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Stitchers Meetings and Open Craft Groups
To date we have 9 groups that meet across the Basingstoke and Deane area, a drop off point in Newbury and our satellite group in Alton. Our groups aim to help provide purpose, enable Stitchers to collect materials and drop of items. We also aim to encourage social interaction and cohesion, prevent isolation and loneliness, support learning, social interactions and enable like-minded people to meet each other and forge new friendship groups.
Open Stitcher and Crafters groups are pay-as-you-go (PAYG) and have an entry price of £2.50 per person to cover the costs of the hall and refreshments. Activities are on a make and take basis, kits can be purchased for an additional £6.50 which includes everything that you need to take part in the activity provided, something new to try each month (please see our posters below for the months craft activity).
Have a look below for more information and to see if there is a group local to you. We would love you to come along, no need to book.
We hold most groups jointly for both Stitchers and Crafters to attend together
Stitcher Meetings
These are groups that focus on the work that we do to create our wonderful donated items by crochetting, knitting and sewing for us. They are run by Stitchers for Stitchers.
Everyone is welcome to meet up, socialise, have a cuppa and support each other to achieve the best we can for the indivicuals, organisations and hospital departments that we support.
Each group leader can provide any materials and patterns for our core products, for example:
- Wool and fabric
- Accessories
Each venue stores equipment for us such as sewing machines and other crafting tools, giving all our Stitchers the opportunity to learn new skills, ask questions and have demonstrations.
For anything specific, please ask.
Open Craft Groups
These groups are open to all who are interested in crafting, no matter the skill level. The aim is to create a local, social group of like-minded people for inspiration, new skills, support, and company... with fun and a cuppa included!
Bring your craft with you, learn or upgrade your skills or try something new with the months activity and meet new people while sharing/enhancing your hobbies and ideas.
Learn a new skill or demonstrate/share your expertise by booking to be a speaker/ demonstrator for our group.
Look for a new project on our inspiration table.
We always have lots of 'fun' Oakley Stitcher volunteer activities if you don't currently have something on the go.
Please contact stitcher.craftgroups@oakleystitchers.org.uk for more information or to book to demonstrate your hobby/skill/idea.
Oakley Meetings & Open Craft Group
When: 1st Monday of the month, 7pm - 9pm
Where: The Green Hut, Hill Road, Oakley
Basingstoke Town Centre Meetings & Open Craft Group
When: Last Friday of the month, 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Where: The Orchard, White Hart Lane, Basingstoke Town Centre
Oakridge Meetings & Open Craft Group
When: 2nd Friday of the month, 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Where: Oakridge Hall for All, Oakridge
Kempshott Meetings
When: Fortnightly on Wednesday, 10am - 11.30am
Where: Kempshott Village Hall, Pack Lane
Tadley Meetings & Open Craft Group
When: 1st Tuesday of the month, 1pm - 3pm; 3rd Thursday of the month, 7pm - 9pm
Where: The Link, Newchurch Road, Tadley
Winklebury Meetings
When: Fortnightly on Thursday and Saturday, 10am - 11.30am
Where: The Cafe next to The Winkle, Winklebury
Popley Meeting & Open Craft Group
When: 2nd Wednesday of the month, 10am - 12pm
Where: NEW VENUE - Dunelm Cafe, Reading Road
Overton Meeting & Open Craft Group
When: Last Monday of the month, 10am - 12pm
Where: Overton Community Centre, High Street, Overton
Beggarwood Meeting & Open Craft Group
When: Fortnightly on Friday, 10am - 12pm
Where: Cafe in the Park, Broadmere Lane, Beggarwood
Alton Stitchers
Jacqui runs our satelite group of stitchers in Alton
Please contact Jacqui directly for information about the group and how to get involved.
Newbury Stitchers
New drop off point
Due to an influx of interest from Stitchers within the Newbury area, we have teamed up with the amazing Leisel at St Nicholas Church Hall, who will contact us when there is a stash of goodies to collect.
Please make sure you are knitting items we actually need, our patterns are provided based on the guidance from the organisations we support. We do try and find homes for rogue itmes as far as possible as we are very concious of all the work that goes into everything we recieve, but it does take time, that our office team dont have spare.
To recieve a pattern please either join our stitchers private facebook page or email us at oakleystitchers@yahoo.com and we will email them out to you
Craft Groups Gallery
Please contact stitcher.craftgroups@oakleystitchers.org.uk for information on purchasing a 'Try at home' kit. Giving details of which ones you are requesting for us to provide the costs of the kits - we try and keep them under £5 (not including postage). Some kits may not contain everything needed, however information is provided about where to purchase any additional items within the instruction leaflet.
These groups are designed for Adults.
Further Afield
We are expanding beyond Basingstoke. Currently we have 1 satellite group located in Alton, Hampshire and a number of remote Stitchers.
Alton Stitchers
Alton Stitchers is part of Oakley Stitchers, mirroring the purpose and ethos that makes the group so special. Bringing care and creativity to a new location in the UK.
For further information about the Alton Stitchers group, including meeting dates, contact Altonstitchers@yahoo.com
Remote Stitchers
Word is getting out and the magic is spreading.
This totally amazing group of Stitchers are dotted around the UK, from Fife to Kent, Wales to the Midlands and Somerset. creating so many of our beautiful core items, in turn enabling us to continue provide help to those requesting our support.
Each stitcher in this group is provided with a discount at a local, or one of the online, stockists we work with; usually with postage paid to support them as much as possible.
If you, or someone you know, would like to become a 'remote' Stitcher please contact Stitchers.uk@yahoo.com for more information on how we can make it work.