JANOME - 'EXPLORING 3D TEXTILE TECHNIQUES' (STOCKPORT)

Description

Venue: JANOME CENTRE, Unit 1 Southside, Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2SP 

Date: Tuesday 17th March 2026

Time: 9.30 - 15.30

COST: £215

Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to visit the home of Janome at their Head Quarters in Stockport. This hands-on course is ideal for anyone looking to reskill, upskill, or spark fresh inspiration for exciting new textile projects. Throughout the day, you will explore a range of innovative fabric manipulation techniques that push the boundaries of sculptural and three-dimensional textile surface design.

You will not only learn one new technique, but a whole suite of creative processes—allowing you to experiment, combine methods, and confidently develop your own ideas. Techniques covered will include slashing, crashing, shirring, heat shibori, heat-gun texturing, ruffles, gathering, American smocking, and more. By the end of the course, you’ll leave with a toolkit of dynamic 3D surface techniques ready to enrich your teaching or personal practice.

Course Reviews:

"Fantastic creative day with Nicky Simpson again. Learnt a lot of new skills to teach my textiles students. Such a treat to have a day off and spend time with fellow textilers!! Loved every minute"

This course is especially valuable for textile and art teachers, as well as anyone who wants to spend a full day expanding their technical skills and enriching their creative toolkit. All techniques will be connected to themes, primary sources, and relevant contemporary and historical artists and designers. We will also explore how these methods can be embedded into schemes of work and developed into fashion or textile outcomes. All templates, guides, and resources will be provided.

You will learn and practise a wide range of exciting practical skills that will elevate your own textile projects or enhance your teaching.

For teachers, this course supports progression from KS3 onwards, helping to build independent, confident, and enthusiastic learners at KS4 and KS5.

*ALERT: ECT/NQT's, TRAINEE TEACHERS, TECHNICIANS & SELF-FUNDERS*

We can offer discounts for this course. Please contact dawn@textileskillscentre.com for more information.

"I have been lucky enough to attend a few of the Textiles Skills Centre courses and they have all been absolutely fantastic. These courses have been an absolute game changer - I came away with so many ideas which I was able to put into practice immediately.

Nicky provides so many examples of sketchbooks and final outcomes that you can see first hand how the skills being delivered translate to student work. The skills themselves are varied yet equally really accessible and she provides lots of suggestions on how to approach tight budgets.

Nicky's enthusiasm and expertise is really inspiring and you can't wait to go away and try it all! The student results following the introduction of the projects developed off the back of these courses were outstanding and moderator feedback was really positive too."

What you will learn on the day:

‘Students will be able to contextualise their research and ideas, drawing inspiration from artists and designers. Students will also evaluate the art, craft and design they study, and develop an appreciation of the impact it has on their own work and that of others.’

This face-to-face course offers a unique experience, delivering textile skills, knowledge, and understanding. It provides an inspiring learning environment where you can gain new techniques and explore how to apply them in your own work—or, if you’re a teacher, how to bring them into the classroom in a fun and engaging way. Participants can ask questions directly to the course developer, practice hands-on skills, create a sketchbook resource for personal or teaching use, and connect with like-minded creatives. This course is more than just learning techniques—it’s an opportunity to develop confidence, spark creativity, and build practical resources that will continue to inspire future projects.

Your course leader is NICKY SIMPSON, a contemporary textiles artist, who has 12 years teaching experience, heading up Fashion & Textiles at a school in Kent. She has taught Art & Design Textiles at GCSE and A Level, Design and Technology/Textiles at GCSE & A Level and BTEC Level 3 Fashion. 

Her last set of grades were: A Level 100% A-A*; GCSE 70% A-A* (100% A*-B). She had a previous 22-year career as a print designer and colourist, creating print ranges for the international market. For the past 9 years Nicky has been a workshop developer and leader for the online and F2F courses for Textile and Art teachers on behalf of the Textile Skills Centre, including pattern development. Nicky has mentored many graduate trainees, and now mentors many fellow teachers through the TSC mentorship programme.

“Textile candidates’ personal portfolios were brimming with ideas, experiments and references to textile and fashion designers as well as fine artists. Overall, the submission was exceptional in the engagement and industry and imaginative use of materials.’

'In Textiles, the standard of the work was outstanding…The course structure was strong. Finished pieces were often exciting and innovative. The individuality of the candidates was clearly seen in the diversity of colours, styles and techniques carefully annotated in work books and then displayed in the final outcomes.”

“The course gave candidates a very strong framework on which to build a response to the theme. Ideas were developed showing depth and thought so that the work of the highest achieving candidates was original, creative and in-depth.”

COSTS & BOOKING VIA CADEMY: £ 215 / DAY

All of the Textile Skills Centre events are ticket only and payable IN ADVANCE. The Textiles Skills Centre uses Cademy to automate the bookings via credit card and cheque/BACS.

When you book you will receive by email a booking confirmation.

If you have any queries, please email us at: info@textileskillscentre.com, and include your phone number and/or email so that we can contact you easily.

*ALERT: ECT/NQT's, TRAINEE TEACHERS, TECHNICIANS & SELF-FUNDERS*

We can offer a 25% discount for this course. For more information please contact dawn@textileskillscentre.com