Block of the Month
2023-10-28 13:30 - 15:30 (Europe/London) | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
This month Helen will show you the art of free motion quilting and appliqué.
What do you need to bring?

Sewing machine which must be able to drop the feed dogs or this will not work
Attachment darning foot for your sewing machine
Contrast thread
Scissors
Quilt sandwich 15″ square
0.5mtr Bondaweb for appliqués
Fabric scraps for appliqués at least 6″ square

How learning to sew helped me transform my life. A talk with Gill Thomas
2023-10-21 11:00 - 12:30 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
Gill Thomas will share her sewing journey, why and how she learnt to sew, taking part in the Great British Sewing Bee and how learning to sew helped her face her biggest fears and transform her life.
Tickets are £10 per person and all the profits will go to charity.

Create your own arm knitted blanket
2023-10-18 19:00 - 21:30 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
Join Kirsten to learn how to create your very own arm knitted blanket!
Such a fun way to spend an evening, finishing with your very own cosy blanket to take home.
There are 17 colours to choose from, subject to availability. Let us know which colour of yarn you would like when booking.
What do I need to bring?
Nothing just yourself, everything will be provided for you.
Previous experience required
None, this is suitable for absolute beginners

Me & My Little One
2023-10-18 10:00 - 12:30, 2023-10-04 10:00 - 12:30, 2023-09-20 10:00 - 12:30 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
Creative time for parents and carers, calm time for babies.
A social time for parents and carers with babies in arms to spend time being creative. You are welcome to come along and use our studio space. We will have toys and playmats on the floor for the babies. Hot and cold drinks for the adults. We also have a toilet and baby changing facilities. It’s all very relaxed.

Sewing School: Making a skirt with a zip fly part 2
2023-10-14 10:30 - 15:30 | North Yorkshire
In this session we will make a skirt with a zip fly. There is a choice of two patterns,
Tilly and the Buttons Ness or
Cashmerette Ellis
which you will have chosen for the part 1 session.
Our main focus in making the skirt will be the practical application of inserting the zip fly, and we will prioritise our time to ensure you do this successfully. Other additional features on the pattern may not be covered in the workshop, as it will depend on the length of time it takes to insert the zip fly to your satisfaction. The features we might not cover include belt loops and decorative top stitching. We will also be using a metal snap fastening on the zip fly rather than a button and buttonhole. You can of course include these additional features in your own time, or on a future make as the pattern is yours to use again and again.

Minor fitting issues such as grading between a couple of sizes, or lengthening/shortening can be dealt with, but fitting issue requiring more complex adjustments will not be possible in the time constraints of this session. If you typically experience fitting issues with ready to wear garments, you should expect that you will need to adjust dressmaking patterns and the adjustments very much depend on the specific fitting issue.
Required sewing knowledge/experience
You need to have good basic knowledge of a sewing machine and be able to sew a straight stitch. You also need a basic understanding of using a dressmaking pattern. This session is not suitable for absolute beginners that haven’t got experience of using a sewing machine or making clothes using dressmaking patterns.
Fabric and tools required
Feel free to bring your own sewing machine and supplies with you. Please ensure your machine has a zipper foot. If you would like to borrow one of our studio sewing machines please let us know during the booking process so we can have one ready for you.
You will need to bring your pattern and fabric pieces that you prepared at the last session ready to sew together. You will also need your matching thread, denim/jeans needle; metal jeans zipper – size depends on which pattern you have chosen.
If you need to purchase any supplies for this workshop contact our sister company Bugweed’s Fabrics. All purchases need to be done before the workshop to allow the workshop to start on time.

Quilt for Care Leavers Open Studio
2023-10-13 10:00 - 15:00 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
Do you love quilting and want to give back to our community?
Why not come along to our open studio day and quilt for one of our nominated charities, Quilt for Care Leavers.
Bring your own blocks and fabric to work on or feel free to use fabric from our stash. Block patterns are available for inspiration.
All finished quilts will go to a loving home.
The studio is open all day. You are welcome to stay for as long as you like. We have plenty of space for you to spread out. Ironing equipment for the perfect press. Hot and cold drinks and a toilet.
The studio is available free of charge. We do ask you to book a place so we know how many people to expect.

Baa Ram Ewe Launch Party!
2023-10-12 18:30 - 20:30 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
Join us to hear the story of the relaunch of Baa Ram Ewe and enjoy exclusive discounts on the night!
Fizz and nibbles
Craft and chat with @krafty_kris3, the colourful crochet Queen.
Bring your crafty project.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Demystifying pattern packets and grading between sizes
2023-10-11 10:30 - 14:30 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
In this session Gill will demystify pattern packets. You will learn how to measure yourself, find your size on the pattern, grade between sizes if necessary and lengthen or shorten a pattern piece if required.
Minor fitting issues such as grading between a couple of sizes, or lengthening/shortening can be dealt with, grading between a larger number of sizes may not be possible, this may require more complex adjustments, it will depend on the type of garment and the pieces.
What do you need to bring?
If you have any of the following feel free to bring them with you otherwise you are welcome to borrow ours.

Fabric tape measure
Pencil
Paper
Ruler
Highlighter

Required sewing knowledge/experience
This session is suitable for beginners.

Create a Moorland using recycled fabrics
2023-10-07 10:30 - 16:00 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
Create a Moorland with recycled fabrics using straight stitch and free machine embroidery.
Justine will teach you the skills and techniques you can use to create your own unique moorland. You may not finish your moorland during the session but you will have learnt the skills to finish it in your own time.
Recycled fabrics will be provided for you to use but feel free to bring your own.
What do you need to bring?
Your sewing machine which must have a free machine embroidery foot
Thread
Any recycled fabrics you wish to use (optional)
Previous experience required
You will need to be familiar with your machine and how to use it’s basic features such as winding and inserting the bobbin, threading up your machine and needle, changing the feet and needle and sewing a straight stitch. This session is not suitable for complete sewing machine beginners.
About our tutor
Justine is a mixed media and textile artist based in the Howardian Hills. She uses recycled fabrics and found objects to create landscape work based predominantly in the North of England. She works from her own studio/gallery and delivers a wide range of workshops. Justine was a selected artist to take part in Landscape Artist of the Year 2022 and is represented by The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle.

Be you and craft
2023-10-05 19:00 - 21:00, 2023-09-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
A monthly session for socially anxious teens and their parents/carers.
Join us for some creative time in a safe, accepting place.
This is a pay what you feel social session.

Block of the Month
2023-09-30 13:30 - 15:30 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
This month Helen will show you how to create an English paper piecing Christmas Tree using traditional hexies.
What do you need to bring?

Scrap fabrics at least 5″ suitable for Christmas tree and trunk
Needle
Thread
Scissors
Glue pen for fabric
Background fabric 14″ square

How to get the most out of your overlocker
2023-09-23 13:30 - 15:30 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
If you know the basics but want to know more about how to get the most out of your overlocker then this is the course for you.
What will you learn on this course?

Make sure your machine is set up properly
Using it for gathering
Adjusting the differential feed for different fabrics
Roll hemming
Unpicking seams
Buying and using extra feet for blind stitch, elasticator or cording

What do you need to bring?

Your overlocker and thread. Please let us know which machine you have when booking

Our tutor
Our tutor Debbie is a textiles teacher with over twenty years experience of teaching both art based textiles and technology. This has led to a wide range of skills in all areas of textiles, from stitching on machines and by hand as well as manipulation of fabrics and materials.

Help I've bought an overlocker
2023-09-23 10:30 - 12:30 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
The perfect course for beginners who want to learn the basics of how to use their overlocker.
What will you learn on this course?

Threading up, in the correct order
Understanding the parts
Understanding and adjusting tension
The cutter
Changing a needle
Looking after your overlocker, including cleaning
Raising the knife
Adjusting the stitch length
Adjusting the cutting width
How to make sure it does not come unthreaded
How to easily rethread in a different colour

What do you need to bring?

Your overlocker and thread. Please let us know which machine you have when booking

Our tutor
Our tutor Debbie is a textiles teacher with over twenty years experience of teaching both art based textiles and technology. This has led to a wide range of skills in all areas of textiles, from stitching on machines and by hand as well as manipulation of fabrics and materials.

Complete Beginners Introduction to Sewing
2023-09-13 10:30 - 14:30 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
This session is aimed at complete beginners. You will learn to sew from scratch, learning how to use a sewing machine and making a tote bag.

In this session you will be introduced to a sewing machine and how it works and learn basic sewing skills like: winding a bobbin, different types of simple stitches, seam allowances, sewing around corners, and finishing seams and hems. By the end of the session, you will have made a tote bag.
Required sewing knowledge and experience
No knowledge of a sewing machine or dressmaking is needed. This course is aimed at people who would like to sew but haven’t touched a sewing machine, or people that have sewn in the past and would like a refresher.
Fabric and tool requirements

Half a metre of medium weight cotton fabric and thread.
Feel free to bring your own sewing machine. If you would like to borrow one of our studio sewing machines please let us know during the booking process so we can have one ready for you.
Notes
All internal seams and raw edges will be finished with pinking shears.
If purchasing fabric this needs to be done before the workshop to allow the workshop to start on time.

How learning to sew helped me transform my life. A talk with Gill Thomas
2023-09-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
Gill Thomas will share her sewing journey, why and how she learnt to sew, taking part in the Great British Sewing Bee and how learning to sew helped her face her biggest fears and transform her life.
Tickets are £10 per person and all the profits will go to the charity REACH who support children with upper limb differences.

Sewing School: Making a skirt with a zip fly part 1
2023-09-09 13:30 - 16:00 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
Please note
The cost of this session is included in the price for part 2 of the workshop which is being held on Saturday 14th October. You need to book both sessions in order to attend.
In this session we will accurately take our body measurements to determine what size or sizes we will need to use with the dressmaking pattern. We will then prepare our pattern and cut out our fabric, transferring all pattern markings and finishing the raw edges with an overlocker. This means we will be ready to sew our skirt in the next session on Saturday 14th October.
There are two pattern options to choose from, depending on size.
Size UK 6-20 Tilly and the Buttons Ness or
Size UK 14-30 Cashmerette Ellis
Please let us know which pattern you would prefer to use when booking. Be sure to check the body measurements and finished garment measurements when making your selection. Do not use your ready to wear size to estimate the size needed on the pattern as they can vary significantly.
Minor fitting issues such as grading between a couple of sizes, or lengthening/shortening can be dealt with, but fitting issues requiring more complex adjustments will not be possible in the time constraints of this session. If you typically experience fitting issues with ready to wear garments, you should expect that you will need to adjust dressmaking patterns and the adjustments very much depend on the specific fitting issue.
Our main focus in making the skirt will be the practical application of inserting the zip fly, and we will prioritise our time to ensure you do this successfully. Other additional features on the pattern may not be covered in the workshop, as it will depend on the length of time it takes to insert the zip fly to your satisfaction. The features we might not cover include belt loops and decorative top stitching. We will also be using a metal snap fastening on the zip fly rather than a button and buttonhole. You can of course include these additional features in your own time, or on a future make as the pattern is yours to use again and again.
Required sewing knowledge/experience
You need to have good basic knowledge of a sewing machine and be able to sew a straight stitch. You also need a basic understanding of using a dressmaking pattern. This session is not suitable for absolute beginners that haven’t got experience of using a sewing machine or making clothes using dressmaking patterns. You will need to have previous experience of inserting a fly zip or have attended our sewing school zips skills session.
Fabric and tools required
Feel free to bring your own sewing machine and supplies with you. If you would like to borrow one of our studio sewing machines please let us know during the booking process so we can have one ready for you.
You can check the fabric and notion requirements of each pattern on their respective websites linked here:
Tilly and the Buttons Ness
Cashmerette Ellis
We will be able to provide the tools for the metal snapper.
You will also need your matching thread, denim/jeans needle; metal jeans zipper – size depends on which pattern you have chosen.
If you need to purchase any supplies for this workshop contact our sister company Bugweed’s Fabrics. All purchases need to be done before the workshop to allow the workshop to start on time.

Sewing School: Zips Skills Session
2023-09-09 10:30 - 13:00 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
This skills session is all about zips. Gill will share her hints and tips on handling zips, including inserting and shortening them. By the end of the session you will:

Have sewn a centre lapped zip
Have sewn a concealed zip
Have sewn a fly zip

Required sewing knowledge and experience
You will need to have good basic knowledge of a sewing machine and be able to sew a straight stitch. This session is not suitable for absolute beginners that haven’t got experience of using a sewing machine or fabric together.
Fabric and tool requirements
Feel free to bring your own sewing machine and supplies with you. You will need to have a zipper foot and a concealed zipper foot for this workshop. If you need to purchase one do contact our sister company Bugweed’s Fabrics Ltd.
If you would like to borrow one of our studio sewing machines please let us know during the booking process so we can have one ready for you.
Everything else you will need will be provided for the workshop.

Quilt for Care Leavers Open Studio
2023-09-08 10:00 - 15:00 | North Yorkshire

August - Block of the month
2023-08-26 13:30 - 15:30 | Bugweed’s Limited, Bugweed's Limited, Unit 3, Marrtree Business Park, Stirling Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 4AB, United Kingdom
This month we will learn the needle turn appliqué technique.
Helen will talk you through the tips and techniques of this lovely skill.
Equipment and materials you will need:

Scraps of colourful fabric
10 inch piece of background fabric
Hand sewing needles, preferably long and fine
Thread
Scissors
Pins
Fabric marking pen

No sewing machine required this month!
