In-Person Workshops
In-Person Workshops
We run a small number of in-person workshops from our Islington studio. Each workshop is guided by Eppie and based in our creative space surrounded by embroideries, textiles, and lot of inspiration. Through the workshops we want to give you the creative confidence to start creating your own designs. Each workshop just has 10 spots to ensure there is enough time dedicated to guiding you all individually.
Through experience, we have found that whilst teaching you how to get started with embroidery is possible in a group workshop, a lot of the steps really require one-on-one guidance and close to the eye work. You will find it much easier to see what's going on through videos, learning how to do everything from thread a needle, to using an embroidery hoop and onto different types of stitching. Therefore for our technical courses which we previously ran in-person (Introduction to Embroidery and Intermediate Embroidery) these have both now been combined into a virtual embroidery course, Start Stitching with The Fabled Thread.
We run a small number of in-person workshops from our Islington studio. Each workshop is guided by Eppie and based in our creative space surrounded by embroideries, textiles, and lot of inspiration. Through the workshops we want to give you the creative confidence to start creating your own designs. Each workshop just has 10 spots to ensure there is enough time dedicated to guiding you all individually.
Through experience, we have found that whilst teaching you how to get started with embroidery is possible in a group workshop, a lot of the steps really require one-on-one guidance and close to the eye work. You will find it much easier to see what's going on through videos, learning how to do everything from thread a needle, to using an embroidery hoop and onto different types of stitching. Therefore for our technical courses which we previously ran in-person (Introduction to Embroidery and Intermediate Embroidery) these have both now been combined into a virtual embroidery course, Start Stitching with The Fabled Thread.
Freestyle Embroidery Workshop
Freestyle Embroidery Workshop
This full day workshop will be focused on creating your own designs. We will spend the morning talking through how and where to find inspiration, how to look at that inspiration and pick out elements which can be stitched. Using my reference materials or pieces you have brought, we will spend time sketching designs on paper and structuring designs into a stitchable compositions. You do not need any drawing experience for this classs, it is a sewing class after all! I will show you how the worst drawings make the best embroideries!
After an hour's lunch break we will then move onto choosing colour palettes. I will walk you through different fabrics, threads and how they can be used in combination to create your own pieces. As part of this you will choose two sets of colour palettes - one to stitch on for the afternoon, and one to take home and work with later so you can practice what you have learnt.
I will guide you through how to translate the design onto fabric, how to choose what stitches and colours to use where and then we will have a few hours to stitch the pieces all together. The session will finish with a discussion on how to mount your pieces and considerations on framing or making into other objects.
At the end of the session you will receive a tote bag with a guide on the embroidery stitches, an embroidery hoop and needles, as well as your second bundle colour palette chosen in the session to take home with you to continue your sewing. The aim of the session is to get you to explore your own creativity and to go away feeling confident about creating your own designs.
This full day workshop will be focused on creating your own designs. We will spend the morning talking through how and where to find inspiration, how to look at that inspiration and pick out elements which can be stitched. Using my reference materials or pieces you have brought, we will spend time sketching designs on paper and structuring designs into a stitchable compositions. You do not need any drawing experience for this classs, it is a sewing class after all! I will show you how the worst drawings make the best embroideries!
After an hour's lunch break we will then move onto choosing colour palettes. I will walk you through different fabrics, threads and how they can be used in combination to create your own pieces. As part of this you will choose two sets of colour palettes - one to stitch on for the afternoon, and one to take home and work with later so you can practice what you have learnt.
I will guide you through how to translate the design onto fabric, how to choose what stitches and colours to use where and then we will have a few hours to stitch the pieces all together. The session will finish with a discussion on how to mount your pieces and considerations on framing or making into other objects.
At the end of the session you will receive a tote bag with a guide on the embroidery stitches, an embroidery hoop and needles, as well as your second bundle colour palette chosen in the session to take home with you to continue your sewing. The aim of the session is to get you to explore your own creativity and to go away feeling confident about creating your own designs.
Decorative Framing Workshop
Decorative Framing Workshop
Our Decorative Framing workshop can either be bought independantly or in combination with our freestyle workshop. This full day workshop will be focused on learning the basics of decorative painting and some simple motifs which can be be used in framing or elsewhere. We will talk through both freehand painting and using a stencil, and discuss the variety of paints which can be used.
After an hour's lunch break we will then move onto choosing colour palettes for creating one frame. We will talk through the colour theory of choosing paints and then each pick a colour palette which will work with your frame. You will spend the afternoon painting one of our signature Fables frames. This will either be for a piece of art you have brought yourself or for an embroidery you are stitching (in parallel you will be able to purchase a bundle of fabrics and threads in complementary colours to your frame). This frame will then be left with us to dry and be varnished, and then sent onto you the week after the workshop
Our Decorative Framing workshop can either be bought independantly or in combination with our freestyle workshop. This full day workshop will be focused on learning the basics of decorative painting and some simple motifs which can be be used in framing or elsewhere. We will talk through both freehand painting and using a stencil, and discuss the variety of paints which can be used.
After an hour's lunch break we will then move onto choosing colour palettes for creating one frame. We will talk through the colour theory of choosing paints and then each pick a colour palette which will work with your frame. You will spend the afternoon painting one of our signature Fables frames. This will either be for a piece of art you have brought yourself or for an embroidery you are stitching (in parallel you will be able to purchase a bundle of fabrics and threads in complementary colours to your frame). This frame will then be left with us to dry and be varnished, and then sent onto you the week after the workshop.
Logistics:
The studio is located at Unit 2, Canonbury Yard, New North Road, London, N1 7BJ.
The nearest tube stations are Highbury and Islington and Angel. We are a 15 minute walk from each of these stations or there are direct buses frequently. Whilst there is no parking at the studio, there are places around which you can pay for parking in.
Please try to avoid arriving more than 15 minutes before the session and we will kick off at the start time so for anyone late I can catch them up after.
I will get in touch with all attendees ~10 days before each workshop to confirm details.
We will provide light snacks and refreshments for the sessions, and for the full day ones you will have a lunch break where you can go to pick something up. There is a wonderful cafe on site offering a range of food, and you are a short walk from Essex Road and Upper Street.
For the evening sessions, you are more than welcome to bring a bottle of wine or something alcoholic to drink.
Accessibility:
The studio is on the first floor but there is lift access. There is just one small step inside the studio from the lift which cannot be avoided. We apologies to anyone who this makes the workshop inaccessible for.
Cancellations:
Unfortunately our workshop spaces are non-refundable. However if you give plenty of notice, if we can find a replacement for your spot you will receive a full refund.
We require a minimum of 4 attendees to be able to run the workshop therefore in the unlikely event that the numbers are lower than this, we reserve the right to cancel the session or offer an alternative date.
Dog:
It is likely that our wonderfully sweet studio dog, Roger, will be there for the workshops. He is very lazy so whilst he will be friendly when you first arrive he is likely to spend most of the time asleep! However if you are at all uncomfortable then just get in touch at hello@thefabledthread.com and I can arrange for him to be somewhere else for the workshop.
Cancellations:
Unfortunately our workshop spaces are non-refundable. However if you give plenty of notice, if we can find a replacement for your spot you will receive a full refund.
We require a minimum of 4 attendees to be able to run the workshop therefore in the unlikely event that the numbers are lower than this, we reserve the right to cancel the session or offer an alternative date.
Dog:
It is likely that our wonderfully sweet studio dog, Roger, will be there for the workshops. He is very lazy so whilst he will be friendly when you first arrive he is likely to spend most of the time asleep! However if you are at all uncomfortable then just get in touch at hello@thefabledthread.com and I can arrange for him to be somewhere else for the workshop.