We currently offer over 30 different sewing and crafting classes!
makeplace workshops are suitable for complete beginners who would like to learn basic sewing skills within a simple project.
Our Intermediate workshops are aimed at students who have acquired basic sewing skills and would like to progress with our expert tuition.
Intermediate workshops would be ideal for someone who has already completed a makeplace beginners project.
Techniques covered in the beginners classes include threading the machine and winding the bobbin, straight, edge and machine stitching, neatening seams by overlocking, attaching handles/pocket and boxing corners (depending on the project).
We will also offer useful pressing and finishing tips.
makeplace has the maximum of 10 students per workshop.
makeplace workshops currently listed are for adults.
makeplace workshops can be booked for group sessions/parties/corporate events.
makeplace sewing workshops are taught using our 'Juki' sewing machines and overlockers.
We are also an agent for Juki so you can purchase your machine from us and try it out first!
makeplace can offer advice and demonstrate the machines to ensure you find the model best suited to your individual needs.
Free demonstrations are also offered on each machine we sell.
If you are interested in buying a sewing machine or overlocker please call in or email us for further information, we will gladly advise.
For further information please see our FAQ section below or 'contact us' page
Frequently Asked Questions.........
How do I enrol?
There are various options, see 'enrolment' page for all details.
When/How do I pay?
Payment for all classes is required in advance to confirm your booking and secure your place. See 'enrolment' page for payment options.
How long do the classes last?
Half day classes are for 2.5 hours, 10am to 12.30 or 1.30 to 4pm. Full day classes are for approx 5 hours from 10am to 4pm with a break for lunch. Evening classes from 6.30 to 9pm.
How can I check if there are spaces available?
Spaces are generally still available unless the workshop listing says 'class full'.
Can I join a class at short notice?
We require at least 3 days notice for beginners classes and 2 weeks notice for classes where we use outside tutors. We recommend you enrol before this to secure your place and for payment to be received by our preferred method. However, if you would like to join a class at short notice please email us your contact number so that if there are spaces available we can confirm the class booking and arrange card payment by telephone.
What happens if I cannot attend the class I booked? Our class costings are based on a minimum number of students required for a class to run therefore non attendance can affect if the class is viable against tutor fees. Unfortunately we cannot refund payment if you are unable to attend a class for whatever reason. Where possible we will transfer your booking to an alternative date or class depending on our timetable and availability.
Please note that if notification for non attendance is received less than 24hrs before the class there is a £10 re-booking fee to cover administration costs.
Do you offer group bookings?
Yes! We can accomodate Birthday parties, Hen events and specialist group/corporate sessions at makeplace. The maximum group size depends on the type of class you require. We can offer alternative dates and times, group discount and tailor a class to suit a specific theme or interest. It is best to email us with your requirements so we can discuss further (see 'contact us' page).
Can I bring my own Sewing machine to use?
Sorry, to ensure the best use of class time we only use our own new Juki machines and overlockers that are already set up for the class. We also have to respect health and safety regulations.
Do you have a minimum age for students? We happily accept students from 12yrs to 14yrs provided they are accompanied by an adult. We have also held childrens hand sewing parties with their mums! It is best to email (see 'contact us' page) or call in to makeplace on enrolment days to discuss individual requirements.
Are your classes for women only? No! We have had several men attend makeplace to make aprons and cushions! We welcome both male and female students.
WORKSHOPS
Beginners Level
Make a simple fabric bag to take home!
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
CLASS FULL 25/05/13
Beginners Level

Make a simple 'envelope' back cushion cover to take home!
This season's style is a choice of plain coloured linen look fabric decorated with ric-rac trimming.
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
CLASS FULL 25/05/13
Beginners Level
Make a length of Bunting to take home to decorate a special room or event!
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple

Using our own Juki MO654DE Overlockers you will learn how this versatile machine can do so much more than just finishing seams!
You will learn how to adjust tensions and use the differential feed. Discover different stitches and techniques including inside/outside corners,working with stretch fabrics, satin and lace, flatlock stitch and rolled hems, pin tucks, edging fine fabrics and much more!
This class will give you the confidence to use the overlocker to its full potential.
If you are considering buying an overlocker this class is essential.
1 DAY CLASS £50.00
10AM TO 4PM with half hour break for lunch (tea and coffee provided please bring a packed lunch).
Tutor: Pam Jayne
Beginners Level

Keep your pegs handy with this simple to make retro style peg bag .
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Beginners/ Intermediate Levels
Learn how to read and make simple alterations on a commercial pattern.
Gain confidence in using a pattern, learn how to prepare your fabric and how to lay your pattern pieces out.
Understand the terminology used on the instruction sheet.
Master how to shorten/ lengthen/ enlarge or reduce the size of a paper pattern in order to fit .
Understand about selvedges, grainlines, balance marks etc.
£25.00 per session including materials and use of equipment.
[ You are welcome to bring your own pattern ]
Tutor: Sally Hepple
CL ASS FULL 08/06/2013
Beginners/Intermediate

Using our Juki machines learn how to achieve a free and relaxed method of stitching as you 'draw and write' with thread.
In this workshop you will learn how to set up a machine for free motion stitching and how to prepare your fabric. Then you will experiment with stitches and develop your technique.
Take home a felt needle book, embellished with a fabric layering technique that is attached using free motion stitching.
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Beginner/Intermediate level

This class will teach you how to use up those tiny pieces of fabric that we all have stashed away at home.
As you piece together fabric scraps you will create fun patchwork effect designs.
Your finished piece can be used to make all sorts of items, such as a cushion cover, a bag, a pocket for an apron etc or you can make more pieces and join them together to make a quilt.
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Beginners Level

Make a useful apron with pocket and adjustable tie to take home!
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
CLASS FULL 25/05/13
Beginners Level

Make a doorstop with a knotted handle to take home.
£29.50 per session including all materials, filling and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Intermediate Level

Learn how to make a zipped, piped cushion cover using bias cut fabric for the piping.
You will join bias piping lengths, negotiate corners and insert a zip.
Use of the overlocker is involved and the machining level is suitable for intermediates and above.
Striped ticking fabric is used so that you can see how the bias piping effect works and to make matching the pieces easier.
A very useful workshop if you wish to extend your skills and 'move up a level' in soft furnishings and the use of piping in other projects.
Tutor : Tim Gidney
Tim has had experience of working with fabrics and sewing for over 35 years.
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Beginners Level

In this workshop you will learn the techniques of Rag Rug making using jersey fabrics on a hessian base to create interesting designs and textures.
This is a great way to recycle old T-shirts and scraps of fabric!
£17.50 per session.
Hessian is provided for the 'rug' base.
Please bring some jersey or fabric cut into lengths of approx 30cms by 2cms wide.
Tutor : Heather Drysdale
Heather studied Design Crafts at Campus Suffolk, Lowestoft specialising in Rag rug making.
Beginners Level
In this workshop you will learn the basic techniques of crochet to enable you to get started on simple projects.
You will learn how to hold the yarn and crochet hook, how to make a foundation chain and how to do double and treble crochet stitches.
You will also make a simple flower corsage.
£17.50 per session
Yarn is provided and size 4.50mm crochet hook can be purchased at the workshop.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Intermediate Level

Make a statement with this lovely cushion cover.
In this workshop you will learn how to complete a contrasting 'grown on' border and work machined buttonholes.
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Intermediate Level
Bikini briefs and 'Boy' shorts

New Skimpy Shorts !

This workshop will teach you how to make your own beautiful, comfortable bikini briefs, 'boy' shorts or 'skimpy shorts' on a domestic sewing machine.
Using stretch jersey and lace you will use patterns made by designer Emma Kidd to create simple underwear with a professional look and fit.
You will learn how to handle stretch fabric and how to edge stitch lace on to fabric 'freehand' ( without pins! )
Tutor: Emma Kidd
Emma has over 8 years of experience in Lingerie design and manufacture working with both high street retailers and ready to wear designers.
£35 including all materials and use of equipment.
Choice of colours available.
Size of knickers and style to be specified when booking! (UK dress size 8-18)
Scroll down for the ' Emiliana Camisole' workshop.
Check it out at www.emilianaunderwear.wordpress.com
Suitable all levels

Learn how to make one of these beautiful flowers.
Each one is made by folding fabric squares, a form of origami!
Use them to decorate your clothes, bags, cushion covers, gifts etc.
£7.50 per session including all materials.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Please note: this session lasts for approx 1 hour.
Please email if interested before booking.
Intermediate Level

This workshop is intended as an ideal follow on to the makeplace beginners crochet workshop.
Learn to increase and decrease, start with a 'magic circle', work in the round and join in a new colour.
You will take home a sample traditional 'granny square' or a cute amigurumi mouse or bear.
Alternatively you can bring along a project that you would like to make or one that you are already working on.
Patterns will be provided for granny squares and toys.
£17.50 per session
Please bring your own hook and yarn suitable for your project.
Size 3.50mm hook and DK yarn if you wish to make a granny square or a toy.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Intermediate Level

Create a unique and very useful travel sewing kit so that you can keep up with all your sewing and embroidery projects on-the-go!
In this workshop you will complete all steps necessary to create your own sewing kit, including machine sewing, quilting, binding and creating pockets.
Sewing kits make a great gift, or treat yourself and organise your own sewing supplies!
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
[ Supplies for kit not included ]
Tutor: Amy Komarnicki
Amy is an experienced tutor from the United States with over ten years experience as a freelance seamstress and designer. She received a B.A. in Visual Arts from Brown University and has a passion for fabrics, teaching, and inspiring others.
Beginners Level

Learn how to prepare for and stitch the following techniques required in basic dressmaking ;
darts, inserting a lapped zip, attaching a facing, gathering and hemming.
This workshop is an ideal 'follow on' to any of our Beginner projects and our Reading a Pattern class.
It will give you the skills and confidence to complete a simple garment independently and to achieve a professional finish.
Students will take home samples for reference for future projects.
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
CLASS FULL 22/06/2013
Intermediate Level

Make a fun, flirty pinny with lots of frills!!
Housework need never be a chore again !
In this workshop you will learn how to prepare and attach gathered frills.
The apron ties at the neck and waist with self fabric straps.
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Intermediate Level

In this full day workshop you will make a patchwork cushion cover using nine different designs of fabric.
The front of the cover is made from nine squares and each square has nine irregular patches.
Create your own unique cushion cover as you learn how to perfect this technique.
Great fun and not as complicated as it looks!!
£49.50 per session including all materials, cushion pad and use of equipment.
10.00am until 4.00pm approx.
Please bring a packed lunch [tea and coffee provided]
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Intermediate level


Sew yourself a space saving hanging storage system.
A great way to organise your hobby accessories and keep them handy.
Just button on an extra pocket when you need more space!
Can be attached to a chair, door or inside a wardrobe.
In this workshop you will complete three matching sized pockets. You will learn how to topstitch accurately, make perfect buttonholes and reinforce seams with bar tacks.
We are sure that you will find lots of uses for this project.
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Cindy Gidney
Intermediate Level

This unique bag is a Japanese inspired project.
Make a reversible, lined handbag with an adjustable tie handle and a patch pocket.
In this workshop you will learn how to attach the lining using the 'bag out' method, perfect your topstitching and pressing techniques.
The finished bag is approx 35cm tall and 22 cms wide.
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Cindy Gidney
Intermediate Level.


In this workshop you will experiment with and perfect a range of creative techniques on our versatile Juki sewing machines.
These will include quilting, applique and machine embroidery.
You will make and take home a padded decorated ' hanger' in either bird, heart or house shape.
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Intermediate Level

Travel in style!
Make your own bag for all your travel size cosmetics and toiletries.
Made in co-ordinating fabric this bag is fully lined and has a carrying strap.
In this workshop for intermediate sewers you will develop your techniques for inserting a zipper, creating a lining, forming boxed corners and top stitching.
£29.50 per person including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Amy Komarniki
Beginners Level

In this workshop you will learn the basics of creating a small pouch with a lining, zipper, decorative pleats and boxed corners.
Using finishing techniques such as pressing and topstitching you will make and take home a lovely, useful project.
Great for holding cosmetics or jewellery and so easy to duplicate, you may want to make these as a great gift for a friend.
£29.50 per person including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Amy Komarniki
Suitable for all ability levels, ages 10 to 100 !!
Weaving on a 'laptop' loom- no rules, no mistakes, just creativity!
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Fun for all ages*
10.00am – 12.00pm
A fun and easy way to learn to weave
on a simple pre-threaded ‘laptop’ loom.
Within a few hours you can create beautiful woven pieces
that can be turned into pencil or tablet cases or a funky purse
Special rate only £20.00 per person!
includes use of pre-threaded loom
all materials are provided, although you may like
to bring some of your own to experiment with!
*children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
Tutor: Aviva Leigh
Aviva is an experienced textile designer and maker, specialising in sustainable design using natural dyes and recycled materials.
Suitable for all levels. No sewing required.

In this workshop you will learn how to make your own fully flame retardant 30cm/12" diameter drum lampshade.
Suitable for a table lamp or a ceiling pendant.
The following skills and techniques will be covered on the workshop and can easily be replicated at home:
Cutting fabric to fit the frame, applying heatproof lining, sticking. rolling and tucking.
Please bring with you:
0.5ms of the fabric* of your choice.
1.5ms of decorative trim [ optional ]
A 'fixable friend' - an old credit card to use to help adhere fabric to backing.
*Note on fabric:
Fabric needs to be at least 115cms wide, woven and mid weight.
New, vintage, plain or printed fabrics work well.
Please avoid embroidered, textured or silk fabrics.
Kits will be available to purchase after the workshop if you wish to make another shade at home.
Special introductory price;
£35 per person
Tutor: Jayc Gilsen
Jayc has studied fashion design and pattern cutting at London College of Fashion and screen printing at London College of Communication.
He designs and prints his own textiles for his capsule collection of interior accessories .
Beginners Level.
Make a garment in two and a half hours!
Treat yourself and learn how to make your very own comfy, straight leg, elasticated waist pyjama pants / loungers in a fabric of your own choice.

Using a simple pattern you will learn how to prepare the fabric, place the pattern and cut out.
You will stitch and neaten seams, make a casing and insert elastic.
Your pants will be then finished off with a ribbon bow.
£29.50 per session
You will need to bring;
*2.30ms of cotton fabric {115cms wide] and
1 metre of matching ribbon [ optional ]
* extra fabric may be required if you wish to make your pants longer.
All other materials will be provided.
On booking you will be issued with a 10% discount voucher to purchase fabric for this project at Anglian Fashion Fabrics.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Beginner Level

In this workshop you will make a square cushion cover with an inside flap and fabric ties.
£29.50 per session including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Intermediate/Advanced Level
( previous classes attended at makeplace advised )
Make a stylish and spacious lined shoulder bag with co-ordinating natural fabrics.

In this workshop you will be joining fabrics to create the main body of the bag, pleating the bag to fit plackets, making a zipped inner pocket, attaching the lining, handles and decorative buttons.
£59.00 full day session,
includes all materials and use of equipment.
(Please bring packed lunch, tea and coffee provided.)
Tutor: Cindy Gidney
Intermediate Level.

This workshop is a follow on from the knicker workshop and will teach you how to make your own beautiful, comfortable stretch camisole on a domestic sewing machine.
Using stretch lace you will use patterns created by designer Emma Kidd, founder of Emiliana Underwear.
You will learn how to handle stretch fabric and how to edge stitch stretch lace on to fabric 'freehand' ( without pins! )
Tutor: Emma Kidd
Emma has over 10 years of experience in Lingerie design and manufacture working with both high street retailers and ready-to-wear designers and is founder of the re-skilling and upcycling project, Emiliana Underwear.
www.emilianaunderwear.wordpress.com
£35 including all materials and use of equipment.
Choice of colours available.
Size of camisole to be specified when booking.
( dress sizes 8-18 )
Beginners Level


In this workshop you will learn the three basic needle felting techniques; surface embellishment, making felt fabric and sculpting pieces.
£25 including all materials and use of equipment.
Tutor: Sally Hepple
Intermediate Level
Applique is a great way to embellish a basic project, transforming it into something unique.


In this workshop you will learn how to cut out designs and prepare fabrics ready for applique.
Using our Juki machines you will experiment with suitable stitches and practise turning corners and negotiating curves as you attach your decoration.
You will take home an appliqued panel that can be made into the front of a cushion cover or framed as a picture.
£29.50 including all materials and use of equipment
Tutor: Sally Hepple



