Workshops
Let’s Patch Things Up
Create a patch to mend or adorn a favourite piece of clothing, and learn some simple sewing and embroidery techniques. Using scrap fabric, hand-printed fabric leaves and other haberdashery treasures, these workshops combine my sustainable ethos and my love of nature. These drop-in workshops are intended for all ages and abilities (with children supervised by an adult). I try not to impose a rigid formula - participants are encouraged to use the materials available in the creative way that feels right for them. I will be on hand to help with anything from threading needles and teaching a basic running stitch for absolute beginners, to demonstrating some embroidery stitches for those with some prior sewing experience. All materials provided.
I have run workshops for a wide range of organisations including Timberland, London National Park City, North London Waste Authority and Fun Palaces. If you’d like to book me to run a workshop for your event or organisation, please get in touch via the contact form below.
Walking and Stitching
Take a walk along London’s beautiful River Wandle, with breaks to stitch a response to the landscape.
Embroidery is often seen as a precise and time-consuming art form, and I longed to combine my love of embroidery with my love of the outdoors. This workshop involves a very slow walk of just over a mile, with several stops to create a series of alfresco embroidery “sketches”; the equivalent of a short pose in a life drawing class, using basic stitches and fabric scraps.
This workshop is suitable for anyone with basic sewing skills, because it isn’t about perfect stitching, it’s about capturing an impression, a moment in time in a constantly changing landscape. I give participants a series of prompts to coincide with locations, but everyone is free to respond to these prompts as they wish.
I have run Walking and Stitching workshops in the same location on the Wandle for Wandle Fortnight and London Rivers Week, but if you are interested in a Walking and Stitching event for your local area, please get in touch via the contact form below.