Craft Groups London

Summer Crafternoon🧶🎨☕️🍰

Crafting in the Old Diorama

WILLOW BASKET MAKING

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/willow-basket-making-55](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/willow-basket-making-55) **⋆⋆⋆** A classic craft with a contemporary flair. One day willow basket-making workshop. Before the invention of the plastic bag most shopping was carried home in baskets, and in Britain willow was one of the main materials used to make them. If you have ever studied and admired work by a basket weaver, this is your chance to jump in and give your hands a treat. Over one day, experienced basket maker John Page will guide you through the stages of making a gorgeous traditional shallow basket in English Willow. This is an excellent beginner project in 'stake and strand' technique resulting in a very durable and strong structure. In this small workshop, there will be plenty of guidance and background information on this classic craft. John also repairs harps and plays the organ. He is a patient and easygoing tutor so come and join us for a creative, relaxing day. Beginners welcome. The use of all tools and basic materials is included.

INTRO TO MACHINE SEWING – 1 DAY

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-machine-sewing-1-day-92](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-machine-sewing-1-day-92) ⋆⋆⋆ If you would love to run up some new clothes or just fix a seam but are daunted by all those controls on a sewing machine, our one-day workshop will demystify them all and send you home with newfound confidence and a simple item you will make during the day. Experienced tutor Ian McQueen will guide you through how to recognise all the parts of a machine, thread the bobbins, and sew neat rows of stitching on basic materials. How to read rulers and tape measures and cut fabric accurately. Make hems, seam allowances and French seams. We have various user-friendly machines for you to try which will help you choose if you are planning on purchasing one soon. Bring lots of questions and we will supply everything else. Our classes are small and each person has a machine to themselves for the day. This is an excellent confidence booster and a great primer for all of our project sewing courses.

HAND CANING FURNITURE

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/hand-caning-furniture-98/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/hand-caning-furniture-98/) **⋆⋆⋆** **Also known as Hand, Strand or Hole-to-Hole Caning.** KEY PROJECT: HAND CANED WOOD FRAME. Suitable for beginners. Enjoyable for all. One-day weekend workshop. 10am – 5pm. Ever seen a great chair in a junk shop but noticed that the caning that spans the seat is sadly coming away at the edges? Sometimes a chair that had been caned has had an unsightly slab of plywood tacked onto the broken seat. This is an opportunity to increase your upholstery know-how and bring a ‘once pretty’ seat up to scratch. Now you will be able to snap up a bargain and re-cane the seat yourself. The task is not as daunting as you think and can be done easily in a domestic setting with no specialist equipment- unless a washing-up bowl and some golf tees could be defined as such. This is a very old traditional craft, sometimes known as hand, strand or hole-to-hole caning. Specialist split cane is woven from side to side and fixed in place. During the one-day workshop, upholstery expert Netty Erw will inspire confidence while guiding you through the stages of intertwining the fine split canes. At the end of the day, you will have completed a square panel of traditional caning to take home with pride. The skills learnt during the day will enable you to embark on your own project at home. Netty has learned her skills from her clever aunt Rachael South, who in turn learned from her grandfather. We are thrilled to share in this generation's cascade of talent. All use of tools and materials supplied. We have a cane to buy after the course if you want to get started as soon as you get home. Beginners welcome. No previous experience in upholstery is required. If your chair is wobbly or scuffed – or even repainted, you can come to our ‘[Intro to Furniture Restoration](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/furniture-restoration-wood-revival/)‘ day course and learn how to make it look loved and valued again.

ONE YEAR UPHOLSTERY COURSE

Full details and registration via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/one-year-upholstery-course/ ⋆⋆⋆ **Suitable for:** This course is suitable for absolute beginners as well as those who have some previous experience. As much of the learning is transferred verbally, a good knowledge of English is required. We do not have minimum academic qualification requirements. **About:** This course is ideal for those who wish to learn all of the practical skills associated with becoming a professional upholsterer, but do not wish to commit to the academic side of an accreditation. Our focus will be on developing top quality practical results, so that learners can learn the exacting standards required by professionals. With opportunities to study for one day per week for 36 weeks, you will be guided by an experienced professional upholsterer throughout your learning, teaching you their specialist skills to ensure you have an overall grounding. The course will cover the basics of both traditional and modern processes as required by all professional upholsterers. This reflects the techniques used within the furniture industry but will also allow for an individual’s creative desire to push the conventional boundaries. As one of our tutors sometimes says, ‘Craftspeople use this technique until someone comes up with a better way’. For those wishing to take an accredited course, please consult [www.upholsterers.co.uk](http://www.upholsterers.co.uk/) for a full list of training centres.

Crafts & chat in Central London

Autistic women & non-binary CRAFT meetup

SOLD OUT • ZINE MAKING with LESS STRESS PRESS: cultivate creativity

This event is full. Join the **[WAITLIST](https://thoughtexperiments.kit.com/waitlistlessstresspress)** and we'll let you know if a place becomes available. A special event to share the creative practice of zine making 💭✍️✂️🎨📖 IN A NUTSHELL, zine making creates opportunities to: * spend time exploring ideas * hone in on something you love or care about: a cause, a message, a skill, a place (the possibilities are endless) * get creative with collage, drawing, writing, printmaking (etc.) * produce compelling and unique booklets that you can print cheaply and share with friends and strangers offline After lots of creative brainstorming of their own, Bonny and Ellie have landed on zine making as the perfect way to both open up space for playful, low stakes creativity, and focus their minds on bite sized projects. You will soon be able to see some of their zines [here](https://www.instagram.com/lessstresspress). They’re excited to share with you! **IN THIS WORKSHOP, we will:** * Introduce the practice * Share some examples: brief history of zine making, LessStressPress examples * Get to know each other’s interests * Brainstorm using collage and scribbles: get into a low stakes, creative headspace * Use a template to plot our zines: 2 covers and 6 pages of content * Design our first zines (everything is possible with analogue materials, but if you love digital design, bring a laptop) * Sharing circle * **Optional finale:** * Visit the print shop visit together * Print copies of our new zines * LESS STRESS PRESS Pop Up: hand out copies of our new zines to strangers :-) **BY THE END OF THE DAY, we'll have** * learned a new practice to spark creativity and clarify thinking * met a new group of people and learned about the things they care enough to make a zine about * had some thought provoking conversations * produced our own original zines, ready to share :-) **NOTES ON THE GENERAL ATMOSPHERE:** Although we’ll be learning a new practice we'll also be aiming to have an enjoyable day, with good humour and fun. This will be less like school and more like a relaxed hang out in a café with an additional creative twist. **WHO SHOULD COME:** Everyone! We believe that the more perspectives, the richer the experience. This group is not about being experts, it is about thinking creatively together and learning new ways to develop and communicate ideas. **WHERE WE'LL MEET:** We'll be meeting in a beautiful little creative studio in Stoke Newington. The exact address will be provided to attendees directly. **[SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/)** \- newsletter and reflections **[WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DcSICl49X509EFdGBo3hKg)** \- stay in the loop **[INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/lessstresspress)** \- see what we look like \(content coming soon 😅\) **[WEBSITE](http://www.alltogether.one/)** \- everything else **#creativity #inclusivity #openmindedness #creativepractices #community #newskills #zinemaking**

Craft Session

Come and join us on Tuesday evening, 7-9pm for a chill evening of crafting. We meet at London Friend office, 86 Caledonian Road, London N19DN. You don't need to RSVP, so you can just show up. This session is a drop in and a chance to meet likeminded people to socialise with even if you don’t fancy getting crafty. Materials are provided onsite for FREE and no experience is needed! This social activities group is open to all LBT women plus non-binary people who have an identity within a community that centres on women. We are looking forward to seeing you! :)

September Stitch 'n Bitch

🧶 **What’s Stitch ’n’ Bitch all about?** Think of it as the sassier, yarn‑covered cousin of a book club — but with far fewer rules and far more laughter. Stitch ’n’ Bitch is a global community built on the simple joy of making things with your hands *while* having a good old natter. Whether you’re into knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross‑stitch, weaving, or just aggressively untangling a ball of yarn you found at the bottom of a drawer, you’re in the right place. The crafts are the excuse — the banter is the real event. Expect: 🧵 Stitches dropped, picked up, and occasionally sworn at 🪡 A mix of beginners, pros, and “I just like the vibes” attendees 💬 Chat ranging from wholesome catch‑ups to delightfully juicy gossip 😂 The kind of easy, silly conversation that makes Monday nights feel a lot less Monday It’s cosy, it’s creative, it’s a little cheeky — and everyone’s welcome to pull up a chair and join the chaos. What to bring: B.Y.O. yarn, knitting needles/ crochet hooks or whatever you use to craft. Knitting/crochet or sewing patterns if applicable Work in progress craft projects Agenda: Arrive to the Common at 6:30pm with your crafts, drinks and snacks (weather permitting). Come say hello and let's get crafting!

Knit, crochet, stitch and chat!

Welcome! We hope you'll join us! Please bring your current project and grab a chair! We’re an informal group, not a class, and there’s no fee to attend. If you're able, please do order a drink or snack at the bar...The Canbury Arms welcomes our group every Monday evening and we like to show our appreciation! If you are experiencing symptoms related to Covid-19, please do not attend the event. We’ll be very happy to welcome you at the next one! Find us: We meet in the restaurant side of the pub. Upon entering from the main door on Canbury Park Rd, veer to the right and make your way into the dining room; we sit at the banquette tables along the wall to the right. If in doubt, please ask at the bar! You can order drinks and snacks at the bar or use the 'Young's - On Tap' app. Christine teaches beginning knitting, intermediate/advanced knitting techniques, and beginning crochet. If you would like a private lesson for yourself or your small group, please get in touch for details. Currently, Christine is only teaching in a private capacity. Chat with us on Discord: Our group has a Discord server for staying in touch outside of our regular Monday meets! If you are a current or past member who attends in-person meet-ups, and you're interested in even more yarny chat, this is the place to join in! Contact Christine or Aisha for an invite. Accessibility: We meet in the restaurant side of The Canbury Arms, which is wheelchair accessible. If you have any questions, please do send Christine a DM!