It’s no surprise that here at Stitched Up we love sewing, and we really love teaching people to sew in our events and workshops. However, sometimes a group will come to us looking for a no sew workshop. Maybe sewing would be inaccessible to the group, or the venue isn’t suitable for a sewing activity (although we don’t need much to make it work!), or they’re looking for something more discussion based. Whatever the reason, we wanted to highlight our current favourite no sew workshops, and give you an idea of the sorts of events we can run when sewing isn’t the right option.
Lanyards
By using scrap fabric, some thread, and keyrings, we can help you make a super cool and unique lanyard for your workplace or your keys. This make is very easy to finish in one sitting, meaning participants can walk away with a finished product.
Rag Rugs
Rag rugs are a centuries old craft for using up textile scraps. Using old clothing, homewares, and any type of cloth, we can teach you how to make a gorgeous rag rug sampler which would make a cute wall hanging or coaster, rug in a dollhouse, or a jumping off point for a full rug. In our Intro to Rag Rugging workshop, you’ll learn the technique using scissors and pegs – no sewing required.
Rag Wreath/ Rag Bunting
Inspired by the centuries old craft of rag rugging, we run rag wreath workshops every winter. They are great for either a sit down or drop in workshop, and people love picking out their favourite assortment of reclaimed fabrics for their wreath. All participants need to be able to do is tie a very simple knot, and cut strips of fabric. And we can help with both of these! These wreaths look so unique, and make a really special item to bring out year on year.
Alternatively, we have the all year round option of rag bunting. This would be such a good workshop for wedding prep, or for an organisation gearing up for an event or celebration. People can work on a collaborative bunting piece, or their own individual bunting to take home. Again, knotting and cutting are the only skills they need to learn, and you don’t even have to cut very straight lines for it to look gorgeous!
Textile Waste Lab
Do you want to put on an event around sustainable fashion, but you want more of a discussion than a making workshop? In our Textile Waste Lab, participants learn about the impacts of textile waste, find out where textile waste arises locally, then work together in teams to devise community-based solutions. We love this workshop because our participants bring up new ideas and solutions every single time. It’s also a great team-building event, with the added bonus that you are helping to put forward solutions that can be put into action in communities, now.
Textile Waste Lab also works very well alongside one of our other workshops, so you could explore the problem together, then learn ways to help save textile waste from landfill in a practical way.
Private Clothes Swap
Want more of an event rather than a workshop? We’ve got you. A clothes swap is an event at which people exchange the clothes they no longer want with other swappers. Swaps are relaxed, enjoyable events – a much more positive experience than trailing round a packed shopping centre, in our humble opinion. Read why we love clothes swaps here. We’ve been running clothes swaps in Manchester since 2011, so we’re pretty experienced in how to make them work brilliantly.
If any of these sound good for your group or organisation, get in touch with us via this enquiry form and we can get planning for your workshop! If these don’t quite fit your vision, let’s chat – we always have ideas on the back burner, and we can work with you to create the perfect workshop or event, tailored just for you!
