About us

 

My background is in graphic design with 20 years experience in the industry. I worked as a brand specialist with major corporate clients seeing projects from initial ideas to finished product. Textiles had always been a hobby and love which has slowly turned into a business over the last 10 years.

The ranges of very graphic and wonderfully designed fabrics that are now available are truly inspirational, they turn a project from something ordinary into something special. I started by designing my own website to sell these wonderful fabrics, then designed sewing patterns which work with the fabrics sold on the website. My pattern collection has grown now to 15 designs which now includes simple dressmaking patterns. The premise of our sewing patterns is classic, simple, utility. Items which will be useful and also look beautiful. I hope you enjoy these fabrics & patterns as much as I do, it’s a passion and I guess if you are reading this you have the bug too!

Teaching sewing is the natural progression. I love introducing new people to our craft. It all started by setting up a sewing bee to get our local community stitching. Then we were asked at a trade show we were exhibiting at to design sewing patterns for school children which developed to then to being asked to teach the adult education sewing courses in Otley. We also teach at our shop during the day. We have been enjoying teaching now for over 5 years.

I am based in the beautiful town of Ilkley in West Yorkshire. The textile industry was key here in the 19th century, in fact, the house I live in was built for a textile designer in 1880. With this in mind we sell local West Yorkshire tweeds, ‘Martin Mills’ & Abraham Moon. We support the Ilkley Arts Trail and regularly showcase local textile and pattern designers in our shop Eme Cloth & Yarn. We also stock Yorkshire wool from Baa Ram Ewe - 'Knit Happy Knit Yorkshire’.

Eme Cloth & Yarn is run by myself, Beverley and Janette. We all love fabric, sewing & talking about it! Email to find out about special sewing events or classes. We are happy to pass our knowledge in the shop when you pop in.

We regularly exhibit at the Knit & Stitch & The Sewing Bee Live shows.

Happy Sewing!