Menopause Makes | Jenni Smith & Kay Walsh

Menopause Makes | Jenni Smith & Kay Walsh

£20.00

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Sew your way through the menopause with creativity, confidence and a joyful riot of colour!

Discover 10 beginner-friendly sewing projects to create beautiful accessories and wearables for yourself, or to gift to friends.

Feel good while making the projects and feel even better using them: the act of sewing can help to curb brain fog and anxiety, while the finished pieces will keep you cool, relieve insomnia, and hopefully inspire some pampering and self-care.

Here's what you'll find inside:

An introduction to the menopause, and the benefits of crafting on wellbeing, from Dr Hannah Davies (BSc MBBS MRCGP), who specializes in menopause and lifestyle medicine at the world-renowned Newson Health Clinic.
10 unique sewing projects designed to ease the various physical and mental discomforts that come with menopause, from insomnia and memory loss to brain fog;
Full-size pull-out patterns to make creating the garments easy;
Inspiring photos, step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow illustrations to guide you through each project;
A handy chapter on essential sewing techniques for both beginners or for those needing a crash course;
Designer spotlights, celebrating a range of female indie fabric designers whose fabrics have been used throughout the book: Sally Kelly, Karen Lewis, Rashida Coleman-Hale and Alice Caroline.

This vibrant book from sewing experts Jenni Smith and Kay Walsh is here to transform how you experience this important life transition. These 10 fabulous projects will help you to rediscover joy and creativity when peri-menopause and menopause seem to take the reins.

Whether you're a sewing newbie or dusting off old skills, Jenni and Kay have crafted beginner-friendly projects that are as practical as they are beautiful. Whip up a chic potion pouch for those essential pick-me-ups, or an elegant eye mask to banish sleepless nights. Stay cool and stylish with a breezy cover-up, or find moments of calm in slow-stitching a charming log-cabin placemat.

Menopause Makes is both a celebration of creativity and an invitation to self-care. Sew away the symptoms and stitch together a new chapter of confidence and craftiness!

Pages: 152

Format: Printed Book

Once we receive your order and cleared payment, we aim to ship it within 2–3 working days.

We currently dispatch orders on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only.
If your order is urgent, please contact us before placing it.

UK Shipping

We offer the following delivery options within the UK:

Royal Mail 48 Tracked – £3.50 (approx. 2–3 working days)
Royal Mail 24 Tracked – £5.00 (approx. 1–2 working days)
Next Working Day Delivery – £9.00
- Orders must be placed by 10am on a shipping day
- Orders shipped on Friday will be delivered on Monday

🎁 Free standard shipping on all UK orders over £50

International Shipping

We ship worldwide using Royal Mail International Tracked service.

Please note:
Import taxes and duties are not included in our prices. These will be collected by your country’s customs or postal service on delivery. We do not charge or collect taxes on their behalf.

1) European Shipping

Up to 250g: £8.00
250g to 1kg: £12.00
1kg to 2kg: £16.00
Over 2kg: please contact us for a quote

🚚 Express courier delivery available — please contact us for pricing.

2) Rest of World

Up to 250g: £10.00
250g to 500g: £13.00
500g to 1kg: £15.00
1kg to 2kg: £20.00
Over 2kg: please contact us for a quote

🚚 Express courier delivery available — please contact us for pricing.

If you have any questions about shipping, or need help choosing the best option, feel free to contact us at hello@purple-stitches.com.

Last updated: 31th May 2025

📦 Shipping & Delivery

When will my order be dispatched?
We aim to dispatch orders within 2–3 working days after receiving cleared payment. Currently, we ship on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only.
If your order is time-sensitive, please contact us before placing it.

What are your UK shipping options?

Royal Mail 48 Tracked – £3.00 (2–3 working days)
Royal Mail 24 Tracked – £5.00 (1–2 working days)
Next Working Day Delivery – £9.00 (order by 10am on a shipping day)
Orders shipped on Friday will be delivered the following Monday.

Do you offer free shipping?
Yes! We offer free standard UK shipping on orders over £50.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we ship worldwide using Royal Mail International Tracked. Shipping costs vary by weight and destination.
Please note: Import taxes and duties are not included and are the responsibility of the buyer.

🔄 Returns & Refunds

Can I return an item?
Yes, you can return items in their original condition within 7 days of receipt for a full refund. Please contact us before sending any returns.

Are there items that cannot be returned?
Yes, we cannot accept returns on:

Cut lengths of fabric, trims, or haberdashery (unless faulty)
Gift cards

How do I initiate a return?
Email us at hello@purple-stitches.com with your order details. Make sure the items are unused and in original packaging.
We recommend using a tracked service, as we can’t be responsible for returns lost in the post.

🧵 Fabric Sizes & Cutting

How are fabrics sold?
You can choose the length you need when ordering.

For quilting cotton, a quarter metre can be cut as a Fat Quarter or a Long Quarter
For dressmaking fabrics, a quarter metre will be cut as a Long Quarter

Fabric measurement guide:

ONE Fat Quarter = approx. 50cm x 55cm
ONE Long Quarter = approx. 25cm x width of fabric
ONE Half metre = approx. 50cm x width of fabric
ONE 0.75 metre = approx. 75cm x width of fabric
ONE 1 metre = approx. 100cm x width of fabric

Can I get fabric in a continuous length?
Yes! Unless otherwise stated, all multiple units will be cut and sent in one continuous piece.

What is a Fat Quarter?
A Fat Quarter is a quarter metre of fabric cut to approximately 50cm x 55cm—wider and shorter than a standard long strip. It’s great for quilting and smaller craft projects.

🎟️ Retreats

Are retreat payments refundable?
Retreat payments are non-refundable. However, you can transfer your place to someone else — just let us know their details.

What if Purple Stitches cancels the retreat?
You’ll receive a full refund if we cancel the event.

Do I need travel insurance?
Yes — we strongly recommend that all retreat participants take out travel insurance to protect against unforeseen circumstances.

🛍️ Orders & Products

Can I modify or cancel my order?
If your order hasn’t been shipped, we’ll do our best to help. Email us as soon as possible at hello@purple-stitches.com.

Do you sell gift cards?
Yes! Digital gift cards are available in various amounts — perfect for fabric lovers.

Do you offer digital patterns?
We do! We stock a selection of downloadable sewing patterns that can be downloaded after purchase.

📞 Contact Us

How can I reach you?
📧 Email: hello@purple-stitches.com
📞 Phone: 01256 477 101

Where are you based?
Purple Stitches Limited
Unit 14, Hassocks Workshops
Stroudley Road
Basingstoke
RG24 8UQ
United Kingdom

Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Closed Sundays & Bank Holidays

Last updated: 4th May 2025

The Easy Guide to Machine Quiltmaking | Carolyn Forster

The Easy Guide to Machine Quiltmaking | Carolyn Forster

£15.99

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

The complete beginner’s guide to machine quiltmaking, from best-selling author and trusted teacher, Carolyn Forster.

Discover 1 classic quilt block worked 30 different ways, for a cohesive range of inspiring, beginner-friendly designs!

Carolyn has taught hundreds of beginners to quilt, and this book follows her tried-and-tested method for getting started. Using one classic block design (the Sawtooth Star), a multitude of inspiring techniques and a clever use of fabric, discover how to sew over 30 different star blocks with ease. Build up your skills as you go, and create a stunning and unique heirloom quilt to be proud of.

SKILL-BUILDING STRUCTURE: As you work through the 30 blocks you'll discover new patchwork techniques to build your skills gradually. From the simple Four Patch and Flying Geese units through to the stunning Split Quarter Square Triangles, you’ll cover core patchwork methods that are essential for making your first quilt, and all your future projects too.

COMPLETE QUILTING GUIDE: Once you’ve made up your star blocks, discover how to put them together. There’s advice on different layout options and adding sashing, coping strips and posts, plus a complete guide to quilting, binding, labelling and more.

MIX AND MATCH DESIGNS: All the blocks in the book are 12-inches (30-centimetres) square, so it’s easy to mix and match your favourites to create your own unique quilt. Plus, with just a few quick-to-learn sums, Carolyn shows you how to turn the blocks into any quilt size you like.

Carolyn’s friendly, tried-and-tested techniques make this the perfect beginner’s introduction to making quilts.

Pages: 168

Format: Printed Book

Once we receive your order and cleared payment, we aim to ship it within 2–3 working days.

We currently dispatch orders on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only.
If your order is urgent, please contact us before placing it.