Tomomi Mimura and Aitor Saraiba Take London!

Last week we shared the exciting news that Aitor Saraiba and Tomomi Mimura (aka Mimstermade) will join us in the shop for a week-long residency. This week we’re thrilled to announce the details of the incredible workshops they’ll host while they’re here!

We honestly couldn’t be more excited about our visit from Aitor (@aitorsaraiba) and Tomomi (@mimstermade) during the week of the 18th of May. This is such a unique opportunity to learn from two world-class artists, watch their collaboration in action, and admire their stunning craft. In addition to open-invite events like the pair painting our shop window and hosting a meet and greet (more on these in the weeks to come), they’ll be running a whopping five different workshops throughout the week, some with multiple sessions! Many of these will be held at the historic Crafts Council in Islington, not far from the shop (though not all of them, so do double check!)

It is a huge honour to host these workshops at a place with such historic and artistic significance as the Crafts Council.

This is a totally gorgeous venue where you’ll be able to stitch in light-flooded rooms surrounded by crafted beauty. Some of the workshops will be taught individually and some together, and they all promise to be hugely inspirational and a total blast!

Aitor Saraiba × Tomomi Mimura: Embroidered Bear Workshop

We love this bear — the result of gorgeous collaboration between Tomomi Mimura and Aitor Saraiba!

Aitor and Tomomi’s Embroidered Bear design makes it clear that their creative powers are a perfect match. Pairing Tomomi’s iconic embroidered bear motif and signature mosaic-style embroidery with Aitor’s intuitive approach to stitching, the Embroidered Bear is total stitch magic! Aitor and Tomomi will be co-hosting three Embroidered Bear Workshops over the course of their week at Loop (one on Wednesday the 20th and two on Saturday the 23rd). Up to 20 students per session will have the rare opportunity to learn from both of these amazing artists in a relaxed 3.5-hour session. You’ll get a special kit to allow you to complete the embroidered design, either on a piece of cloth provided or on one you bring from home! Whether you plan to frame your finished piece, stitch it on a garment, or incorporate it into your home decor, your sweet bear will tell a wonderful story.

Tomomi’s Classes

In addition to the Embroidered Bear Workshop with Aitor, Tomomi will be bringing two of her iconic Mimstermade workshops to Loop during the residency week. It has been years since Tomomi has taught at Loop and we’re absolutely thrilled to have her back. The Mimster Mosaic Embroidery Rabbit Workshop and Mimstermade Embroidery on Knit Class are both wonderful ways to learn Tomomi’s signature mosaic-style embroidery and come away with a lovely stitched item.

Stitching this sweet rabbit is the perfect way to learn Tomomi Mimura’s signature mosaic stitching.

The Mimster Mosaic Embroidery Rabbit Workshop on Wednesday the 20th of May is a beginner-friendly session where you’ll bring a stitched rabbit to life using Tomomi’s darning-inspired stitch, layering colour on colour to create a beautiful overall effect. It’s mesmerising to watch these cuties come together. We’ll provide hand-dyed yarn, needles, fabric pre-printed with the design, and of course instruction by Tomomi! All you need to bring is an embroidery hoop, scissors, pen and paper, and a magnifying glass if you need one.

Embellish everything with Tomomi’s wonderful stitches.

One of our favourite ways to use Tomomi’s signature stitch is to embellish other knitted items, and on Sunday the 24th of May you’ll have an opportunity to learn how to do Mimstermade Embroidery on Knit from the master! Starting by sketching your design on your fabric, Tomomi will guide you through the steps to add playful stitches to your knits. Bring along a beloved garment you’d like to add a little flair to, whether it’s something you’ve made or not! We’re over the moon that Tomomi will be sharing her brilliance with us again. Don’t miss this rare chance to learn from her!

Aitor’s Classes

Aitor will also be teaching classes of his own. His Diary of Calm Stitching Workshop and Snippet Roll Workshop explore the quiet side of stitching and help you build the confidence to start a stitching practice of your own. Grounded in Aitor’s intuitive approach to stitching, both of these workshops will help unlock your creativity!

Stitch yourself calm with Aitor’s relaxing daily practice.

If you’ve been wanting to build a daily stitching practice but you’re not sure where to start Diary of Calm Stitching Workshop on Sunday the 24th of May is your key to a relaxing and thoughtful routine. The Diary of Calm takes away anything daunting about embarking on a stitching project by dividing your piece into manageable sections. This is total creative joy to be completed at your own pace and in your own way. Each place in this workshop comes with a Diary of Calm Kit, which includes everything you’ll need for your stitch project: a linen Calm Journal base designed by Aitor, an exclusive set of small, printed pieces of fabric instructions for stitching, and a full-colour photo to use as inspiration.

Aitor’s Snippet Roll allows you to explore an unfolding story in stitch. Please note these colours and fabrics are illustrative only. The materials you get on the day may vary slightly.

Continuing the focus on slow, mindful stitches, Aitor’s Snippet Roll Workshop invites you to create a scroll of stitches. Whether you use the provided materials to tell a story or just use them as an opportunity to slow down and admire the beauty in everything, you’ll create a very special piece that’s small enough to bring with you anywhere. Participants will receive a specially curated Snippet Roll Kit featuring the snippet roll itself on a vintage-style wooden clip with hand-spun and hand-woven cotton and silk fabric, vintage Spanish yarn, a selection of vintage and hand block-printed fabrics, a print of Aitor’s illustrations to provide inspiration, and a cotton project bag. Aitor is such an inspiring teacher. These classes are sure to be a treat!

We are so excited about our week with Aitor and Tomomi. We’ll have more details soon about other things going on during the week, but for now make sure to reserve your spot in their classes!

Old Favourites, New Colours

On the left, our new CaMaRose colours. Here are their names from left to right: Strawberry Sorbet, Cream, Light Yellow, Light Avocado, Dove Blue, Dark Avocado, and Light Pink. In the centre, Deep Sea from Lichen and Lace. On the right, Dark Coffee and Frozen Fir in Gepard Kumula Cashmere.

We’re chuffed to have some new colours of our very favourite yarns this week! A whopping seven new colours have arrived from CaMaRose in the Lama base (details in the caption). This palette has us scheming our spring knits already. There’s a gorgeous new colour from Lichen and Lace, Deep Sea, which is available across all the Lichen and Lace bases we carry. We love this new colour so much we’ve even added it to our colour choices for the Late Bloomer Mittens Kit! We also have two lovely new hues from Gepard in Kumula Cashmere — Dark Coffee and Frozen Fir. If that isn’t a moody and evocative pairing we don’t know what is!

Heart Kits Winners

Congratulations to Charlotte Rains Dixon, Wendi Girard, Sandra Blickett, Marianne Reinhold, and Cheryl Woodall on winning the five Aitor Saraiba Heart Kits we’re giving away on the blog! We’ll be in touch shortly to arrange getting your kits to you.

Lots of love!