Bought a Sewing machine during COVID lockdown and need some help to make the most of it? Try this basic class in July and follow up learning how to make clothes, starting with a simple pair of trousers over 5 weeks in September: Trousers Sew-Along.Get 10% off the Trousers Sew-Along course starting September if you attend this class! Ease back into sewing or if you want to start afresh with this easy and satisfying soft, lined tie-top bag. The pattern is really a blank canvas for other textile techniques you can try out as well as a great stash buster item. Your tutor will supply the bag pattern & participants are given requirements list upon enrolment. First hour will be a refresh/review of everyone's sewing machine and any particular queries. NO REPAIRS/MAINTENANCE CAN BE DONE. Next two hours we will cut out & sew up the bag. Materials Required: -Sewing machine with leads, and included accessories plus manual if available. -Amounts based on 45 inch wide fabric. Medium weight quilting cottons are good. Don’t choose furnishing fabrics for this project. Will give tips for sewing if you want to use heavier weight fabrics for another project. ¾ (.75) meters for outer fabric. ¾ (.75) meters for lining. 1 ½ (1.5) total meters if you want the outer bag + lining to be the same Piece of medium weight iron on interfacing 35cm x 20cm (14in x 8in). I will have a supply for those attending in person. -Large sew on […]

Starting Your Sewing Bee Journey With Karen Odinga A five-week course, meeting each Wednesday evening from 15th September to 13th October. £35 for the full course paid in advance, or £7.50 per week (total £37.50). Get 10% off this course if you also attend "Reconnect With Your Sewing Machine & Make a Tie Top Bag" in July! If you are a beginner to sewing, you don’t have to be stuck making endless tote bags to learn the basics.  Sew up something that you can really use again and again like this smart and comfortable pair of trousers with flattering side pocket. Keep them casual or glam them up. Let’s start doing some serious sewing! We will be sewing these trousers at relaxed pace over 5 sessions with time for loads more sewing info & tips along the way! Materials Required to Bring to Sessions: Fabric Requirements: For all sizes S/M/L (45 or 60in wide fabric) 3 meters. This amount allows for shrinkage depending on what fabric you have chosen. Suggested fabrics: Cotton & Cotton blends, flannel Chambray, linen & linen blends. Viscose, Bamboo. No knits, jersey or double knits for this project. That’s for another time! Please preshrink & iron your fabric before the first session according to its content. E-mail me if you need guidance if not sure. Other Materials/Equipment: -Sewing machine with leads, accessories, extension lead and manual. -1.5 meter of ½ inch wide elastic. -All-purpose sewing thread to match your fabric -Your usual sewing kit to include […]

The Centre will be celebrating three great things on this day! In celebrating our post Covid re opening you can come and see how our new internal layout gives us a new hall with better disabled access and a changed kitchen. We will also thank Dolphin WI for the planting of a centennial apple tree in our new garden and celebrate the achievements of local community heroes by unveiling a plaque - all in one day. Chair of Braintree District Council, Cllr Sue Wilson, will attend together with several community leaders. Many of the user groups will be showing off their work and there will be some sales tables plus the obligatory tea and cake! Please book a FREE ticket here to let us know you're coming:

Mixed Media Landscapes With David Pasfield Use acrylic washes on textured or smooth paper, overlaid with different “stick” mediums, to enhance your original washes. This technique will “free up” your style, producing pleasing and sometimes experimental effects. Equipment & Materials: Acrylic paints – vibrant colours. Watercolour paper – preferable hot-pressed paper (smooth surface) at least 50 x 50 cm square. Large bristle paint brushes / decorator’s brushes. Palette knife. Easel – free-standing. Wax / oil crayons, chalks, soft pastels, felt-tip pens / markers, charcoal, acrylic inks – all colours. Palette – grease-proof paper on cardboard or stay-wet palette. Two water pots and roll of kitchen towel.

With Karen Odinga A four-week course, meeting each Wednesday evening from 20th October to 10th November. £28 for the full course paid in advance, or £7.50 per week (total £30). Learn to work with stretch knit fabrics to create a tunic or dress. With the basic T-shirt style pattern provided, you will be in control since you will have the opportunity to adjust the length for either a tunic or dress as well as creating a round or v-neck. All styles have sleeves and there are options for a ruffle and adding additional colour bands. Pattern provided is multi-sized so refer to your measurements below for fabric requirements: Sizes (in inches) X-Small Small Medium Large X-Large XX-Large Bust 30 ½ -31 ½ 32 ½ -34 36-38 40-42 44-46 48 Waist 23-24 25-26 ½ 28-30 32-34 37-39 41 ½ Hip 32 ½ -33 ½ 34 ½ -36 38-40 42-44 46-48 50 Back (neck to waist) 15 ½ -15 ¾ 16-16 ¾ 16 ½ -16 ¾ 17-17 ¼ 17 3/8 -17 ½ 17 ¾   Fabric & Materials Required: 60-inch-wide interlock, double knit jersey, spandex jersey blends. IMPORTANT NOTE: The stretch in the fabric required for this pattern is: 4 inches(10cm) needs to stretch along the crosswise grain another 2 inches (15cm) approx. Any queries? E-mail me if not sure!! Sizes X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large will require 2.5 meters for the dress/tunic with sleeves. XX-Large will require 3.25 meters. For a ruffle at the hem, an additional .75 meter will be […]

With Amanda Sutherland Part of our "Green Sewing" series. Reuse, recreate and restyle your wardrobe - finding flattering styling with eco and recycling elements in mind. Amanda Sutherland will show fabulous garment recreations that can be achieved from charity shop finds and old keepsakes, with simple yet effective methods. She will demonstrate various ways of adapting everyday clothing ,including worn and badly fitting garments, into exciting and unique fashion pieces. Amanda will show examples of clothing hacks which are easy to recreate, giving us a talk full of tweaks, surprises and repurposed fashion ideas. Amanda will also be bringing along her gift shop for you to browse at the end of the session!Discounted to £6 for EHA members!

With Pam Jermy We will be making a crewel work inspired piece of embroidery, with silks and beads. More details coming soon.Discount for EHA members!

With Karen Odinga A two-week course, meeting on Wednesday evenings 17th and 24th November. £15 for the full course, or £7.50 per week. A loose, drapey, kimono style jacket for any occasion Create an easy to sew classic cover up with drop kimono-style sleeves with the multi sized pattern provided. An easy throw-on style or chic finish to an outfit. Materials to bring: Sewing machine with leads accessories etc. Please be familiar with the basic operations of your particular model. Fabric (see below for size requirements) All purpose thread to match your fabric Dressmaking shears Dressmaking pins Tape measure Your usual sewing kit Sizes and Fabric requirements Size (in inches) X-Small Small Medium Large X-Large XX-Large Bust 30 ½ -31 ½  32 ½ -34 36-38 40-42 44-46 48 Waist 23-24 25-26 ½ 28-30 32-34 37-39 41 ½ Length of jacket from base of neck 25 1/2 26 26 1/2 27 27 ½ 28   Fabric Requirements 45-inch-wide fabric 2 meters 2 meters 2.25 meters 2.25 meters 2.25 meters 2.25 meters Fabric Requirements for 60-inch-wide fabric 1.25 meters 1.25 meters 1.25 meters 1.25 meters 2 meters 2 meters   *If you require a contrast/toning strip to the jacket edge and sleeves, add another ½ meter of desired fabric for the edging (all sizes) ** not suitable for one-way designs, plaids or any print that requires matching. Suitable fabrics: fabrics with good drape such as challis, silky satin, crepe de chine lightweight linen types and blends cotton lawn, and lightweight velvets. If […]