#breadcrumb { background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0); } #breadcrumb .breadcrumbs__item:first-child .breadcrumbs__link { color: #6b7280; } #breadcrumb .breadcrumbs__item:first-child svg { color: #6b7280; fill: #6b7280; } #breadcrumb .breadcrumbs__item .breadcrumbs__link { color: #000000; } #breadcrumb .breadcrumbs__item svg { color: #6b7280; fill: #6b7280; }
#block-template--16906138878185__3843d283-06e1-4fcd-bedd-e2ab354c1df4-image-1 .slide { background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0); } #block-template--16906138878185__3843d283-06e1-4fcd-bedd-e2ab354c1df4-image-1 .slide-overlay::after, #block-template--16906138878185__3843d283-06e1-4fcd-bedd-e2ab354c1df4-image-1 .slide-overlay--mobile::after { background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0), rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 100%); opacity: 0.0; } #block-template--16906138878185__3843d283-06e1-4fcd-bedd-e2ab354c1df4-image-1 .slide { padding: 0% 0% 0% 0%; } @media (max-width: 639px) { #block-template--16906138878185__3843d283-06e1-4fcd-bedd-e2ab354c1df4-image-1 .content { padding: 0% 0% 0% 0%; } } @media (min-width: 640px) { #block-template--16906138878185__3843d283-06e1-4fcd-bedd-e2ab354c1df4-image-1 .content { padding: 0% 0% 0% 0%; } }

Learn more about us.

Meet the Team.

Time to Upgrade your Sewing Machine blue background
@media screen and (max-width: 639px) { #section-template--16913766154473__3843d283-06e1-4fcd-bedd-e2ab354c1df4 .content--unstack { inset: 0; z-index: 10; position: absolute; } } @media screen and (min-width: 640px) { #section-template--16913766154473__3843d283-06e1-4fcd-bedd-e2ab354c1df4 .content--full-width { inset: 0; z-index: 10; position: absolute; } }
Trustpilot
#section-template--16913766154473__3098c857-996e-4efd-ba7f-4ee318c07a65 { background-color: #ffffff; }
Our Leadership

Callum MacPherson

Managing Director

Callum is the Owner and Managing Director of Barnyarns & Sew Centre, bringing over 13 years of industry experience to the leadership of both companies. As a young business leader with a keen eye for detail and a natural talent for spotting opportunities, Callum has driven the growth and success of the business. His strategic vision, commitment to customer service, and hands-on approach have earned him the respect of both his team and the wider industry. Under his leadership, Barnyarns & Sew Centre continue to thrive, setting the standard for excellence in the sewing market.

#section-template--16906138878185__d4679067-1c2a-4939-a8ce-1934c2a5719e-image_with_text_contained-1 { position: relative; background-color: #ffffff; } #section-template--16906138878185__d4679067-1c2a-4939-a8ce-1934c2a5719e-image_with_text_contained-1, #section-template--16906138878185__d4679067-1c2a-4939-a8ce-1934c2a5719e-image_with_text_contained-1 .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-template--16906138878185__d4679067-1c2a-4939-a8ce-1934c2a5719e-image_with_text_contained-1 .button { display: block; } } #section-template--16906138878185__d4679067-1c2a-4939-a8ce-1934c2a5719e-image_with_text_contained-1 .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

William Mellor

General Manager

Will Mellor joined Barnyarns in 2024 as a our finanical controller and quickly became our General Manager, bringing with him a wealth of expertise from his background in chartered accounting. With a sharp eye for operational efficiency and a strong grasp of financial strategy, Will has quickly become an integral part of the management team. His leadership and analytical approach have played a key role in driving growth and supporting the ongoing expansion of the business.

#section-image_with_text_contained_bhYPAE { position: relative; background-color: #d9d9d9; } #section-image_with_text_contained_bhYPAE, #section-image_with_text_contained_bhYPAE .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-image_with_text_contained_bhYPAE .button { display: block; } } #section-image_with_text_contained_bhYPAE .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

Simon B

Operations Consultant

Simon has been an integral part of the team for nearly three years, playing a key role in the growth and success of both Barnyarns and SewCentre. Actively involved in strategic planning and day-to-day operations, Simon works closely with Callum to drive initiatives forward and support the continued expansion of the business.

#section-a1741a82-8176-49e3-a24f-736839427341 { position: relative; background-color: #ffffff; } #section-a1741a82-8176-49e3-a24f-736839427341, #section-a1741a82-8176-49e3-a24f-736839427341 .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-a1741a82-8176-49e3-a24f-736839427341 .button { display: block; } } #section-a1741a82-8176-49e3-a24f-736839427341 .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

William Steer

Senior Sewing Machine Engineer

With a wealth of experience and an unwavering dedication to his craft, William is the backbone of our engineering department. As our Senior Engineer, he plays a pivotal role in driving innovation, improving services, and ensuring that Sew Centre remains a market leader for sewing machine service & repair in the UK.

#section-7adaaec7-09f6-408f-a14f-a07c6f90f0a8 { position: relative; background-color: #d9d9d9; } #section-7adaaec7-09f6-408f-a14f-a07c6f90f0a8, #section-7adaaec7-09f6-408f-a14f-a07c6f90f0a8 .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-7adaaec7-09f6-408f-a14f-a07c6f90f0a8 .button { display: block; } } #section-7adaaec7-09f6-408f-a14f-a07c6f90f0a8 .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.0); }

Jonathan M

Senior Consultant

With over 30 years of experience in the sewing and textiles industry, Jon was instrumental in shaping the strategic vision and long-term growth of Barnyarns. His deep industry knowledge, sharp commercial insight, and commitment to customer service helped establish Barnyarns as a trusted name among sewists and businesses across the UK. After decades of leadership, Jon recently sold Barnyarns to Callum, passing the torch to continue the company’s evolution while ensuring its core values remain strong.

#section-image_with_text_contained_pVNCir { position: relative; background-color: #ffffff; } #section-image_with_text_contained_pVNCir, #section-image_with_text_contained_pVNCir .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-image_with_text_contained_pVNCir .button { display: block; } } #section-image_with_text_contained_pVNCir .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

Hannah MacPherson

Customer Service & Support

Hannah is the Group Customer Service and Logistics Manager at Barnyarns, overseeing operations across the entire business. With a sharp focus on efficiency and a commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences, Hannah ensures that every order, delivery, and support interaction runs seamlessly. Her leadership and organisational skills are key to keeping our logistics and service teams aligned, responsive, and always ready to meet the needs of our customers.

#section-d2ea752e-66b1-46a7-98f6-3788147540cb { position: relative; background-color: #d9d9d9; } #section-d2ea752e-66b1-46a7-98f6-3788147540cb, #section-d2ea752e-66b1-46a7-98f6-3788147540cb .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-d2ea752e-66b1-46a7-98f6-3788147540cb .button { display: block; } } #section-d2ea752e-66b1-46a7-98f6-3788147540cb .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

Janet Poole

In-House Educator

Janet is our dedicated in-house educator, leading all of Barnyarns’ sewing machine courses and customer training sessions. With a passion for teaching and years of hands-on sewing experience, she helps customers get the most out of their machines—whether they're complete beginners or looking to build new skills. Janet’s friendly, approachable style and deep knowledge make her classes both informative and inspiring, ensuring every customer feels confident and supported on their sewing journey.

#section-a89901dd-0307-464a-82b1-b742158797f7 { position: relative; background-color: #ffffff; } #section-a89901dd-0307-464a-82b1-b742158797f7, #section-a89901dd-0307-464a-82b1-b742158797f7 .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-a89901dd-0307-464a-82b1-b742158797f7 .button { display: block; } } #section-a89901dd-0307-464a-82b1-b742158797f7 .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

Ben Hardcastle

Sewing Machine Engineer

Ben is our Second Engineer, working closely with William to form Barnyarns’ exceptional in-house engineering team. Over the past two years, Ben has been training extensively, developing his skills in sewing machine servicing and repairs. His growing expertise and hands-on approach make him an invaluable part of the team, helping to ensure every machine is maintained to the highest standard and every customer receives reliable, expert support.

#section-6e86ba3a-c645-43b3-92cb-325eafbb1171 { position: relative; background-color: #d9d9d9; } #section-6e86ba3a-c645-43b3-92cb-325eafbb1171, #section-6e86ba3a-c645-43b3-92cb-325eafbb1171 .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-6e86ba3a-c645-43b3-92cb-325eafbb1171 .button { display: block; } } #section-6e86ba3a-c645-43b3-92cb-325eafbb1171 .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

Finley Aimsbury

Customer Service & Support

Fin is a key member of the Barnyarns team, handling both customer support and sewing machine logistics. Whether he’s helping customers with queries or ensuring machines are safely delivered and set up, Fin plays a crucial role in keeping everything running smoothly. With a focus on friendly service and efficient operations, he ensures that every customer receives the support and care they need—before, during, and after their purchase.

#section-image_with_text_contained_j8xBre { position: relative; background-color: #ffffff; } #section-image_with_text_contained_j8xBre, #section-image_with_text_contained_j8xBre .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-image_with_text_contained_j8xBre .button { display: block; } } #section-image_with_text_contained_j8xBre .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

Dom W

Warehouse Manager

Dom is our Warehouse Manager, Stock Controller, and Exhibition Coordinator at Barnyarns. With a meticulous eye for detail and exceptional organisational skills, Dom ensures that our stock levels are accurate, our warehouse operations run efficiently, and every order is fulfilled with care. He also plays a key role in representing Barnyarns at industry exhibitions, managing logistics and setup to showcase our products at their best. Dom’s reliability and versatility make him an essential part of the team, keeping both the behind-the-scenes and public-facing sides of the business running smoothly.

#section-image_with_text_contained_JMwNmt { position: relative; background-color: #d9d9d9; } #section-image_with_text_contained_JMwNmt, #section-image_with_text_contained_JMwNmt .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-image_with_text_contained_JMwNmt .button { display: block; } } #section-image_with_text_contained_JMwNmt .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

Stuart Thornton

Warehouse Operative

Stuart Thornton is a valued Warehouse Operative at Barnyarns, playing an essential role in the day-to-day running of our warehouse. From picking and packing orders to maintaining a well-organised stock system, Stuart ensures that every item is handled with care and precision. His reliability, attention to detail, and strong work ethic help keep our operations running smoothly and our customers satisfied.

#section-image_with_text_contained_t6Hizf { position: relative; background-color: #ffffff; } #section-image_with_text_contained_t6Hizf, #section-image_with_text_contained_t6Hizf .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-image_with_text_contained_t6Hizf .button { display: block; } } #section-image_with_text_contained_t6Hizf .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

History of Sew Centre

45 Years of Innovation: Crafting our Story

Back in 1979, Ian Macpherson, the sales director of MacPhersons, based in Nottingham, made history by introducing the world's first automatic colour-change industrial embroidery machines. This groundbreaking innovation revolutionised the embroidery industry, replacing the slower single-head machines and enabling leading brands such as M&S, Littlewoods, Hugo Boss, NIKE, and Ralph Lauren to have multi-coloured logos produced at over five times the speed of the older machines.


As the technology evolved, multiple embroidery heads were introduced, enabling a much larger colour choice and higher speed. However, this rapid progress also shone a spotlight on the quality of embroidery thread required to run the machines at maximum speed. At the time, the only available thread was primarily thicker cotton, lacking any sheen and with a limited colour range. Moreover, the cotton thread was prone to breakage, causing costly production stoppages. It was crucial to find a more reliable and high-quality thread to keep pace with the ever-evolving embroidery industry.

#section-b35d76af-f135-407b-873f-f49928996901 { position: relative; background-color: #ffffff; } #section-b35d76af-f135-407b-873f-f49928996901, #section-b35d76af-f135-407b-873f-f49928996901 .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-b35d76af-f135-407b-873f-f49928996901 .button { display: block; } } #section-b35d76af-f135-407b-873f-f49928996901 .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

1987

While attending a major textile exhibition in Hanover, Germany, Ian Macpherson was approached by two young German men who introduced themselves as embroidery thread manufacturers. They expressed an interest in testing their thread, known today as Madeira Classic Rayon 40, on the new high-speed embroidery machines. Ian agreed, and the thread performed remarkably, running without any breakages for the entire duration of the show.

The Madeira thread offered a high sheen and beautiful lustre, perfectly suited for the new modern embroidery machines. This successful collaboration marked the beginning of a great friendship and business relationship between the Schmidt Brothers of Madeira Threads and the Macpherson family.

#section-1b177255-a8bc-41c3-a419-fa6403354c21 { position: relative; background-color: #eeeeee; } #section-1b177255-a8bc-41c3-a419-fa6403354c21, #section-1b177255-a8bc-41c3-a419-fa6403354c21 .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-1b177255-a8bc-41c3-a419-fa6403354c21 .button { display: block; } } #section-1b177255-a8bc-41c3-a419-fa6403354c21 .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

1993

In 1993, Ian and Sara embarked on a new venture and established Madeira UK from the comfort of their own home in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. As a true family affair, boxes of stock formed corridors within the house, and their children, Alastair, Jonathan, and Karen, eagerly helped unload wagons, pack orders, and carry bags of mail to the post office. As the business grew, Madeira UK relocated to larger premises in Boroughbridge before finally settling into a purpose-built warehouse in Thirsk. There, Ian and Sara continued to run and operate Madeira Threads UK LTD until their retirement in 2002.

#section-44d7b9fe-64ac-46c5-9317-e42a868df942 { position: relative; background-color: #ffffff; } #section-44d7b9fe-64ac-46c5-9317-e42a868df942, #section-44d7b9fe-64ac-46c5-9317-e42a868df942 .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-44d7b9fe-64ac-46c5-9317-e42a868df942 .button { display: block; } } #section-44d7b9fe-64ac-46c5-9317-e42a868df942 .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

2002

The company's growth wasn't limited to industrial embroidery; Jonathan & Charlotte Macpherson made strides in the retail market by offering a diverse range of threads for both hand and machine use, sourced from various countries worldwide. With time, Barnyarns emerged as the leading retailer of Madeira Threads, and it still maintains a strong partnership with the brand and other top thread manufacturers.

Callum Macpherson joined the business in 2014, and delivered further growth to all areas of the business. Barnyarns would soon become one of the largest online UK retailers of market-leading thread brands, supported by an extensive selection of haberdashery and ancillaries.

#section-d7dbe25e-869a-493c-beda-01849b6fed44 { position: relative; background-color: #eeeeee; } #section-d7dbe25e-869a-493c-beda-01849b6fed44, #section-d7dbe25e-869a-493c-beda-01849b6fed44 .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-d7dbe25e-869a-493c-beda-01849b6fed44 .button { display: block; } } #section-d7dbe25e-869a-493c-beda-01849b6fed44 .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

2021

Callum established Sew Centre, a specialised dealer catering to Bernina, Janome, Babylock, Bernette and Pfaff Sewing machines. Sew Centre is your go-to destination for an exceptional shopping experience, covering all your machine needs, from servicing and repairs to aftersales. 

These endeavors have transformed Sew Centre into a dedicated portal for sewing enthusiasts in search of top-quality products, dependable repair services, and expert guidance.

#section-3ade5b95-e0ea-45cb-ac44-dd71cdec4c62 { position: relative; background-color: #ffffff; } #section-3ade5b95-e0ea-45cb-ac44-dd71cdec4c62, #section-3ade5b95-e0ea-45cb-ac44-dd71cdec4c62 .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-3ade5b95-e0ea-45cb-ac44-dd71cdec4c62 .button { display: block; } } #section-3ade5b95-e0ea-45cb-ac44-dd71cdec4c62 .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

2025

Barnyarns.co.uk and Sewcentre.co.uk are thriving enterprises with distinct customer bases. Barnyarns provides customers with all haberdashery & thread ranges from specialist brands, while Sew Centre is a Sewing Machine specialist. Both businesses are rooted in a customer-first philosophy, emphasising honesty, integrity, and innovation. These shared values set the stage for exciting growth and prospects in the future.

#section-b78e5671-6e9b-4005-add6-905d627e39b8 { position: relative; background-color: #eeeeee; } #section-b78e5671-6e9b-4005-add6-905d627e39b8, #section-b78e5671-6e9b-4005-add6-905d627e39b8 .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-b78e5671-6e9b-4005-add6-905d627e39b8 .button { display: block; } } #section-b78e5671-6e9b-4005-add6-905d627e39b8 .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }

IN LOVING MEMORY

Ian Macpherson

8th June 1936 - 26th August 2021

Sara Macpherson

11th June 1942 - 2nd October 2021

#section-7171d1f9-0ab4-4a41-a6e3-8a9d22288b58 { position: relative; background-color: #ffffff; } #section-7171d1f9-0ab4-4a41-a6e3-8a9d22288b58, #section-7171d1f9-0ab4-4a41-a6e3-8a9d22288b58 .Heading { color: #000000; } @media screen and (max-width: 1007px) { #section-7171d1f9-0ab4-4a41-a6e3-8a9d22288b58 .button { display: block; } } #section-7171d1f9-0ab4-4a41-a6e3-8a9d22288b58 .image--overlay::after {background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0); }