Lisa from Leeds
27th Oct 2020
Hello and welcome to my birth city of Leeds; my name is Lisa and I’ve been here all my life. I live just outside the city centre, with my husband Dave, our son Fraser and cat George. We have two grown up girls: Lisa also living in Leeds—very confusing, we have the same name—and Becca who now lives in London.
I run Modern Quilt Club which is the UK and European hub for Sheila’s Mystery QuiIt also— when we can—run a couple of sewing retreats each year, bringing together a mix of modern quilters, hand-sewers and dressmakers for a weekend of fun and relaxation.
So do you know the queen?
Leeds is almost 200 miles (320 Km) north of London and is the largest city in the County of West Yorkshire. For anyone not from the UK , let me give you a little heads-up: nope, unfortunately, we don’t all know the Queen but yes we do mainly like drinking tea!
Yorkshire as a whole is the largest county in the United Kingdom and was trying to be named as its own COUNTRY during the 2012 Olympics, when so many Team GB winners came from Yorkshire. We would have earned a respectable 12th spot in the medals table. The bid continues!
Leeds City Centre
Leeds city centre is jam-packed with lots to do from shopping, eating out and visiting the many museums, art galleries, historic buildings and theatres. If you only have a short stay in the city then check out Leeds Museums and Galleries website for a whole list of some of the big sites around the city.
Further out from the city there are the stately homes of Harewood and Temple Newsam the history of Kirkstall Abbey, and not forgetting our big park spaces at Roundhay Park and Golder Acre Park just to name a couple.
Indie Scene
Leeds has also become well known for its thriving independent scene, from coffee houses and eateries, to music venues and restaurants and those offering a great mix of workshops and social activities together.
The corn exchange is one of the beautiful buildings in Leeds; it houses a host of independent shops.
Check out this link to just a few of the many things on offer - Leeds Indie Foods
It’s such a long list that I’ll tell you a couple of my favourites on there are:
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Manjits Kitchen offering veggie Indian street food, her chilli paneer wraps are to die for.
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Brudenell Social Clueb is my most visited music venue in Leeds, situated just outside the city centre.
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We also love visiting its city centre sister bar The Social, which is a collaboration between The Brudenell and Outlaw Yacht Club (another great venue across town) as it has a great outdoor courtyard perfect for sitting out in the summer.
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The Bowery, situated in Headingley, is probably responsible for me taking the plunge and getting back into sewing and making it my business. Their cafe sits alongside the gallery and gift shop which is filled with goodies, all from local artists and makers. They run creative courses, workshops and exhibitions in the event space.
Special Events
This past weekend saw the return of Leed Light Night, an annual event that lets the people take over the city. Families crowd the city streets and buildings to visit sites ordinarily off-limits where independent artists put on exhibitions, shows, live theatre and art.
This year, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the event had to be a little different and there was a laser display with beams filling up the city sky from some of the bigger buildings around Leeds. People could take part using an app to control the laser beams. Even in the strange times the city of Leeds were still able to put on an interactive show.
In past years I helped install a display of 1000 individually lit paper cranes into the old cells of the Town Hall and showed people in the dock area how to create their own origami cranes. The following year I was part of a creative group which decorated each of the 3 same prison cells into magical worlds. It was an experience I will never forget.
In the City with Kids
A great way to see the sites of the city is to check out the Leeds Own Trail. As an emblem of Leeds, Owls appear all across our city. Make a walk around the city fun by checking out all the locations on the map. It’s particularly good fun for kids.
Sport
Leeds is a big city for sports. Elland Road is the home of Leeds United Football team, soccer for the American readers. Then close to where my parents live is the home of Leeds Rhinos, the Rugby League team. Situated right next door is the home of Yorkshire Cricket Team. Test Cricket has also been played at this ground since 1899. A fabulous new main stand has recently been completed providing excellent views of both famous grounds.
Although I’m no massive rugby or cricket fan I have been impressed when I’ve attended matches of both sports in recent years, they’re definitely worth a visit if any sport is your thing.
I’d liken it to my experience of a baseball game when I was in the States, I’d no idea what was going on but just a good all round day and these are traditional UK sporting events.
Finally I should let you know about sewing and fabric shops around Leeds. Our city was built on a history of woollen mills and just over the hills of the Pennines, Manchester and the surrounding areas were all cotton mills. Although many of these mills have gone now some do still remain.
Sewing in the city
Local to me is B&M Fabrics in Leeds Market. The shop is older than me and has always been a regular haunt for me and my mum. They sell everything from dressmaking fabrics, quilting cottons, fleece and fur and so much more. There is not a lot that Sue and her helpful staff don’t know!
For quilting supplies I am lucky to live pretty close to Fabrics For All; it has anything I might just need for my quilting supplies and it’s very handy being just on the edge of town with free parking.
Just a short drive from Leeds are:
Fabworks, a large building housing so many types of fabrics with knowledge friendly staff.
The Shuttle in Shipley another shop not far from Leeds with a great variety of choice.
Fabricate a lovely shop offering a range of quilting & dressmaking fabrics as patterns and haberdashery.
I could go on and on as there is so much to see and do in our City and surrounding area that we really are spoilt for choice.
Let me know if you are ever visiting my part of the world, I love to meet up with like minded people, who love to talk about quilting and crafting.