89 Fashion Crafts courses

Runs on Sundays 25th Februrary and 2nd March 10:30-3:30 Make the fab Tilly and the Buttons Coco or Billy dress in this one day class. These dresses are made from knitted fabric and therefor a great pattern to make in a short time - No zips or buttonholes! It should just fit straight out of the envelope. This is a good class to learn about using stretch fabrics on a domestic sewing machine. For a more in-depth class covering fitting please join the 3 day dressmaking course instead.   The pattern for this garment is included in the class fee, as are the machines, haberdashery, endless tea and coffee. All you'll need to bring is the fabric for your dress, I will discuss the exact amount and what kind is suitable once the class is booked.    This is a small class so you will get lots of time with me. I will have a maximum of 4 students in the class but usually we just have 2 or 3.  Event Terms & Conditions Classes need to be paid for at the time of booking. They will only run once the minimum number of students is met. My studio sadly isn’t accessible to those with mobility issues. I have cats but no soft furnishings or carpets in the studio so most people with allergies are fine with antihistamines.

Join us to learn crochet as a complete beginner or improve your crochet skills.

Learn to sew a child's garment in this long (6 hours ish) day class. I stock the Two Stitches patterns (https://www.twostitchespatterns.com/printed-patterns-1) and one of these is included in your class fee. I also have patterns for quite a few simple baby and toddler garments you can use. Once you ket me know what you want to make and what size I will let you know how much and what kind of fabric you need and what else you need to bring. This is a fairly high paced class so you need to be ok with threading up etc aline and know how to make seams, backstitch etc. The sewing won't be complex but we won't have time to explain how a machine works. If you are not sure please do a beginners or refresher's class first.

Fashion craft workshops teaching top tips and tricks on how to customise shoes and add crystal embellishment

A dressmaking day at Stitching Kitchen making the Tulip dress with Emma Smith

If you want to bag-make with genuine leather but are nervous of trying it, this weekend is ideal for you. It will give you the confidence to make your own leather bags at home and you’ll make some fab friends along the way! VERY IMPORTANT! Before booking, please check that your machine can cope with sewing at least 6 layers of faux leather or vinyl. Flat sewing is fine – if the machine can do that, we can manage lumps and bumps! **This retreat is a little different from many others in that making a bag isn’t the point of the weekend, although you will indeed make one. The focus is on learning new transferable techniques and skills that you will be able to use on so many bags you make in the future. We have our own ‘Retreat Suite’ of rooms, including a spacious, light and airy sewing room which is equipped with a display screen so everyone can easily see demonstrations from a working viewpoint. We also have our own bathroom and kitchen facilities. If you wish, you are free to continue work after dinner and until as late (or early!) as you like. You will need to bring your own sewing machine, fabric scissors and any other favourite sewing tools, but everything else is provided. We’ll have a good selection of fabrics, vinyls and leather for you to browse and purchase if you wish, at retreat-only prices.  Come and join us in the exclusive Facebook group Bag Makers Retreat at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bagmakersretreat/ for all the latest retreat info, chat, gossip and more, plus a chance to meet other like-minded folks.  If you have dietary requirements, please tell me before you book, so I can be sure we can meet your needs. All meal main courses are included in the retreat fee, as are Saturday and Sunday lunches and breakfasts. Starters, desserts and drinks with meals are not included but the meals are so huge you probably won’t want starters and desserts anyway!! Tea and coffee is available whenever you need, but you do have to make it yourself!  If you’d like to stay an extra night or two, maybe to arrive on Thursday or leave on Monday if you have a long drive, let me know and I’ll check availability with our host. If you’d prefer to travel by train, we are happy to ferry you to and from the station, just ask. Please aim to arrive no later than 2pm as we have a lot of pattern cutting and fabric choosing to get through on Friday! Friday The fun starts here as you arrive at your weekend home-from-home – a beautifully refurbished, 4-star 18th century coaching inn with all the comforts you would expect. You’ll have time to settle into your own delightfully comfortable en-suite room which has all the anticipated little luxuries, before an introductory get-together with me and your companions in the sewing room at 2pm. You’ll be given your own copy of the bag pattern, which is very beginner- and strong domestic machine-friendly (see note in bold at the top of the page), but which will incorporate a lot of features and techniques that are also in much more complex designs, making this an excellent springboard to any leather or other bag you want to make. Then you can wallow in the plentiful stash of leathers and fabrics to choose from. All the leather, fabrics, interfacing, stabiliser, threads and bag hardware you need are supplied. As soon as you’re ready, you can start preparing and cutting out your pattern and some of the bag pieces so we can hit the ground running in the morning. After a superbly-cooked and substantial evening meal at around 6pm or so, you are welcome to continue working in the sewing room or to simply relax and chat there before bed. Saturday After an excellent breakfast, we can really start work learning some new skills and beginning work on construction. You’ll work at your own pace from around 9am with no pressure – I want your weekend to be fun and not stressful! We will walk through the techniques together and I will be there the whole time to answer questions and troubleshoot any tricky bits. You’ll also have the chance to try sewing with faux leather , if you haven’t already, and we’ll explore ways and techniques to use and apply rivets.  Refreshments are freely available all day and you can take a break whenever you wish. A light lunch (with homemade cake!!) is also provided and we’ll have a short break in the middle of the day. The rest of the day will be similar to Friday – sewing, dinner at 6ish and more sewing if you wish to before bed. Do feel free to have a walk or just sit outside for a breather if the weather is kind. Sunday How can it be Sunday already?? Breakfast over, we’ll get back to work. You will need to allow a few minutes to pack and check out of your room, as it has to be made ready for Monday’s guests. Apart from that, it’s uninterrupted sewing (with refreshments and lunch breaks!) until your bag is finished. We’ll be heading off for a lightish lunch at 12.30pm or so. We have the sewing room for the rest of the day. If you don’t quite get done, there’s absolutely no need to worry as you’ll easily be able to complete your bag at home. If you finish earlier feel free to head home whenever you’re ready. Amongst loads of other hints and tips, you’ll learn – Choosing and handling leather How to make professional quality rolled handles Creating and applying custom bag feet How to create a zipped pocket the pro way How to use edge paint and get a professional finish with it Sewing the bag together and topstitching Reducing bulk with leather A sneaky way of getting your bag right-sides-out without ugly seams! An easy way to add a zipper pull without tools Working with different types of rivet machine and loads more. You’ll have an exclusive pattern, created just for the Retreats, which includes comprehensive mini-tutorials and full instructions. And I hope you have a lot of fun and make new friends while you learn!!  I never abandon my students at the end of the course so if you get stuck on anything at home, you are welcome to give me a shout on Messenger and we’ll sort out your problem together. The not-so-small print Book your place using the simple booking system below – just click on your choice of dates and go from there. The full price is £465.00. The deposit of £65 is non-refundable if you cancel but can, however, be credited towards a future retreat booked within the next 6 months. It is completely refundable if I or the venue cancel. The booking page only shows the Friday, but the course is running until Sunday. The balance of £400.00 is payable by approx 6 weeks before the retreat date and payment instructions will be sent to you in good time. Cancellations 4 weeks or less before the retreat date can only be refunded if someone on the waiting list can come instead. If you book, pay and attend without pre-checking that your machine can sew the required thicknesses, as detailed in the note at the top of the page, I’m afraid no refunds will be given if it proves that your machine can’t cope during the Retreat. I may have a machine available to lend, but can’t promise one. *Don’t worry that your booking confirmation may be headed Unicorn Studios – it’s just the site that I’ve run my booking system from for years… it’s not a scam!! *

A dressmaking day at Stitching Kitchen learn to fit a bodice and adjust a bodice block with Emma Smith

LEARN HOW TO MAKE SIMPLE LEATHER ITEMS: WHAT IS THIS COURSE ABOUT? This is a theoretical and practical taster group tuition during which you will receive an overview on basic leather craft skills and techniques and realise one or more simple leather items to take home with you.The class will take place in our London workshop where you will be able to see how a leather craft studio is equipped and receive practical demonstrations of common working methods used in the field.YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE AS MANY CUSTOMISED LEATHER ITEMS AS YOU CAN, choosing between a selection of different types of goods such as key rings, glasses cases, card holders, bracelets and more.You will be shown different types of leather and get to understand their main features. You will receive an introduction on how to prepare, mark, cut, edge finish leather and use simple fastening hardware.You will receive relevant, useful and informative handouts as well as lists of leather and tool suppliers.   At the end of the tuition you will have:– Gained an understanding of leather types– Been instructed on the use of common fastenings and closure techniques– Received an overview on the correct use of tools for preparing, marking, cutting and punching leather– Understood and practiced leather craft techniques such as beveling and burnishing techniques– Realised you own small, simple leather item(s) to take home with you WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?This course is suitable for total beginners and beginners with some experience in leather crafts.You should be able to use measurements and understand verbal and written English instructions.   ARE THERE ANY OTHER COSTS? IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO BRING?Materials are included.Feel free to bring a notepad, if you would like to take some notes, we will provide the rest. INCLUDED IN THE COURSE:You will be provided with useful handouts which contain:– A list of recommended suppliers for both leather and fittings (physically in London and online)– A glossary containing information about leather types and characteristicsHOW LONG IS THIS TUITION?:This tuition will require up to 3 hours to complete.We aim to provide customised and high quality tuition services and by only allowing up to 6 students at a time, we are able to focus on each person needs and interests.As every student has a different level of ability and previous experience, this course might lead some students to complete the core aspects of the lesson in a shorter time frame than others.Students who complete the course early will be welcome to stay and use the studio facilities to exercise on the topics of the lesson.

Get a Sunday of quality sewing me time with Claire at the Stitching Kitchen sewing studio

Spend a day sewing the Nell Dress or blouse from Tilly and the Buttons.