Hi! My name is Yvette Redding and I established Quilting Smiles in 2016 to offer classes and workshops in patchwork, quilting, mixed media and creative stitch. The business grew quickly and expanded from the kitchen table to a dedicated studio space, from sewing machines to Sashiko, and from commercial fabrics to monoprinting and eco-dyeing!
After a house move in 2021, we are now based in Gretton in rural Northamptonshire, but our ethos remains the same: high quality teaching in a friendly, supportive atmosphere to maximise enjoyment and learning.
I love all forms of stitching and I am told that my enthusiasm is infectious! It is impossible to select just one type of stitching as every kind offers the maker something different. In my own practice I am fortunate in being able to spend time exploring surface design and creative stitch in all its glorious forms! Some days are Kantha days – mindful, relaxing, running stitch into layers of soft, recycled, hand-dyed, cotton fabrics. Other days are bold and bright, raw-edge appliqué and free-machine embroidery. Sometimes the mornings might be spent printing wonderful leaf shapes onto khadi paper and calico and the afternoons stitching intricate Sashiko patterns onto hemp. BUT my favourite days are the ones I spend with my students! Nothing beats seeing students learn new skills, gain creative confidence and make new friends. So why not sign up to one of our courses and experience it for yourself!