Happy International Women's Day!

Let's celebrate women's achievements today and everyday!

Eco Factory in Camden + The Turning Point Festival (Sunday 19th Sep)

Eco Factory at the Tanneries, Bermondsey St Festival (Saturday 18th)

Make Rosettes and celebrate new area of our market!

Join Fabrications this Saturday at our new activity stall in London Fields primary school on Westgate Street, next to Broadway Market and the park. This new area of the market will focus on showcasing and selling craft + design by local creatives. Open usual market hours 9am - 4pm.

We hope to offer a programme of quick 'taster' activities aimed at all ages and abilities. We also want to invite along other designers and artists we work with also.
This Saturday is recycled rosettes. The following Saturday (10th July) make a T-Bag from a re used t-shirt then customise it with a pick n mix of haberdashery. We're then out n about at some other events (scroll down the posts for info) and we'll be back in the school yard for August onwards. Hope to see you there!

1940's Fascination!

Come along to Broadway Market's 6th Birthday and VE day celebrations this Saturday and step back in time to the 1940's for the afternoon. There will be music and swing dancing, tea + cake and to help you get in the mood, Fabrications has teamed up with Good Old Days hair salon to give you a 'head-over'!

Find us under a gazebo in the market, where we will help you create 1940's style fasinators from a pick n mix of vintage materials and haberdashery. There will also be a range of vintage head scarves to choose from if you don't want to make a head piece. A stylist from Good Old Days will help style your hair around your creation or the scarf.

2 weeks ago we were invited to create fascinators with Anna and her hens in preparation for their hens night out to the Last days of decadence. We had a lot of fun making them!

The week before we also made them with 'Knitty Gritty'. Check out Knitty Gritty member Sarah Taylor's blog 'the Nubbet'

This could be you!

Everyone's a winner at 'Craftacular'

Come and visit us in the DIY den at the Bust Magazine's Christmas 'Craftacular' event this Saturday at York Hall, 5 - 15 Old Ford Road, London E2 9PJ.
Open 12 - 7pm
There will also be over 60 crafty vendors, Tatty Devine's Christmas tree tombola, tea + cake at the pop up Christmas party with Lady Luck.
Our friends from Prick Your Finger will also be in the DIY den.


Bring along your old scarves, ties, shirts and transform them into a lovely recycled rosette for free! Read here for what Victoria Woodcock, London's Craftacular Coordinator had to say! Hope to see you there!

Rethink Rubbish

We launched our new Rethink Rubbish craft kits at this year's Pulse show. With a growing interest in craft and sustainability they were well received.
Our aim is to pass on different craft techniques and show that you can create beautiful / interesting items out of waste. One person's rubbish is another's treasure! Through my own design practise and collecting of 'waste' from local business and textile recycling factories, I have become very aware of how much materials and clothes get thrown away on a daily basis.

There are currently 4 kits in the range, which have evolved from our tried and tested workshops. Each kit contains enough re used materials and basic equipment for each project / technique and are assembled at the Fabrications studio with a sprinkling of love + fun! The printing and packaging is also eco friendly

The sustainable gift wrapping kit combines the Japanese art of 'Furoshiki' with vintage head scarves and bows. The kit contains 3 different sized head scarves (washed + ironed!) 2 bows / rosettes (with safety pins on) and instructions. A stylish way of giving and re usable!

Make your own recycled rosette kit includes enough materials (strips of re used ties, head scarves, fabrics, ribbons, lace) to make 5 rosettes. There is also basic sewing stuff for embellishing your creation (needle + cotton, buttons, safety pins..) The instruction card shows 4 different methods of creating a rosette / corsage.

Knit your own Mp3 / phone case shows you how to create your own bag yarn out of old plastic bags. There are also how to knit instructions, a simple pattern, a set of knitting needles and enough pre prepared bag yarn for the project.

Learn to weave on a simple frame includes a DIY style frame (we hope it will inspire you to create different sized ones or your own) and a range of different re used materials to experiment with. The A5 instruction card shows you how to warp up the frame, weave on it and how to finish your weave. You could make a tapestry style picture or a piece of fabric (for a purse, a table mat? - up to your imagination!)

Thank you Jawa and Midwich for your help with the graphics and to James Champion for your wonderful product shots!

Rethink Rubbish are currently on sale at Fabrications, The Barbican art gallery, The Geffrye Museum, Junky Styling, Eco People.

JULY WORKSHOPS + EVENTS

We haven't set any dates yet for our Sunday classes at Fabrications, but we will be at the following events:

Saturday 4th July - 'Holloway Arts Festival' - Big Day out in Whittington Park (off Holloway Road) 2 - 6pm

Come and make yourself a fantastical knitted boa or scarf fit for the queen of Hearts or the Mad Hatter. Learn how to use our giant French knitting wheels and knitting needles using all kinds of pre prepared fancy chunky, fluffy and fancy yarns. (FREE)
This year's festival has an Alice in Wonderland theme. http://www.hollowayartsfestival.co.uk/

Saturday 11th July - 'EC1 Summer Festival' - King Square Gardens (opposite St Luke's centre) 12 - 5pm

More Giant knitting! Come and get creative and knit large with Katherine Grace.
All equipment and materials provided. (FREE)
www.yourec1.com/summerfestival.html

Saturday 11th + Sunday 12th July - 'Newham Mayor's show' - Central Park, High Street South, East Ham E6 2 - 8pm

Come and visit us in the craft and hobbies tent!
For yes you've guessed it - Giant knitting!
We will also be running an eco bag making workshop. Transform an old t-shirt into a shopping bag and customise it with our pick n mix of haberdashery delights. (FREE)
www.newham.com/summer


Mrs Bear has invited me back for another of her lovely 'Make Do and Mend' evenings on Wednesday 8th July at the Flea Pit, 49 Columbia Road, E2, 7.30pm til late. £5 entrance fee. Includes a swap shop (bring 10 items), live demo's and alterations, and more thrifty delights!

I will be doing Rosette / corsage making and promoting my brand new 'Rethink Rubbish' craft Kits (Learn to weave, knit your own mp3 / phone case, make your own recycled rosette, sustainable gift wrapping)
These kits are now available at Fabrications and are being picked by other shops, including The Barbican!

WORKSHOPS - March, April + May

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT Come and join Barley Massey and Sue Russell at The Barbican on Saturday 7th March

11 - 12.30pm Make felt juggling balls

3 - 4.30pm Learn to weave on simple bamboo frames

£5 per workshop for further info and bookings visit www.barbican.org.uk/different

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY Incase you missed Barley and Sue on the Saturday! Remember and celebrate women's achievements at The Old Town Hall, Stratford E15 4BQ on Sunday 8th March 2 - 6pm There will be lots of FREE activities.

We will be Creating rosettes, scarves, sashes in the colours of Green (Hope), White (Purity) + Violet (Dignity) These colours were also linked with the Suffrage movement (Give Women Vote)

WORKSHOPS AT FABRICATIONS: (£20 / £15 conc per session, includes a kit) * * BOOKING REQUIRED * *

BEGINNERS KNITTING

Sunday 15th + 29th March, 2 - 4.30pm

Getting started with Barley Massey - Learn how to Cast On, Knit + Pearl Stitch, introducing a new colour and of course casting off!

INTERMEDIATE + ADVANCED KNITTING

Sunday 5th April, 2 - 4.30pm

This classes led by Rachael Matthews is tailored to what YOU want to learn! She will also incorporate info on how to read knitting patterns, shaping, increasing + decreasing, creating your own patterns, textures, 3d knitting as well as general support, advice and tips. You will need to know the basics (casting on + off, Knit + pearl) in order to make the most of this session.

CROCHET (Beginners + Improvers)
Sunday 19th April, 2 - 4.30pm

Get started, refresh or improve your techniques. Learn to crochet in rows, circular or 3d objects. All levels of crocheters are welcome. Rachael Matthews' straightforward, fun and freestyle approach will get you started
and inspired.

BEGINNERS KNITTING
Sunday 26th April, 2 - 4.30pm

Getting started with Barley Massey - Learn how to Cast On, Knit + Pearl Stitch, introducing a new colour and of course casting off!

BIG KNITTING (intermediate+)
Sunday 3rd May, 2 - 4.30pm

Leave Fabrications with your very own designer accessory
(this could be a scarf or wrap - your choice!)
This creative session will be led by Barley Massey and focusses on working on GIANT knitting needles, GIANT french knitting stools
and yes GIANT circular needles.
There will be lots of interesting chunky yarns, tassles, corsage making tool etc to design and create with.

INTERMEDIATE + ADVANCED KNITTING (best foot forward)
Sunday 10th May, 2 - 4.30pm

There has been a lot of interest expressed in learning to knit socks + gloves. If this interest is still around then this could be a special session that focusses on working on 4 needles to create leg warmers, socks,
gloves or other 3d knitted objects (with Rachael Matthews)

HAND EMBROIDERY, EMBELLISHING + CUSTOMISING
Sunday 17th May, 2 - 4.30pm

Learn simple hand sewing techniques, which can be used for repairs, alterations and decoratively. I am open to ideas for the session - I can demonstrate different embroidery stitches, cross stitching + tapestry, applique, sequining, cut work.
Applied to garments or making pictures and gifts.

CROCHET (Beginners + Improvers)
Sunday 24th May, 2 - 4.30pm

Get started, refresh or improve your techniques. Learn to crochet in rows, circular or 3d objects. All levels of crocheters are welcome. Rachael Matthews' straightforward, fun and freestyle approach will get you started
and inspired.

BEGINNERS KNITTING
Sunday 31st May, 2 - 4.30pm

Getting started with Barley Massey - Learn how to Cast On, Knit + Pearl Stitch, introducing a new colour and of course casting off!

AUGUST WORKSHOPS

Come and see us at the following places:

Saturday 16th Shoreditch Festival 'Welcome to the World' in Shoreditch Park

CUSTOMIZE! Transform your outfit with a textile creation - rosette, corsage, patch or embroidery using our pick n mix of inspirational re used fabrics, ribbons, buttons, sequins and more!
We will be in the green area 1-6pm (FREE)

Sunday 24th + Monday 25th August
Wool-N-Dance at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Please read post below for more information about the 'Wool-N-Dance'

JULY WORKSHOPS

This month we will be out and about at the following locations:

Saturday 5th July The Big Day Out in Whittington Park. Part of the Holloway Arts Festival

KNIT LARGE knit your own designer scarf using our GIANT knitting needles or BIG french knitting stools. There will be a heap of inspirational chunky yarns to work with.

RECYCLED ROSETTES make a rosette or patch from a pick n mix of reused and recycled fabrics, ribbons, buttons, sequins and more!

We will be in the Arts + Craft Zone (FREE)

Monday 7th July Royal Festival Hall, level 3, 5.30 - 7.30pm

Hyperbolic Crochet contibute to UK's first crochet corel reef which is currently on display at the Hayward Gallery and the Royal Festival Hall. Feel free to bring along your crochet hook and plastic bags! This spectacular collabrative project has been conceived by Margaret + Christene Wertheim of the Institute for figuring in Los Angeles. They've already initiated a number of hyperbolic crochet reefs in America. This is what they had to say about it " when most people see the Reef the first thing they do is laugh. It is woolly jumpers and higher geometry and girlie power and ecological awareness and mad texan housewives all at once"

We will be on level 3 and it's (FREE!)

Thursday 24th - Sunday 27th Secret Garden Party, for info click here

Emotional Baggage Handling Service - Your weekend starts and ends here!

Thursday : Check in your Emotional Baggage (No excess Baggage charges here!) and set your SMART objectives for the weekend (and beyond!)

Friday - Sunday : All day Emotional Baggage Handling + activities including: 'Everyone's a winner rosette making' creating positive affirmations and personal mottos, 'Get your Skelletons out of the cupboard' make your own demon puppet.

Evening activities : 'Tea + Sympathy', 'The Hypothecary' and the 'Debating Society'

JUNE WORKSHOPS

This month Fabrications will be out and about at the following events:

Sunday 1st June 12-6pm
Camden Green Fair and Bikefest
Come and learn how to knit with reused plastic bags. We will show you a handy technique to create a continuous strip from a plastic bag and then how to create a small object such as a purse, phone or Mp3 case. Feel free to bring along your own plastic bags and knitting kit, but there will also be materials and equipment available.
We will be in the Eco Fashion tent. (FREE)


Saturday 7th June 12-6pm
BeRecreative - London Fields Park
Customise your outfit with your very own designer textile pin on (badge, rosette, corsage, medal or patch) There will be a pick n mix of inspirational reused materials, habedashery, buttons, sequins and more to work with, with different techniques to suit all ages and abilities. (FREE)