gadgets and also other useful patchwork techniques – such as mitred corners on binding your quilt.

 
 
What are you passionate about? 
Creativity has finally become recognised as an important part of mental wellbeing and here in the shop we not only encourage the creative spirit through the shopping experience, but also in the classes where new friendships are formed.  
 
How do you choose what you stock?
First of all it has to have a personal appeal – it’s hard to sell something you don’t like – and then I think about the projects it might make.   Then we – the team get involved too – consider our customers and we are very excited that we have recently expanded our fabrics to include the Liberty and Moda ranges.


 
What do you love about quilting?
There always seems to be something new around the corner – not just fabric ranges but gadgets too and methods of making, which keeps everything fresh and new.  Creating something beautiful from a bundle of fabric that you then cut up and piece together again is endlessly satisfying – and then what to do with the scraps – is it another quilt? Or maybe a confetti landscape?
 
What project are you working on at the minute? 
Inspired by patterns and fabrics that come into the shop there is never a lack of inspiration,but I usually have a couple of EPP projects on the go (such as the Tudor Rose table runner that we put together with the help of Lina Patchwork) as well as regular patchwork projects, and more recently I was introduced to Confetti landscapes by Kate Findlay, who came to teach for us.


 
Are there any future plans you wish to share with us?
We are very excited to have on offer a sew-a-row project designed by Sarah Ashford with her range of fabrics entitled the Great British Friendship Quilt –it has a modern simplicity to it and we feel appeals to beginners and accomplished sewers alike.
I am always busy making up new kits and quilts for the shop, which makes them unique to us and we hope enhances the shopping experience and entice someone new to join the ‘quilting addicts club’.

Find and Follow Creative Quilting

Location: Creative Quilting, 30-32 Bridge Road, Hampton Court Village, Surrey KT8 9HA
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am til 5pm and Sunday 12noon till 4pm.
Telephone: 0208 941 7075
Website: www.creativequilting.co.uk
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