SESSIONS: Sessions 10am to 12pm; 12pm to 2pm; 2pm to 4pm.

Come and join the Fabric Quarter team to Sit & Stitch at the extraordinary Fenland Black Oak Table, made with a 5000 year-old piece of oak, which is spending a year of its tour at Lincoln Cathedral!

Take a seat and learn the very simple hand stitching patchwork technique of English Paper Piecing; if you’re already familiar with the technique you are just as welcome to enjoy the chance to stitch a few hexagons. We’ll be joining the hexagons together to create a unique patchwork. 

Everyone is welcome to sit and take part in the gentle art of sewing at this unique and special table. English Paper Piecing originated in the 1700s so to stitch using such a traditional technique at this very special table in Lincoln Cathedral feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

All levels of skill are welcome; you don’t need to bring anything with you as all materials are supplied including fabric. You don’t need to book a place but if it’s busy, we may need to restrict places to one hour.

Admission to the Cathedral applies. No charge for the stitching.

About the table: The Fenland Black Oak Table was made to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and is made of the nation’s rarest and most precious hardwood – black oak. The table’s story began in 2012 when a giant black oak tree was found in a field in Wissington Fen, East Anglia; remarkably a 13.2m long section of a tree was discovered deep in the peat and was destined to become this unique piece of furniture. But the tree’s story is much older - it had laid undisturbed for 5000 years. It is believed the tree would have been an immense 55 metres tall when it was alive. For comparison, present day oak trees are around 20 metres. The table took ten years to make, creating a piece of furniture which has allowed this incredible tree to be preserved in perpetuity for future generations to admire and use.