Our Workshops
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Heritage Workshops
Full day Wednesday workshops (10am-4pm) teaching contemporary skills & their history.
Workshops are priced individually below. Cost includes materials for a take-home project.
Opportunity to bring your own project for some classes (optional but never essential) or to upgrade kits (for additional charge). Please enquire when booking.
Book x2 Heritage Workshops for 10% discount
Each participant receives a 10% voucher to spend in the shop.
Saturday Skills
Half day Saturday workshops (10am to 1pm) covering the basics or specialist skills.
Workshops are priced individually below. The cost includes all basic materials.
Opportunity to bring your own project for some classes (optional but never essential)or upgrade kits (for additional charge). Please enquire when booking.
10% off kits, patterns and materials to use in class (optional).
Access notice: workshops take place on the 2nd floor of our shop at 32 Coppergate, York YO1 9NR via two flights of stairs only. We apologise if this prohibits anyone attending.
Loopy Rag Rugging - Saturday Skills Class
This is rag rugging with a modern twist* using colourful cording. Create an up-to-the-minute cushion cover just for you or for Mother’s Day too!
Taught by Kim Searle.
*You also might like our traditional ‘shaggy’ rag rugging class on 6 June 2020.
Saturday 14 March 2020
10am – 1pm
Cost: £38
Beginners Knitting - Saturday Skills Class
Learn the knitting basics so you can join the knit and natter movement with confidence! Class for beginners taught by Jane Brumwell of Yorkshire wool specialists Baa Ram Ewe.
Saturday 4 April 2020
10am – 1pm
Cost: £38
Strippy Quilts & Weardale Chain -
Heritage Workshop
Explore traditional North Country quilts and classic strippy designs. Learn Weardale chain and cable twist and how to mark out these designs.
Put your new-found skills into practice by making a hand quilted sampler that can be made into a table mat.
Taught by textile artist Helen Barnes.
Wednesday 15 April 2020
10am – 4pm
Cost: £60
Kumihimo Braiding - Saturday Skills Class
Kumihimo braiding is a really absorbing and addictive form of braiding using a wide range of coloured cords. Easy to grasp, mindful and lots of fun, it’s like French Knitting for adults. By the end of the session you should have at least one professional looking finished bracelet.
Taught by Kim Searle.
Saturday 18 April 2020
10am – 1pm
Cost: £38
Needle Felting Master Class - Saturday Skills
Learn the sculptural art of needle felting from Heather O’Leary, the designer/maker behind the beautifully observed felted animal kits from Craftwerk. In class, make this cute felted puppy to take home with you.
Be inspired by her realistic creations, wild and domestic, and her passion for the wools of our rich native sheep farming heritage
Level: suitable for beginners
Materials and equipment are provided to make a mini Craftwerk original or pre-order one of Craftwerk’s stunning kits to start in class, using your 10% discount voucher – optional
(see www.craftwerk.co.uk for design choices).
2 May 2020
Cost: £38
Traditional Teddies for Beginners - Heritage Workshop
Meet (and make) Milo, this adorable, mischievous, traditional jointed teddy bear. Milo is 23cm high when standing, 17cm when sitting.
Learn teddy-making skills and the fascinating heritage of mohair bears from his designer, Jacqueline Schultz, owner of Jacqueline’s Bears, in this extended class (10am – 5pm).
Milo’s authentic appearance is thanks to his Steiff Schulte Ratinee 100% mohair ruffled coat as well as his movable cotter pin joints, his British-made glass eyes and his endearing features.
You don’t need any previous bear-making experience but we do recommend you have basic sewing skills.
13 May 2020
10am – 5pm (extended class)
Cost: £60 +
£25 for the Milo kit (RRP £35)
Beginner's Crochet - Saturday Skills Class
Discover the basics of crochet under the inspiring guidance of Yorkshire designer/maker Steffi Glaves (www.steffiglaves.co.uk). Learn the basic stitches including chain, double and treble, arranging stitches to make granny squares to turn into colourful blankets or bunting, with appliqué crocheted flowers.
Level: For complete beginners
23 May 2020
Cost: £40
Traditional 'Shaggy' Rag Rugging - Saturday Skills Class
Learn traditional ‘shaggy’ rag rugging and make a gorgeous cushion cover using super-soft t-shirt fabrics. Learn how to cut your own fabric strips so you can continue your addictive new hobby at home.
Taught by Kim Searle
All materials supplied
Saturday 6 June 2020
10am – 1pm
Cost: £38
Hand Embroidery & Liberty Florals - Heritage Workshop
Learn or extend your hand embroidery skills, inspired by the floral designs and history of the quintessentially English Liberty prints.
We will cover a range of stitches including couching, chain stitch, stem stitch, cross stitch and French knots.
The completed design will be framed in a card to send to a special friend or a keepsake to frame.
Taught by textile artist Helen Barnes.
10 June 2020
10am – 4pm
Cost: £60
Knitting with Colour - Saturday Skills Class
Take your knitting from nice to wow! Master colour changing to tackle more complex patterns, while keeping the whole thing beautifully neat (front and back).
Taught by Jane Brumwell of Yorkshire wool specialists Baa Ram Ewe.
Level: some knitting experience required
Saturday 27 June 2020
10am – 1pm
Cost: £40
Viking Hand Appliqué - Heritage Workshop
Appliqué with felts, embellished with stitch and gold beads, taking inspiration from the amazing patterns and designs left in Britain by Viking craftsmen.
Turn your sample into a unique coin purse.
Taught by textile artist Helen Barnes.
8 July 2020
10am – 1pm
Cost: £60
Know the basics but lack confidence, or learnt so long ago it’s a dim and distant memory? Renew your passion under the inspiring guidance of Yorkshire designer/maker Steffi Glaves (www.steffiglaves.co.uk).
Revisit all the stitches and practice your skills by creating a delightful amigurumi character.
Level: some experience required
11 July 2020
Cost: £40
Brontë Needle Roll & Regency Embroidery - Heritage Workshop
Sew a needle roll just like Charlotte Brontë’s and study Regency embroidery patterns and designs. Learn a range of hand-stitches and personalise your roll with lace, ribbon and beads in the tradition of 19th century ladies.
Taught by textile artist Helen Barnes.
Wednesday 26 August 2020
10am – 4pm
Cost: £60
Macramé - Saturday Skills Class
Make your own macramé plant hangers from a variety of cords and recycled t-shirts. It’s the perfect craft for anyone whose window ledges are overflowing with plants!
You’ll learn all the macramé knots you’ll need to make a variety of different designs and you should leave with one finished piece and an instruction sheets to make more at home.
Taught by Kim Searle.
Saturday 19 September 2020
10am – 1pm
Cost: £38
Celtic Goldwork - Heritage Workshop
Examine beautiful Celtic designs and choose a simple motif to embroider. Learn how to use gold leather, couch gold thread and add sequins and gems to create your piece.
Taught by textile artist Helen Barnes.
Wednesday 23 September 2020
10am – 4pm
Cost: £60
Arts & Crafts Tapestry - Heritage Workshop
Look at the tradition of tapestry in the Arts and Crafts movement and the designs of William Morris. Work on a bird or flower motif using tent stitch and cross-stitch and perhaps make a start on a larger piece to work on as the nights begin to draw in. Taught by textile artist Helen Barnes.
Wednesday 4 November 2020
10am – 4pm
Cost: £60
Knitting in the Round - Saturday Skills Class
Master working with circular needles to make seamless wonderful woollies. Using Baa Ram Ewe’s soft Winterburn wool, made from the fleece of Yorkshire’s own Masham sheep, start your own winter hat project and take enough wool away to finish it at home.
Taught by Jane Brumwell of Yorkshire wool specialists Baa Ram Ewe.
Level: Basic knitting experience required
14 November 2020.
10am – 1pm
Cost: £40
Beaded Christmas Cards - Saturday Skills Class
Create stunning be-jewelled Christmas cards under the creative guidance of Alice Richardson, creator of remarkable beaded embellishments for TV, film and cat walk designs. (www.alicerichardsontextiles.co.uk)
Level: no previous experience required
21 November 2020.
10am – 1pm
Cost: £40
Shisha Mirror Work - Heritage Workshop
Learn the techniques of Indian mirror work started in the 17th century and used by British designers for garments and soft furnishings since the ’70s.
Master how to sew on mirrors safely then make a festive star in class. Embellish you star with embroidery, including chain-stitch, ladder stitch and herringbone stitch and adorn it with sequins and beads to make it really sparkle. Along with your star, you will go home with the confidence to apply your new craft to your own textile projects.
Taught by textile artist Helen Barnes.
Wednesday 9 December 2020
10am – 4pm
Cost: £60
