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You will learn the basic difference in techniques between dyeing plant based fabric ( cotton and linen) and animal based fabric (silk and wool).  The morning will be spent dyeing samples of cotton and the afternoon working with silk.

Some of the dyeing techniques include shibori, used in tie-dyeing .

My teaching is not prescriptive.  I’ll show you examples and techniques and off you go!  My favourite comment from a student was ‘I don’t have a creative bone in my body’ before producing two beautiful silk scarves

Introduction to fabric dyeing

Great instruction, good pace to the day, interesting and very, very satisfying.  I would recommend Lesley to anybody from beginners to experienced dyers.
Thank you!

Dyeing silk and cotton, and taking home samples of each

In this five hour session, you will make at least a flower or a scarf, which can be a winter scarf or a summer wrap.  You may decide to make a number of flowers using different techniques.  These can be made into brooches or attached to bags.

You will learn how felt is made, a little of its history, and also, what many clever and imaginative people have discovered you can do with it, to lift it from the folk-art category to the stylish.

There are small motor skills involved in laying out the fibre, but by hand rather than fingers.   The process involves rolling the project but you can use forearms rather than hands, and there is no sewing involved.  Patience is involved as the process of rubbing and rolling can last twenty minutes. depending on the size of the project.  You will find that the entire experience is incredibly therapeutic, and chatting certainly speeds it up!

Once you've got the basic principles of felting sorted, all that will hold you back will be your imagination...

Introduction to Wet-Felting

I never tried felting before, I really enjoyed making my own fabric, even if you need a bit of elbow grease! I made a scarf and a brooch and they are pretty and unique. I also got a tour around the Wimbledon studios looking at all the different artist spaces! More felt please!

Lesley was a patient and knowledgeable teacher. She was generous with her time and resources; her studio was an inspiring place to work. Wet felting was fun with Lesley.

Reena Pastakia

Absolutely lovely day.  I learnt a variety of skills and produced three beautiful felt flowers.  Lesley was patient and fun and happy to tailor the class to my specific needs.

In this class you will be introduced to the colourful world of wet-felting.  Explore all things sheep!

In this class, you will learn the basic principles of sewing a hat. As well as this, we will cover the necessary techniques to learn how to go about pattern drafting. There will be variations on the basic pattern, in terms of the width of the brim and the height of the crown.

Hatmaking is all about accommodating curve. Initially, sewing them correctly may take a little bit of practice.  However, once you have adopted the main techniques, you will be able to you to go away and successfully make hats of your own!

Materials for a band or making a flower embellishment will be available.

Sew an Occasion Hat in a Day

In this class you will learn to both sew an occasion hat and embellish it.

Lesley made hats for amateur theatre and after making some 30 from horrible craft felt decided to learn how to do it properly.  She went to London College of Fashion and learned how to block straw, sinamay and felt, and also how to make sewn hats.

She works in a studio in Wimbledon and during the two Open Studios a year listens to what people say about hats.  They say they don't suit hats; hats are expensive and only worn once; even if worn more than once the need to be stored; they'll be damaged if packed in a suitcase.  Lesley believes that making stylish, easy-care everyday hats will encourage people to wear them.

Lesley has devised a pattern for a sewn hat.  One size fits all.  It can be made in anything from calico to silk, and dressed up or down.  It is packable.  It can be made in a day from your fabric of choice.   The calico example has been tried on a number of sceptical ladies who have been pleasantly surprised by how good they look in it.

From making blocked hats out of commercial felt Lesley decided to explore hand made felt as a fabric for hats and became fascinated with all things related to wet-felting and what could be done with it. Hats, scarves, wraps, gloves, slippers, vessels and large wearables such as dresses and jackets.  The possibilities are endless, it seems.

Strawberry Hill Hats

Our classes

Our classes

Our classes