One of the most rewarding creative experiences I’ve taken part of. Eppie and team guide you from an initial concept to the grand finale—hanging your art on the wall. I knew I’d enjoy the embroidery, but the 12 weeks proved to be so much more than needle and thread. I was pushed out of my creative comfort zone with plen...
KristinThe Abstract Challenge
15 weeks. Two original artworks. A whole world of creative exploration.
January to April 2027
Start the new year with a creative adventure! Our latest 15-week challenge is an invitation to experiment, learn new skills, explore abstract art and discover just how much you're capable of creating.
From collage and drawing to embroidery, appliqué and decorative painting, we'll guide you through a whole range of creative exercises, gradually building your confidence and helping you develop your own original designs.
Working alongside a community of other makers, by the end of the challenge, you'll have created two pieces of textile art: a smaller embroidered piece and a larger abstract appliqué artwork, entirely designed and made by you.
You don't need to know how to draw, stitch or design to take part. We'll teach you everything you need along the way
If you already know you want to take part...
Let me explain how it all works
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There's quite a lot going on in this challenge, from the different techniques we'll be exploring to the ways you can choose your materials. So I've put together a short video explaining what you'll be creating, how the 15 weeks will work and everything you need to know about joining us.
This isn’t about perfection or polished results. It’s about shaking things up, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and remembering what it feels like to create purely for the joy of it.
Start your year by trying something different
There is something wonderfully liberating about abstract art. There are no rules about what something should look like, no obligation to make something recognisable, and no pressure to draw anything realistically.
Instead, we can concentrate on the things that make creating so enjoyable: playing with colour, arranging shapes, combining patterns, experimenting with stitches and paint, and seeing what happens when we try something unexpected. That's what this challenge is all about.
Over 15 weeks, we're going to encourage you to look at art differently, experiment with creative techniques you might never have tried before, and start trusting your own ideas.
Some weeks you'll be drawing. Others you'll be cutting up paper, making collages, experimenting with colour or learning embroidery stitches. Eventually, you'll bring everything together to create your own abstract textile artworks. And while we're going to teach you plenty of practical skills, the most important thing we hope you'll take away is the confidence to create something entirely your own.
Two pieces, one creative journey
Develop two pieces of textile ar
Your first piece: An abstract embroidery
We'll begin by exploring abstract artists, collecting shapes and motifs, making collages and developing compositions.
You'll eventually create a large abstract drawing, experiment with different colour combinations, and then do something that might feel rather alarming: cut it up. From these smaller compositions, you'll select one to translate into embroidery.
This smaller stitched piece is your opportunity to experiment with different stitches, explore texture and discover how embroidery can be used as a creative drawing tool. Using our stitching virtual course videos to guide you in learning new techniques.
Your second piece: An original abstract appliqué
For your larger piece, we'll introduce you to the wonderful world of appliqué. You'll use your designs and experiments to create a completely new composition, building it from colourful fabric shapes and adding embroidered patterns, lines and details if you choose.
Appliqué is a wonderfully satisfying technique because it allows you to work with bold shapes and colour without needing to spend weeks filling every area with stitching. The result will be a completely original piece of textile art, designed and made by you.
We'll also explore how painting and decorating your frames can transform the finished pieces, making the frames part of the artwork itself.
It's about so much more than the finished pieces
Of course, we're hoping you'll end up with two pieces you're really proud of. But that's only part of it. This challenge is designed to help you become a more confident, independent maker.
You'll discover how to find inspiration, develop your own motifs, play with composition, make decisions about colour and translate your ideas into different materials.
Read some testimonials from past challenges
How does the challenge work?
Every Monday, from 4th January to 12th April, we'll release a new creative prompt inside our Makers Space. Some weeks we'll ask you to try a series of small exercises. Other weeks you'll develop something you've already started, learn a new technique or work towards one of your finished pieces. You'll have access to written guidance, demonstrations, inspiration and virtual courses to help you along the way.
You'll also be working alongside a community of other makers, sharing ideas, seeing how differently everyone interprets the same prompts and encouraging each other through the inevitable moments when something doesn't quite go to plan.
You can work through each week's activities at a time that suits you during that week. The structure is there thought to keep you moving and give you a reason to make space for creativity. And we really do mean it when we say no experience is necessary. If you've never picked up a needle or tried making your own designs, this is just as much for you as it is for someone who has been creating for years.
Does this all sound exciting?
A little preview of your 15 weeks
Weeks 1–2: Finding inspiration
Explore abstract artists, collect interesting shapes and motifs, and begin inventing your own.
Weeks 3–4: Composition and colour
Make paper cut-outs, experiment with collage and discover how different arrangements change design.
Weeks 5–7: Creating and deconstructing
Develop a large abstract composition, colour it in and then cut it apart to discover unexpected smaller designs.
Weeks 8–9: Exploring embroidery
Turn a compositions into a stitched piece, learning different techniques for creating lines, textures, patterns and filled shapes.
Weeks 10: The impact of framing
Go wild with decorative painting to see how the frame can be an extension to the stitched piece within.
Weeks 11–14: Making your abstract appliqué
Design your larger artwork, translate it into fabric and decide whether to embroidery to bring it to life.
Week 15: Sharing and celebrating
Look back at everything you've created, share your finished pieces and celebrate how far you've come.
Everything happens inside the Makers Space
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For this challenge, we're doing things a little differently. Rather than selling the challenge as a standalone course, we're hosting the entire experience inside our Makers Space, our online home for learning, experimenting and creating together. That's because this challenge explores so many different techniques, and we want everyone taking part to have access to the tutorials, resources and support they need.
Alongside the 15 weekly challenge prompts, you'll have access to four virtual courses:
Start Stitching | Learn the basics of embroidery, from preparing your materials to mastering different stitches.
Decorative Painting | Everything you need to get started with painting and decorating your frames.
Freestyle Embroidery | Discover more expressive and experimental approaches to stitching.
The Creativity Method | Explore ways to develop your own ideas, find inspiration and build your creative confidence.
Throughout the challenge, we'll direct you to the relevant lessons, so you don't need any previous experience to take part. And there's plenty more to explore afterwards!
When you sign up, you'll become a Makers Space member for a full year. So while the Abstract Challenge finishes in April, your creative journey certainly doesn't have to. You'll have the rest of your membership year to explore our virtual courses and creative resources, join our fortnightly drop-in sessions, take part in our shorter summer challenge and continue creating alongside our community of makers.
We're hoping this challenge will be the beginning of all sorts of creative adventures, rather than something that ends after 15 weeks.
How to take part
There are just three steps to joining the Abstract Challenge.
1. Become a Makers Space member by 30th November
Your membership gives you access to the challenge, our four virtual courses and all the other Makers Space resources for a full year. Already a Studio member? You'll need to upgrade your membership to take part. Just email us and we'll help you arrange this.
2. Choose how to get your materials
You can buy our Complete Challenge Bundle for £220, which includes all the main materials you'll need, or source your own using supplies you already have. If you're buying the bundle, please order by 30th November. If you're sourcing your own materials, you'll have until 31st December to get everything ready.
3. Get ready to create!
At the beginning of December, we'll email everyone taking part with all the information you need before we begin, including a checklist of the smaller supplies you'll need to provide yourself. Then, on Monday 4th January, your first prompt will be released inside the Makers Space!
Join a community of curious makers
This isn’t our first rodeo! We have now run three challenges and had over a hundred people go through our programme, ranging from total beginners to seasoned makers. Each person has had their own take on the creative brief and found confidence in their own style. The results were nothing short of incredible.
It wasn’t just about the finished pieces. It was the process - the shared struggles, the breakthroughs, the unexpected moments of confidence-building. Participants supported each other, shared insights, and most importantly, felt less alone in what can sometimes be an intimidating creative journey.