2024 Summer of Bags
Who doesn't love a good bag? There are a million different shapes and styles: whether you're looking for a new tote to carry your essentials or a stylish clutch for a night out, knitting and crocheting bag make for a fun and rewarding project. Hand-made items are often more durable and environmentally friendly than mass-produced options too.
This summer, on Saturday mornings we'll be celebrating the Summer of Bags with a series of fun workshopalongs. These sessions are a mashup of our traditional workshops and a makealong: meaning that we'll get together to craft the bag of the week with some tuition along the way. We'll show you at least 2 techniques each week and will provide some yarn for you to practice with, so they're more lightweight than our traditional workshops but just as much fun. There's something amazing about a group of creative people getting together that is so inspirational - we'll all share ideas and colour-choices and no doubt will leave with our heads full of plans.
You'll have all morning to try out the techniques and work on your own bag using yarn you buy or bring along. You could even stay and join in the Saturday afternoon Craft and Chatters so you can get finished.
Some weeks we'll have guest tutors running a more formal workshop too.
We'll start on Saturday June 15th. Each Workshopalong will run from 10:30 until 1pm and will cost £20. The Craft and Chatter sessions are from 2 until 4pm and cost £3. You could bring a packed lunch too! We have space for around 10 people at our table so booking will be necessary.
June 15th's project is a crocheted handbag made from motif squares (see the mini version in the photo above). The techniques covered will be:
- crocheting your squares together,
- making the non-stretch handle, and
- forming the shape, plus showing you how to make other shapes with the same techniques (such as a roomy project bag).
June 22nd we'll be working on the knitted mosaic clutch bags, learning:
- mosaic knitting, and
- exploring the types of bags that can be made with a simple strip of fabric.
June 29th - Simple Origami-style bag (knit or crochet), attaching beads as you go
July 6th - Japanese Knot Bag with guest tutor Asela Ball (Knit and/or Crochet)
There are 3 styles to explore: knitted, crocheted and fusion! We can't wait to play with mixing different textiles this week.
July 20th - Macrame Handbag with guest tutor Becky Sansford. This is a full-scale workshop at £40 per person. You will receive 2 1/2 hours of macrame tuition and all materials needed.
July 27th - Crocheted Tote Bag with guest tutor Andrew Kite "Kitey" from The Yarn Whisperer. £35 per person
August 3rd - Lining your bags and attaching bought or thrifted handles. We'll use some fun granny-square bags to practice adding sewn or crocheted-together linings. Bring along any handles or straps you'd like to re-use and a supply of squares - or make them on the day.