Top 10 Best Upcycling Fabric classes, courses, learnings kits and gifts in the UK

An evening of fun and creative social making and sharing at this Community Craft club. Come on down and make the most of Fabrications' facilities, as well as seeking guidance from anyone and everyone if you've run into some trouble with a homemade craft creation! In this club The craft club offers extra support and an opportunity to practice what you've learnt if you've attended any other Fabrications classes, thoroughly recommended by Obbyists! If you've not trialed any of these courses just yet, feel free to bring along your personal projects, SOS (save our stitches!) or crafting dilemmas (be it knitting, crochet, sewing etc). Barley and other club participants are more than happy to help you or give you new challenges, get access to our workshop facilities. If you would like to use a sewing machine - PLEASE BOOK IN, as machines will be limited (basic sewing skills required). Now you can solve that loose thread or patchwork setback that's been getting you down share crafting stories with friends or neighbours within your local community be tempted by Obby's numerous sewing or upcycling courses, why not be drawn into a crafting adventure?

Revamp your wardrobe with this class where you fix your clothes or alter for a new body shape - out with the old and in with the new (well kinda new...)! In this class This class has been developed for those fairly new to using a sewing machine and hand sewing techniques and is a good foundation class before working directly on your own clothing, which takes place in afternoon class 'Refresh your Wardrobe'. In the morning you will discover how to: take seams in and out use a seam ripper / quick unpick prepare a garment for modifying know how to lift a hem, sort out a lining apply darts, pleats, gathering and elasticating to reduce volume and shape to your body use useful hand stitches such as invisible/slip stitch, back stitch, and button hole stitch replace a broken zip And as if that isn't enough, in the afternoon you'll: learn how to lift a hem sort out a lining understand how to take seams in or out apply darts and gathering to reduce volume and shape to your body (yea thats the good stuff) be able to complete simple repairs such as sewing on a button or patching a hole. This is a great day out and you'lll learn so much! Now you can learn through lots of exercises and practical tips and tricks get to grips with the basic practicalities of how to tackle simple sewing alterations, repairs and 'upcycling'. work alongside other keen sewers Keep Depending on the garment you could go home with 1, 2 or even 3 altered garments - that's almost a whole new wardrobe!

This class has been designed for creatives new to using a sewing machine, wishing to combine upcycling, fabric construction and machine sewing to transform neglected items into gorgeous practical objects. The focus in this class will be making a cushion cover or tote style bag. In this class The focus in this class will be making a cushion cover or tote style bag. On completion you will be confident using a sewing machine, understand the principles of basic pattern making and cutting, create decorative stitches and appliqué. You'll come away with a personalised functional object, realised from your creative ideas. This is an ideal follow on class to the morning 'Provisional Driving' introduction to using a sewing machine class. Drawing inspiration from Fabrications creator Barley's own designs, you'll find it sew easy! Now you can impress people with your own upcycled eco tote bag make beautiful handmade presents for friends and family stop panicking when your thread runs out in your bobbin, and confidently progress onto more some of Obby's challenging sewing classes!

If you have attended the morning class 'Improvers Sewing', this session will put everything that you've learnt into practice and you will leave with a unique made to measure skirt or pair of shorts. You can "upcycle" a man's shirt into a skirt (if you bring it yourself). In this class If you attend the afternoon class only, to be confident that you will complete the garment in time, you will need to have basic sewing machine skills and have an understanding of how to sew seams, put a zip in, create a button hole and add a bias binding. Barley will of course support you through the making process from measuring your body, using a pattern, cutting out pattern pieces, assembling and finishing. Now you can Assemble flat fabric panels on the sewing machine to create a 3D form Understand best way to use fabric or shirts economically and understand direction of the fabric grain Get into the art of upcycling, nothing will ever go unused again! Keep Leave the class with a skirt of pair of shorts made by your own fair hands!

What better way to spend the day then to master the craft of the queen of the fabrics, silk. In this class Silk is particularly difficult fabric to work with - which is precisely why this class exists! Fabrications' founder, Barley Massey, will guide you through the process of making a pair of pretty knickers from silk scarves and clippings. By the end of this class, you will be confident in handling, sewing and cutting silk - that is no easy feat! You will learn how to cut a simple pattern, assemble pieces on the machine, use multiple stitch functions and up-cycle everyday silk scarves into something beautiful. Materials and refreshments are included - but if you want to bring your own silk fabric or scarves please feel free. Now you can *confident in handling, sewing and cutting silk *learn how to cut a simple pattern and assemble pieces on a sewing machine *become a (silky) smooth operator! Keep Take home a hand sewn pair of pretty knickers.

For those who want to improve their crocheting skills, learn how to make some exciting new lacey designs, 3D shapes, or to embellish and join your knitting, this class offers a little bit of everything. If you are an absolute beginner we recommend attending the morning class or the full-day crochet experience. In this class You will refresh the skills covered in 'Beginners Crochet' covered in the morning class (chains, slip stitch, double stitch). Then, you will learn more advanced techniques including a treble stitch, understand how to combine the different stitches (single, double, treble and slip) to create texture and patterns. You will also learn to use colour to create pattern and start looking at crochet patterns for intricate designs. Now you can *know the fundamentals of crochet inside-out and begin to improve your skill and technique *be given practical advice on yarns, hooks and pattern reading *be a confident crochet - er! Take Home This class will provide materials and refreshments, and you will of course be able to take home all your exciting new crochet creations!

Barley Massey's Macrame class will provide an inspiring overview of this simple, low-tech way of knotting ropes to create stylish plant pot hangers, furnishings and wall hangings. You will learn to create a plant pot hanger and learn a range of knots which can be translated into other products following the class. All levels of maker are welcome including children over the age of 10! On completion of the workshop, participants will confidently be able to: Learn simple knots used in the technique of macrame Understand how to calculate how much rope is needed for different projects Create 3D items including plant pot holders or artworks Use traditional 'off the shelf' rope or create your own upcycled ropes from waste materials

This class is both an introduction to using a sewing machine (in the morning) and upcycling (in the afternoon), aimed at those who have little or no experience. Go away with new sewing machine skills, a cushion cover or tote-style bag plus you'll be inspired to 'upcycle' old clothes and items into new pieces. You'll be under the watchful eye of the fabrications team, who'll guide you through the whole process. These classes are available separately, but you get extra skills, take-away pieces and a fab discount if you book the whole day! If you would rather just book the morning intro session, click here; if you already know your way around a sewing machine and want to upcycle your very own cushion cover or bag in the afternoon class, click here. In this class Throughout the course of the day you will learn basic skills including how to thread a sewing machine and wind a bobbin, feed fabric through, sew in a straight line and turn corners. You'll come away with a personalised, functional cushion cover or tote-style bag, realised from your creative ideas. You will also have time to explore the range of features and stitches on the machine and practice sewing different types of seams, developing the confidence to progress onto making all sorts of things. You'll be under the watchful eye of the fabrications team, who'll guide you through the whole process. Now you can leave feeling confident with the ins and outs of a sewing machine enhance old clothes with your own design ideas make all those clothes fixes and alterations you have been dreaming of - no more excuses! Take Home After a day of sewing and stitching, you'll be able to take home your handmade upcycled accessories.

Join Damaris Copus for a friendly and relaxed workshop in creating your own beautiful and long lasting 'wild wreath'. Feel inspired by Damaris collection of freshly gathered greenery, beautiful berries, seed heads, dried fruit, feathers, ribbons - make your own selection and create with Damaris guidance. Damaris has 25 years experience in wreath making. She started by making wholesale amounts of basic blue noble wreaths but quickly became more interested in nature inspired 'wild wreaths'. When not wreath making or gathering materials from woods, hedgerows and meadows, she designs and plants up gardens for family, friends and clients. Her work could best be described as naturalistic. She loves bees, wild flowers and trees. You will also pick up the following skills: There will be opportunity to bend and twist pliable lengths of willow, hazel or dogwood to use as your natural frame...or if prefered there are copper wire florists frames How to use florists wire and tape to secure your foliage Understand design, proportion, balance and placing of 'flashes' of colour in your wreathe Gain inspiration to create more wreaths or table decorations at home following the workshop Damaris has been collecting and drying seed heads and flowers over the past months. The allium heads and love in a mist look especially pleasing. There will be a huge selection of natural materials available so that everyone can make a true one off piece to your taste. All materials and tools provided. All you need to bring is a good sized pinny to protect your clothes. We will also be serving some mulled wine and festive snacks and Fabrications shop will be open for late night shopping!

Join Bella Lane and expand your understanding of hand embroidery. Goldwork embroidery is one of the richest techniques of hand embroidery. It has been practised from ancient times, using gold, silver, copper and wire threads, originally in ecclesiastical and ceremonial costumes in Europe. Today goldwork embroidery appears in art forms and in fashion. This beautiful Goldwork hand embroidered “Mimosa” design will take you to the next level of Goldwork. Learning and stitching principal techniques of working with gold & silver threads. Bring your reading or stitching glasses if necessary, as the work is fine! In this class learn how to set up your design, fabric and hoop up Use couching & fine stitches to attach the gold thread Add beads, sequins sequrely and neatly as additional embelishments Learn how to plan and transfer a design onto fabric ready for the Goldwork pick up some 'insider' tips and tricks from a master craftperson. Now you can take your stitching game to the next level with this Mimosa design. feel inspired and ready to embark on your own embroidery designs! learn the history of traditional Goldwork embroidery techniques All levels of stitcher are welcome! Price includes a special embroidery kit pre prepared by Bella containing instruction sheet, good quality embroidery needle, threads, fabric, design. There will also be a complimentary glass of Prosecco to end the class in style!

Inspired by Mother Earth nature we are offering for beginners to textile art the opportunity to study visually and practically the art of making a basic ‘Arpillera’ piece using upcycled and new fabrics. A fun project with appliqué and hand embroidery stitches. Participants will learn technical stitches, design composition and execution in their own Arpillera design. A great opportunity to join us and start your amazing journey of creating scenes of flora, fauna and people from Peru or your own locale with cloth and threads with the concept of using pieces of unwanted garments, recycled and up-recycled textiles. This workshop is brought to you by Bella Lane, who is from Iquitos Peru, Master Peruvian embroiderer, trained at the Royal School of Needlework and a world embroidery stitch collector. We are very honoured to have Bella as a guest teacher at Fabrications! Now you can – Understand how to create step by step landscapes of fabric scenarios, using unwanted, recycled or new fabrics – Learn as much as possible the basic and more advanced appliqué embroidery techniques – Have the opportunity to stitch something very special with little resources, as do many Arpilleras makers working in Peru and beyond – Participants can apply the same technique for their own projects- – Students will have picked up some ‘insider’ tips and tricks from a master craft person All levels of stitcher are welcome!