Families joined together to learn embroidery skills as part of a national craft day.

The free event was hosted by the Enfield and District Embroiderers' Guild to celebrate the Big Stitch event and encourage more people to pick up a needle and thread.

People came from as far away as St John’s Wood, in West London, for the event at Forty Hall which included demonstrations of basic skills of embroidery.

Ailsa Bulger, who runs several classes for the Enfield guild said: “For us it is a great way to introduce people to embroidery and the kind of things we do.

“A lot of people think embroidery is just cross stitching but there is so much more to it.

“We have so many different things going and we have junior embroiderers and a Textile students group helping them with their art projects for school.”

David Hogarth from the Neighbourcare St John’s Wood, whose group attended the event said: “I had wanted to bring our group to Forty Hall and I thought this event was perfect.

“I think this is great place for our members and they have really enjoyed it.”

The Enfield guild currently has 46 members and regularly carries out group projects including creating a embroidered portrait of Elizabeth I with each member crafting a postcard sized section.

The Enfield and District Embroiderers' Guild is part of the national guild and has been running in the borough since 1982.

It runs events throughout the year with weekly talks and demonstrations, tutorials and organised exhibitions.

Yesterday’s event the first Big Stitch organised by it the Enfield Embroiderers after the national event first started last year.