Tabbey Bobbin’s Stash, Stitch & Sip: Fabric Swap & Social.

Are you looking to declutter your sewing room or find inspiration for your next project without the high price tag? Join us for the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Fabric Swap and Sewing Social—a community-led event dedicated to budget-friendly creativity and environmental care.

In a world where 92 million tonnes of textile waste are produced annually, we believe the most sustainable fabric is the one that already exists. This event is a space for us to:

• Build Community: Connect with fellow Newcastle makers, from beginners to experts, and share skills in a low-pressure, welcoming environment.
• Reduce Waste: Keep high-quality fabrics, haberdashery, and patterns out of landfills by giving them a second life in a circular textile cycle.
• Save Money: Refresh your stash completely free of charge. It’s the perfect way to source beautiful materials for your next "slow fashion" garment while staying on budget.

Why join us? Because sewing shouldn't cost the earth—literally or figuratively. Come for the free finds, stay for the Geordie spirit, and leave with the materials (and motivation!) for your next handmade masterpiece.

• Location: Studio 11, High Bridge Works, 39 High Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1EW. On the ground floor meeting room
• Organiser Bio: Tabbey Bobbin Workshops (est. 2023) is a Newcastle-based creative hub dedicated to teaching sewing skills, promoting sustainable fashion, and building a vibrant community of local makers.

What's included:

For just £6 & eventbrite fees, we’re packing the night with creative value! Your entry covers:

• The Digital Embroidery Experience: Exclusive hands-on access to our digital embroidery machine. Watch the tech in action and try your hand at automated stitching—perfect for adding a professional touch to your projects!
• Unlimited "Maker Fuel": Bottomless speciality teas, coffee, and our signature.
• Sweet & Savoury Treats: A selection of light snacks
• Unlimited Swapping: "Bring a bag, take a treasure!" Full access to all our curated fabric, haberdashery, and pattern swap tables.
• The Tabbey Bobbin Community: A friendly, relaxed space to meet fellow Newcastle makers, swap project ideas, and get troubleshooting tips from the team.
• A Sustainable Choice: We handle all the logistics to ensure leftover textiles are donated to local Newcastle schools or textile recycling centres, keeping your hobby zero-waste.

• 6:00 PM – 6:15 PM: Arrival & "Drop" Doors open! Hand over your swap items to the team, grab your complimentary mocktail, and settle in with some light snacks.
• 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM: The Main Swap & Tech Demo

The Swap is Live: Dive into the stash! Hunt for your next favourite fabric or find that missing haberdashery treasure.

Embroidery Zone: Our digital embroidery machine will be running live demos. Step up to see how it works and try your hand at automated stitching.

• 7:15 PM – 7:45 PM: Sip, Snack & Socialise. Refill your speciality tea or cafetière coffee. This is the time to chat with fellow Newcastle makers, compare your finds, and brainstorm project ideas together.
• 7:45 PM – 8:00 PM: Last call for any unclaimed treasures! We’ll do a final sweep of the tables to make sure every "must-have" piece has found a home. Anything remaining will be carefully packed away and added to our community archive, ready to spark joy at our next Tabbey Bobbin swap.

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We can't wait to see you at 6:00 PM! To make sure everyone has the best experience, here are a few quick tips on how to prep your stash:

1. Fresh & Clean: Please ensure all fabrics are clean, dust-free, and come from a smoke-free home. If it’s been at the back of a cupboard for a while, a quick refresh in the wash is much appreciated!
2. Size Matters: Try to bring pieces that are at least half a metre or large "fat quarters." If you have smaller scraps, please bag them together so they can be used for patchwork or small crafts.
3. Label the Mystery: If you know the fibre content (e.g., "100% Cotton" or "Viscose Jersey"), please pop a little sticky note or a safety-pinned scrap of paper on it. It helps fellow makers find exactly what they need!
4. Patterns & Haberdashery: Don’t forget the extras! Half-used spools of thread, vintage buttons, or patterns you’ve already made are all welcome.
5. Bring a "Treasure Bag": While we promote circularity, please bring your own reusable bag or basket to take your new finds.

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Host or Publisher Tabbey Bobbin Workshops