Workshops
Autumn 2013
Let’s get knitting….
Saturday knitting sessions
This session is aimed at getting you going on your autumn/winter knitting project. We’ll be able to help and
advise with any of the following: casting on, shaping, finding a pattern either in print or online, finding
suitable yarn. £5 per person if you require assistance, otherwise you are free to come and browse our
patterns and yarn and we’ll be happy to make you tea or coffee for a minimal charge.
Saturday Sept 7th, 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Saturday Sept 21st, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Learn to knit – Caroline Voaden
September is a great time to learn to knit – just think about all those lovely long evenings in front of the fire
with your knitting on your lap… bliss. This class is for beginners and we’ll learn to cast on and off, and do
knit and purl stitches – all you need to master this addictive craft!
Wednesday Sept 11th 10 – 1pm, £15 plus yarn for beginner’s project (from £2.50 a ball)
Cable knitting – you first aran project – Caroline Voaden
We will spend the morning learning how to knit cables and trying out several different patterns. After a
lunch break we will start knitting a cable scarf or cushion cover – you can choose from several patterns.
You will need three or four balls of yarn, depending on the project you choose, and can buy this on the day
with a discount in our shop. You’ll go away feeling confident enough to finish your project at home, and will
of course be welcome to come back for advice any time you get stuck! Suitable for anyone who can do knit
and purl stitches. If you haven’t used a pattern before don’t worry, we’ll decipher them for you!
Friday September 20th, 10am – 4pm, £35
Professional Finishing For Knitters with Anniken Allis
After spending days or weeks knitting a beautiful garment, you don’t want to spoil it with poor finishing.
Knitwear designer and lifelong knitter Anniken Allis will teach you how to sew up your garments as the
professionals do, knit shaping to make sewing up easier, pick up stitches neatly for neck bands and button
bands, work neat shoulders and set in sleeves. You’ll be amazed at the results! Suitable for all knitters –
even those with 40 years’ experience.
Tuesday September 3rd, 10am – 4pm, £40
Toe-up socks on Circular Needles with Anniken Allis
Working socks from the toe up is fun and it’s a good way to make sure you use up all your available yarn
without wasting any. This workshop will teach you how to work a closed cast on, knit the toe, increase for
the gusset, turn the heel and work the heel flap, and how to do a stretchy cast off. In addition you’ll learn
how to knit socks on circular needles using the magic loop method or two circular needles. You can also
practice knitting two socks at a time.
Friday October 18th, 10am – 4pm, £40
Fair Isle and Slip Stitch Colourwork with Anniken Allis
Fair isle: Learn how to knit with two colours at a time, how to hold two yarns at once, how to strand the
yarn evenly, read fair isle charts and work in the round.
Slip stitch colourwork: this is a very clever way of getting the look of 2 colours per row while only actually
using one colour per row! So you get the look of complicated colourwork with the simplicity of only using
one colour at a time. We’ll also look at how to choose colours. You’ll get plenty of practice in both
techniques during the day. All materials are provided.
Friday November 15th, 10am – 4pm, £40
Sewing…
Start sewing with Saj Collyer
Get to know a sewing machine while making a simple project. A great refresher if you’ve forgotten how!
We’ll cover a range of techniques and projects. Come to one class or join us regularly to improve your skills.
Monday Sept 9th, 23rd, Oct 7th, 21st, Nov 4th, 18th – 10am – 1pm, £20 per class
Sew a clasp purse – Emily Levey
Learn how to make a cute fabric purse with a metal clasp. Emily will teach you how to make a pattern and
give your purse a professional finish. Perfect for making gifts. Bring two fat quarters of fabric – we have a
range on sale in our shop. We’ll supply the clasp and wadding.
Thursday Sept 12th, 10am – 1pm, £25
Friday eve Oct 4th, 7-10pm, £25 – this is our Friday night craft night and includes a glass of wine.
Tuesday Nov 12th, 10am – 1pm, £25
Saturday sewing – make an apron – Saj Collyer
This class is suitable for beginner sewers and those who want to refresh their memories! We’ll make a
simple apron – either bib style or a pinny. A perfect gift for a friend or something to keep for yourself to
make you smile as you’re cooking… You’ll need to bring fabric – we’ll let you know how much depending on
which pattern you want to make. Saturday Nov 9th, 10am – 3pm, £30
Make your own skirt block – Saj Collyer
In this three-week course you will learn how to create a skirt block that you can then use to make skirt
patterns that will fit your own body shape. Learn how to take body measurements for a skirt, use them to
make a skirt block and then make any necessary adjustments to ensure a good fit. You will then go on to
produce a straight skirt or A-line skirt pattern with a facing shaped to your own measurements. In week
two you will make a toile – a practice skirt, from calico or scrap fabric. In the final class you will make your
final piece in your chosen fabric. This class is not suitable for beginners – you must have some experience
of sewing and using commercial patterns. You will need to bring: Pencil, rubber, calculator, set square,
notebook. You will also need to purchase pattern paper and a dressmaker’s curve which we will supply at a
discount on the day. For class 2 you will need 1-2m of calico or scrap fabric and for class 3, suitable
prewashed fabric for your final piece.
Thursday Sept 26th, Oct 3rd, 10th, 10am – 1pm (Class three may run a little longer)
Saturday Oct 5th, 12th, 19th, 2pm – 5pm (Class three may start earlier)
£60 for the course
Machine embroidery with Vicky Porter
Dubbed the ‘crack cocaine of craft’ by Kirsty Allsopp, this is addictive. Learn how to draw with a sewing
machine, under the guidance of Vicky, an expert embroiderer whose work has appeared on the catwalks of
Chanel. The November class will probably involve a bit of extra Christmas sparkle!
Tuesday, Sept 17th and Weds Nov 13th, introductory classes 10am – 1pm, £25
Weds Oct 23rd – level 2 for those who’ve attended a class before, 10am – 1pm, £25
Piped cushion - Ludmila Hill
Soft furnishings maker Ludmila Hill will show you how to make a professionally finished piped cushion
cover. Learn to cut bias binding, insert piping, sew your cover together and achieve a really beautiful finish.
A great way to use up remnants if you’ve made curtains, or just to change the look of a room. You’ll need
0.5m of fabric, at least 140cm wide. Medium weight cotton works best; light dress weight cotton is not so
good for cushions. We’ll supply piping and 40cm cushion inserts can be bought from us on the day.
Tuesday September 24th, 10am – 2.30pm, £30
Patchwork project with Emily Levey
Emily is a passionate, modern quilter and in this class she will help you create a unique patchwork project –
a bag or similar (to be decided!). More details to follow but this is sure to be a really fun class and a great
introduction to machine patchwork if you haven’t done it before.
Tuesday October 15th, 10am – 2pm, £30
Individual sewing tuition – Various teachers
If you’d like one-to-one tuition we can arrange a session with one of our sewing teachers at a time to suit
you. Complete beginners £20 per hour. Advanced dressmaking tuition from £30 per hour – please enquire.
Crochet…
Learn to crochet – Caroline Voaden
A course of three mornings to get you going and help you improve so you can quickly move on to granny
squares, cushion covers and other items. We’ll crochet in rows as well as in the round. Week 1 learning the
basics, week 2 mandalas and granny squares, week 3 magic rings, petals, flowers, patterns and charts. Join
us for all three or any individual class. £45 for the course or £20 for each class separately.
Weds Sept 25th, Oct 2, 9, 10am – 1pm
Jumbo crochet – Caroline Voaden
Lace doilies are out – and big chunky crocheted baskets are in… Make a basket to use for toys, knitting
projects or just clutter! We’ll supply yarn and hooks. Suitable for confident beginners with some practice at
crochet in the round, and experienced crocheters. Materials included. Tuesday October 22nd, 10am – 1pm,
£30 including yarn.
Crochet a string shopping bag – Caroline Voaden
We all know that plastic bags are a menace to the planet... so come along to Social Fabric and learn to
crochet your very own string shopping bag! Choose some yarn from our fabulous range of coloured cottons
and we'll get you going on your very own bag. When it's done you can scrunch it up into your handbag and
reveal it - with a flourish - whenever you need a shopping bag! A fun afternoon, including tea and biccies
and chat, with a really useful product as well. You may not finish the bag on the day, but you'll go home
with enough confidence to finish it off. Not suitable for beginner crocheters - you must be able to do
double and treble crochet for this class. Saturday September 28th, 2pm – 5pm, £25 materials included
Tunisian crochet – Maria Doyle or Caroline Voaden
Tunisian crochet can be described as a cross between knitting and crochet – it’s quick to do and the fabric
you produce looks more woven than knitted. You can also work with two or three colours at once. Great
for scarves, cushion covers, blankets and heavier garments like jackets.
Wednesday September 25th, 7pm – 9.30pm, £25 including a hook to take home.
Wednesday November 20th, 10am – 1pm, £20 including a hook to take home.
Other crafts…
Needle felting with Rosie Nelson
Come and make a gorgeous autumnal needle felted project with expert felter Rosie Nelson. Rosie will teach
you this fun craft skill – you’ll be amazed at how you can turn soft merino wool tops into a recognisable
object, just with a sharp needle! And the skills you learn in class can be applied to making anything –
animals, monsters, even felted vegetables if you feel the need to have pretend carrots in your house…
In the December session Rosie will make a Christmas themed object like a robin or similar (not decided
yet!)
Tuesday October 1st, 10am – 1pm, £25, materials included
Wednesday December 4th, 10am – 1pm, £25, materials included
Make a lampshade – Caroline or Saj
A great workshop for that ‘Wow, I made this myself!’ feeling. This is an satisfying half-day workshop where
no sewing skills are required. Take home a bespoke drum lampshade to fit a table lamp or pendant light
fitting. Various sizes available, bring your own fabric, we supply everything else. £35.
Sat Sept 21st 2.30pm - 5pm, Weds Oct 16th 10am – 1pm, Weds Nov 6th 10am – 1pm
Regular sessions:
Lunchtime Skills every Friday lunchtime, 12.30 – 1.30pm, various skills – see calendar £6
Start sewing – fortnightly from Sept 9th on Monday mornings, 10am – 1pm, £20
Dressmaking every Thursday evening. 7-9.30pm, £15 per session. Please book.
Friday night is craft night – first Friday of every month, 7pm – 10pm, various crafts, see calendar for
details. Dates are:
Oct 4th, Nov 1st, Dec 6th.
Knit and natter – Third Wednesday of every month, 10.30am – 1pm. Dates are:
Sept 18th, Oct 16th, Nov 20th, Dec 18th.
October half term:
Autumn sewing for teens and adults
A sewing class aimed at those who can’t make it to our workshops in term time! Project to be decided but
probably a themed cushion cover or messenger bag.
Monday October 28th, 10am – 3pm, £30
Hallowe’en themed workshops for children
Three shorter sessions for younger children including mask making, costumes, trick or treat bags etc.
Materials provided, more details to follow
Tues 29th, Weds 30th, Thurs 31st October
To book any class please phone 01803 866144 or email: [email protected]
Please note: We will ask you to pay for the course on booking. Please be aware that we cannot refund
course fees in the event that you do not attend on the day. If you cancel your course booking with at least
48 hours notice we will do our best to move you to a similar class at the same price however we cannot
guarantee this. We have limited numbers and pay external teachers to teach many of our classes, so please
check your diary carefully before booking! In some circumstances we can accept payment in instalments for
full-day workshops, so please ask. Thanks. Follow us at:
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