Crochet

Join the London Women Chess Club (LWCC) for our weekly social chess session in a friendly, supportive and inclusive environment. Whether you are completely new to chess, returning after a break, or already playing competitively, you are very welcome. LWCC is an ECF award-winning community initiative dedicated to encouraging more women and girls to play chess, build confidence, and progress into competitive play if they wish. We are proud to see new members joining every month, with many progressing into league matches and tournaments. What to expect * Friendly social games * Opportunities to improve your chess * Informal group coaching and guidance to help members progress * Information about tournaments and league opportunities * A respectful and supportive environment * A growing community of women supporting each other through chess Who can join * Women and girls of all levels * Complete beginners are very welcome * Players returning after a break * Competitive players looking for a supportive community How to join LWCC To help us maintain a safe and well-organised community, we ask new members to complete our short membership form before joining our WhatsApp community. [Membership registration](https://form.jotform.com/241453653475359) [Group Coaching ](https://pci.jotform.com/form/241475449120353) Our WhatsApp group is shared with registered members so we can keep communication relevant and maintain a positive environment for everyone. About London Women Chess Club London Women Chess Club is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) focused on making chess more accessible to women and creating a positive pathway into competitive chess. We collaborate with libraries, chess organisations and the English Chess Federation to build a strong and sustainable women’s chess community in London. [Instagram!](https://www.instagram.com/londonwomenchessclub) \| [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/london-women-chess-club/)

This hands-on textile jewellery making workshop in London is an introduction to the pearl-setting technique, through the creation of a finished multi-strand textile bracelet!No previous embroidery or jewellery-making experience is required. This workshop is suitable for complete beginners, textile enthusiasts, fashion students, and anyone interested in handmade accessories with a historical reference.**What to expect:** * Make your own bracelet using beads, cotton cords, and hand-stitching. * The design is inspired by historical textile jewellery and medieval accessories, but the final piece is made to be worn now -- with summer dresses, linen, denim, or holiday outfits. * You’ll choose from a selection of materials provided on the day and complete your bracelet during the workshop. * Learn fun new jewellery making skills in a relaxed, supportive environment. By the end of the workshop, you'll leave wearing your very own handcrafted bracelet and the skills to explore textile jewellery-making further.

## Lets go play boardgames at Bardscon Bardscon is a fun, inclusive and welcoming board gaming events in and around Brentwood, Essex. Join us to play board games, RPG's and lots more geeky stuff. You have to buy a ticket https://linktr.ee/bardscon

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/hand-caning-furniture-96/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/hand-caning-furniture-96/) **⋆⋆⋆** **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.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-altering-clothes-12/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-altering-clothes-12/) ⋆⋆⋆ Learn to refashion your fashion and save it from landfill. A one-day weekend workshop learning to re-love your wardrobe. Frustrated by all those simple alterations you have to take to the dry cleaner to fix? Taking up hems? Repairing a jacket lining? No, you will soon be able to tackle those jobs yourself – even if you have never used a sewing machine. Do you have a favourite shirt with a rip in it? Do you have a skirt that doesn’t quite fit anymore? In an age that encourages us to buy less clutter, learning how to keep clothes going for longer can mean more than just a tiny spot of darning. Spend the day learning to give your clothing a new lease of life and personalising them with your individual style. Bring your outgrown but loved clothes to this beginner-friendly day workshop and re-create them into something special again. Maybe things look a bit dated and could be converted to a new style or you just want to know how to turn charity shop finds into well-fitting couture. As everyone will undoubtedly bring something different to work on, you will learn and be inspired from each other’s projects too and therefore be able to go home and refashion even more items to give them a new lease of life. Expert clothesmaker Deborah Andrews will guide this small class through the day working on your individual projects. We have easy-to-use sewing machines for everyone as well as a small selection of scrap fabrics you can use as embellishments or patches. Bring any old or new materials you want to use too. **About Deborah** Deborah graduated from Camberwell College of Arts with a BA Hons in Illustration. Over the years she has developed her own practice of drawing and illustration to combine machine embroidery with digital imagery and a bit of old-school pen and paper for good measure. Her clients include The Guardian Newspapers, The Barbican, Latitude Festival, Danny Boyle’s Shuffle Festival, Vital Arts and The Big Draw. She has been teaching drawing, fashion & clothes making, and creative textiles for over 20 years. [www.deborahandrews.co.uk](http://www.deborahandrews.co.uk/)

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/carpentry-for-beginners-step-up-low-wood-stool-2-sundays-12/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/carpentry-for-beginners-step-up-low-wood-stool-2-sundays-12/) ⋆⋆⋆ **Course:** Make a Step Up Stool **About:** Learn how to measure and mark timber accurately, use a chisel and a vintage ‘Granny’s tooth’ hand router to cut out grooves to house the legs into the sides of the stool. This course is another charming project from our a cherished Edwardian instructional woodwork manual, ‘Carpentry for Beginners’. The projects in the book are perfect for learning basic woodwork skills and we have refined the instructions to incorporate a modern craft construction. This classic ‘child’s stool’ is a handy ‘hop up’ you can use if you have shelves you can’t reach at home and small ones can reach the sink by standing on it. It measures 40cm x 22cm x 26cm high. We use a redwood pine wood that releases a heady and uplifting scent when cut, chiseled and planed. Even if you have never used any tools, a professional cabinet maker will teach you the processes you will need to take home a future heirloom along with a very special sense of satisfaction that comes with crafting by hand. You will learn how to measure and mark timber accurately, use a chisel and a vintage ‘Granny’s tooth’ hand router to cut out grooves to house the legs into the sides of the stool. By the time you have finished your useful step up stool, you will have become familiar with many of the basic woodworking hand tools and increased your confidence to go on and do more general woodwork at home.

**START AT 11AM** **Ever wondered what's inside those pyramid-shaped parcels at the Chinese restaurant?** Come and make them yourself! This Dragon Boat Festival, we're hosting a hands-on zongzi making workshop at Loong Express — one of the most fun ways to experience Chinese culture, no language skills or cooking experience required. **🏮 A little bit of history** The Dragon Boat Festival (端午节, Duānwǔ Jié) falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month and is one of the most celebrated dates in the Chinese calendar. It honours Qu Yuan, a beloved poet and statesman from ancient China who drowned himself in protest against a corrupt government. According to legend, the local people were so grief-stricken that they rowed out on the river throwing parcels of rice into the water — hoping to keep the fish away from his body. That's how zongzi were born. More than 2,000 years later, the tradition is still very much alive. Every Dragon Boat Festival, families across China gather to wrap sticky rice in lotus leaves, pack them with fillings, tie them with string, and steam them to perfection. It's a labour of love — and today, you're going to try it yourself. \*\*\* **🍃 What we'll be making** Zongzi are parcels of glutinous (sticky) rice wrapped in lotus leaves and steamed until soft and fragrant. They come in sweet and savoury versions depending on the region, and the fillings vary endlessly across China. Today we'll be making a classic savoury zongzi with: * 🍃 Lotus leaves * 🍚 Glutinous rice * 🥩 Pork * 🌹 Red dates * 🍬 Sugar Everything is provided — just bring your appetite and your curiosity. **📋 How the session runs** **11:00am** — Welcome & introduction to the Dragon Boat Festival, its history and traditions **11:20am** — Step-by-step zongzi making class led by an experienced teacher. You'll learn how to soak and layer the leaves, portion the rice, add the fillings, fold, wrap, and tie — the full process from scratch. Each person will make **3 zongzi**. **12:30pm** — Your zongzi go into the professional kitchen to be steamed while you relax and mingle **1:00pm** — Sit down and eat what you made! Any zongzi you can't finish are yours to take home. **Optional:** Stay on after the workshop and enjoy lunch at Loong Express restaurant. \*\*\* **👌 Perfect for you if…** * You're curious about Chinese food culture and want to go beyond just eating it * You're looking for a social, fun activity to do with friends or to meet new people * You want to properly celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival * You've never tried making Chinese food from scratch and fancy giving it a go No experience needed. No Chinese language skills needed. Just turn up! \*\*\* **⚠️ A few things to know** * Places are strictly limited to 30 people — this event tends to fill up fast * Please arrive on time as the class starts promptly at 11:00am * Zongzi contain glutinous rice and pork — please check the ingredients against any dietary requirements before booking * Wear something you don't mind getting a little sticky! We can't wait to celebrate with you. See you at Loong Express! 🐉

Discover the fun of colour, patterns, and fabric design in this relaxed Tie & Dye workshop Whether you’re a family looking for a creative afternoon, a teen curious about textile design, or simply someone who enjoys making things with their hands, everyone is welcome. Tie-dye is a resist-dyeing technique where fabric is folded, twisted, pleated or bound before dye is applied, creating vibrant and often unexpected patterns. In India, Leheriya artisans in Rajasthan create striking wave-like patterns by rolling and binding fabric before dyeing. This workshop draws inspiration from these traditions while encouraging participants to experiment and create their own unique designs. To bring a little piece of our own story into the workshop, the dyes we’ll be using have been sourced directly from Kolkata, India - the city where Art Rickshaw first began. Your ticket includes: * all painting materials * easels and aprons * one drink from the bar * step-by-step guidance throughout Led by our resident artist, this is a chance to slow down, get creative, and spend a colourful afternoon with the Wandsworth community. For any questions, please email **info@artrickshaw.in**.

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/49608 **Game Description:** Come and join a mid intermediate session in Canning Town 🚨Directions🚨 📍Enter via Morgan Street 🚶‍♂️5 minute walk from Canning Town Station🚗 Free car parking on site 🚿 Showers, changing rooms, water fountain & toilets are present **Rules** \- 3 teams of 6 \- Games to 15 points \- Max 2 games in a row \- Please be kind and respectful to all players 🧡

A regular meetup for those committed to practising and improving their Arabic. It is designed for those who know the very basics and want a structured opportunity to practise reading, listening, speaking, and building confidence. If you're still learning the very basics but want some motivation to keep going, you're very welcome to join. Note: This is a practice group facilitated by a native speaker - not a formal teacher or taught class, and not a Quran teaching session. 📚 SESSION FORMAT: ⏱️ 30 mins Intro & Social: We'll go around and introduce ourselves in Arabic. Feel free to prepare 2-3 sentences beforehand if you don't like being put on the spot! 🗣️ 60 mins Structured Practice: A focused session practising together with guidance : ◾ Taking turns reading passages aloud ◾ Listening to excerpts from an audiobook ◾ Working together to translate and understand the text 💬 Continued Socialising: Feel free to stick around afterwards for more informal chat and connection. ✊ Note: Active Muslims is equally about focusing on the actual activity, in this case, it is a practice session requiring mental engagement and active participation (and not just a social), therefore it is advised to approach and attend these events with that mindset, intention and purpose. 📍 LOCATION: Barbican ⌚ MEET: By the cafe G Level (Benugo) ⏱️ TIME: Meet from **11:00am** for intros and socialising. The practice session starts promptly at **11:30am** insha'Allah. 🎒 What to bring: 📚 Any Arabic texts you would like to read 🎧 Headphones (optional, if you prefer listening privately) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ If you can no longer attend, please update your RSVP to free up your spot for someone on the waiting list. ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ 🌐 **[@Active.Muslims](https://www.instagram.com/active.muslims)** *(Follow for latest events updates)*

5:45-7:45 in Conference Room B, Library lower level. Bring your yarn projects, meet new friends. If you plan to attend, please RSVP yes. If you can’t attend, please change your RSVP to no. This helps anyone who is waitlisted and it allows me to have an accurate count of attendees as our space is quite limited. Plenty of parking in the lot, in the overflow lot across the street, and on the street. See you there!

5:45-7:45 in Conference Room B, Library lower level. Bring your yarn projects, meet new friends. If you plan to attend, please RSVP yes. If you can’t attend, please change your RSVP to no. This helps anyone who is waitlisted and it allows me to have an accurate count of attendees as our space is quite limited. Plenty of parking in the lot, in the overflow lot across the street, and on the street. See you there!

**Join us for an afternoon of community art and craft time!** Whether you are looking to carve out dedicated creative time, wanting to get a lingering project across the finish line, or just looking to chat with fellow local makers—this is the space for you. 🧵 **What to Bring** Bring any art or craft project you are currently working on, as long as it is portable and quiet. Think: * **Yarn & Thread:** Knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross-stitch, hand-sewing, mending. * **Paper & Sketching:** Sketchbooks, adult coloring books, watercolors, bullet journaling. * **Digital:** Tablets, iPad drawing, laptop writing/design. * *Please note: Because we are meeting in a shared public space, no power tools, sewing machines, or high-odor materials (like strong solvents or spray glues), please!* **📍 Where to Find Us** * We will be meeting at **Columbus Metropolitan Library - Hilltop Branch** in **Meeting Room 4**. Room is reserved under **CBUS Maker Meetup.** **⏱️ Timeline** * **1:00 PM:** Arrive, grab a seat, get settled, and do a quick round of introductions so we can see what everyone is working on. * **1:15 PM - 3:00 PM:** Open maker time! Chat, craft, relax, and swap creative ideas. **⚠️ A Note on RSVPs** The RSVP count for this event is strictly limited to 10 spots. If your plans change and you can no longer attend, please update your RSVP to "Not Going" as soon as possible so someone on the waitlist can grab your spot. Please try to give at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel, allowing folks on the waitlist time to check their schedule. *** **We can't wait to meet you and see what you're making! All skill levels welcome.**

5:45-7:45 in Conference Room B, Library lower level. Bring your yarn projects, meet new friends. If you plan to attend, please RSVP yes. If you can’t attend, please change your RSVP to no. This helps anyone who is waitlisted and it allows me to have an accurate count of attendees as our space is quite limited. Plenty of parking in the lot, in the overflow lot across the street, and on the street. See you there!

12:45-3:45 in the Meeting Room, library lowest level, by the drinking fountain. Bring your yarn projects, meet new friends. Plenty of parking in the lot, in the overflow lot across the street, and on the street. See you there!

We are bringing Microsoft Build sessions to Columbus Ohio! The Central Ohio Azure Meetup and Central Ohio .NET Developer's Group (CONDG) are coming together to bring some of the labs and breakouts from Microsoft Build to your backyard. In this free, 1 day event, you are going to Build stuff with us! And yes, there will be free food. Please RSVP via [Microsoft Build //localhost:columbus | Microsoft Reactor](https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/reactor/events/27247/).

Grab a drink or some food and get to know each other. This is our first event and we can take it slow. I’d love to meet everyone and hear if there’s anything you like to get out of the group. Looking forward to meeting you all!