Zips In Three Ways With Mercedes Ferrari-Plumridge- Sunday 13.45

90-minute workshop – cost £24.00

[Max 10 people]

Join Mercedes and learn the tips and techniques for three different methods of zip insertion. Starting with the centred zip you will then move on to the lapped zip and then finish with the invisible zip. All three methods will be useful additions to your garment and home-ware sewing.

Advisory Note:

Suitable for over 16’s only. Experience using a sewing machine would be useful.

Meet the Tutor

Mercedes Ferrari-Plumridge

Mercedes was a contestant on series 5 of the Great British Sewing Bee (2019). She lives just outside Brighton with her husband Graham and their two cats, Maggie and Erica. Having worked in IT for over 20 years and serving as a reservist for 13, Mercedes has a passion for all things technical and wants to know the ins and outs and whys of everything. Mercedes enjoys utilising fabrics from all sources in her sewing projects while using traditional and developing new techniques.

Fabulous Cuff Plackets with Mark Francis- Sunday 11.45am

90-minute workshop – cost £24.00

[Max 10 people]

Join Mark Francis from the Great British Sewing Bee for everything you will need to know to sew the perfect cuff plackets. In this session you will cover traditional, bias bound and inseam cuff plackets. Everything is provided, but please do bring a basic sewing kit if possible. Full instructions are there for you to take home and you will be working in Calico cotton for your samples.

Advisory Note:

Not suitable to children under 16 years. Experience with using a sewing machine preferable.

Meet the Tutor

Mark Francis

Mark’s practical sewing experiences began quite late in life, but his relationship with sewing began when he was a small child. However, needlework was not something that little boys were encouraged to do in the 1980’s.

Many years passed until he found the confidence to finally learn to use a sewing machine, and he discovered his passion for making clothes and costumes. Then, a few years ago, Mark’s husband entered him for series 6 of the Great British Sewing (2020) and life hasn’t been the same since!

Mark now works across the sewing industry, teaching, presenting talks and developing his growing range of sewing patterns.

LEARN HOW TO MACHINE STITCH A TEXTILE LANDSCAPE PICTURE with Julie Cole, Dropped Stitch Artists – Sunday 9.45

This workshop is designed for anyone wishing to experiment with machine embroidery. Using painted Bondaweb, Tyvek, organza, lace sheers and handmade cords you will create a 15 x 15cm textile seascape picture.

Advisory Note:

Suitable for over 16’s only. No previous machine embroidery necessary, although some prior knowledge of using a sewing machine is required for this workshop.

Meet the Tutor

Julie Cole

Julie Cole is a member of the textile group Dropped Stitch Artists, and is a textile and mixed media artist living in South Lincolnshire. Being a visual type of person she finds herself very much drawn towards creating texture through mixed media art.

She loves mark-making, mono-printing and making her own creative fabrics to work with through dyeing eco-dyeing and printing. Julie’s inspiration for her work comes from embracing the countryside

Make & Take: Using-up scrap fabrics with Embroiderers Guild – Sunday 11:30am

Duration: Between 1 hour- 1.5 hours

Cost: £10

Information about this workshop:

Make a picture using scraps of fabric applying beads, buttons, simple stitches. Amazing what can be made out of ‘scraps’!

Make and Take session times:

Sunday 11:30-12:30

all ability levels, incl beginners

You can book & pay for these sessions at our stand H17 but we have limited spaces!

Make & Take: Create a Card or Notebook cover with Embroiderers Guild – Sunday 1:00pm

Duration: Between 1 hour- 1.5 hours

Cost: £10

Information about this workshop:

We will provide materials for you to make a unique card or notebook cover using simple stitches, adding beads and buttons.

Make and Take session times:

Thursday 3:00- 4:00

Saturday 3:00- 4:00

Sunday 1:00- 2:30

all ability levels, incl beginners

You can book & pay for these sessions at our stand H17 but we have limited spaces!

Make & Take: Create a flower picture with Embroiderers Guild – Sunday 9:30am

Duration: 1-15.5 hours

Cost: £10

Information about this workshop:

Using a small ring frame which will act as the picture frame upon completion, we will show you how to layer sheer fabrics and stitch through them to great effect for a stunning picture for your wall.

Make and Take session times:

Thursday 9:30- 11:00

Friday 11:30- 12:30

Sunday 9:30- 11:00

all ability levels, incl beginners

You can book & pay for these sessions at our stand H17 but we have limited spaces!

Make & Take: Make a needlecase using simple shapes & stitches Embroiderers Guild – Sunday 3:00pm

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Cost: £10

Information about this workshop:

Make and decorate a felt needlecase to take away to use for your sewing projects. You will have a choice of pattern and colours to use.

Make and Take session times:

Thursday 1:00- 2:30

Friday 3:00- 4:00

Saturday 1:00- 2:30

Sunday 3:00-4:00

all ability levels, incl beginners

You can book & pay for these sessions at our stand H17 but we have limited spaces!

VIP: Papercut Flowers & Butterfly With Abie Arnold, Hive Of Creativity- Sunday 10:00, 11.00, 12.00

Abie from Hive of Craftivity will teach you how to make beautiful flower themed papercut decorations. You will explore papercutting in a total new and exciting way using the revolutionary Gyro-Cut® Pro tool.

Abie says, “Really great results and beautiful designs can be achieved with the Gyro-Cut®, and I’ll share all my hints and tips with you too!”

Advisory note:

This workshop is suitable for adults and sensible children over 16 years, but they must be accompanied by an adult who takes responsibility at all times.

NOTE: Workshop places are on a first-come-first served basis.

Meet the Tutor

Abie Arnold

Abie is the owner of Hive of Craftivity. After 20 years successfully teaching in Primary Schools, Abie’s business now allows her to follow her lifelong passion of crafting. Abie simply adores crafting and wants to help others discover this love too. Crafting is good for you, on so many levels!

Abie teaches a range of sociable craft workshops, Masterclasses, family craft sessions, events and parties across the West Midlands. Her promise is that once you try one of her workshops, you’ll be equipped with all the skills to practice and experiment at home.

VIP: Macrame Dragonfly With Mark Vardy From Pinflair/ Silvar Design- Sunday 13:00, 14.00, 15.00

Learn a simple macramé knot and make this fun macramé dragonfly. The dragonfly can be used in a variety of crafty ways, attach to greetings cards, add to a bag charm, etc. A key ring fitting will be included to complete your dragonfly. The workshop will use a jig, which can be optionally purchased.

Advisory note:

No experience is necessary. Over 16’s only.

NOTE: Workshop places are on a first-come-first served basis.

Meet the Tutor

Meet the Tutor

Mark Vardy

Mark Vardy has a passion for jewellery making. He has a level 3 NCFE certificate in craft and is a qualified adult education teacher. Mark founded Silvar Design in 2004, teaching a vast array of techniques, and he covers everything from costume jewellery design, macramé and kumihimo braiding through to stringing techniques, enamelling on copper and silver jewellery. More recently Silvar Design has partnered with Pinflair Creative Crafts.

BUTTERCUP FAIRY YARN DOLL with Michelle Goodfield, Thimble Wood – 15.00

Join Michelle Goodfield from Thimble Wood to create a charming yarn flower fairy doll. You will learn the very simple process of creating a basic doll from yarn using a wooden bead for a head. Then learn how to modernise this traditional crafty make by dressing your doll with a stitched felt Buttercup outfit including a pretty petaled overskirt, wings, hat and boots.

You will be provided with all the materials to make your doll and will aim to complete the main doll and dress in the session, with full directions given for you to finish off the wings, hat and boots at home.

Advisory Note:

Suitable for ages 14 and over, all abilities welcome. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult.

Meet the Tutor

Michelle Goodfield

A lifelong crafter, Michelle has been lucky enough to work in the craft industry for 30 years, initially designing rubber stamps, then writing articles on card making. This led to a career in craft publishing, writing 12 craft books and hundreds of magazine articles. It was always Michelle’s dream to start her own business and so Thimble Wood was born four years ago where Michelle gets to design the things that she likes to make; small projects, something a bit different, sometimes quirky, often cute (even though they weren’t really intend to be) and always great fun to make. Michelle loves to make up her own techniques and find the easiest way to do things!