Suppliers & books

Reconstituted chip foam can often be supplied by a local upholsterer but emphasise the need for it to be 10lb quality. This should last for 40-50 years. Some suppliers try to tell you that 6lb chip foam is suitable. It is not. It will collapse in less than 20 years and most people find it too squashy.

• Safefoam – View site
• Pentonville Rubber Company – View site

You can almost certainly find local suppliers for hard-wearing cloth for the base of your kneelers, strong thread for making them up and nylon tape for hanging them, but if in difficulty try the following:

• The Cloth Shop – View site – Heavy calico or similar
• Macculloch and Wallis – View site – Tape and strong thread
• Amazon – View site – Curtain rings & D rings – Also see your local hardware or haberdashery

Software can be useful for giving stitchers a coloured design to work from – though most find graph paper, pencil and rubber much less fiddly. But why not be modern? Give it a go. PC Stitch has been used successfully by some congregations recorded on this website.

• PC Stitch – View site