Fabrications

Join us for an evening of “Care & Repair” on Thursday 7th November, 6 - 9:30pm. It’s our regular fortnightly Community Craft Club evening but it will be an even more special one as we are dedicating it to the annual sewing community
The usual £5 subs (or more if you wish) will be donated to the mental health charity
Bring some clothes or textile mending (hand or machine based) for some TLC and some for yourself. It will be a fun and supportive atmosphere with creative & technical advice available (if needed) as well as access to our studio’s threads, sewing machines, haberdashery and repair resources.

More info & Booking via link in bio or get in touch directly!

💚 Barley ♻️

Unfortunately our e-newsletter didn’t get out this month due to a techno barricade. We’re working on dismantling it, but in meantime here are a few sign posts from the newsletter of what’s coming up!

1) I’ll be joining my upcycling sister Kemi again for Newham’s *FREE* & in partnership with East London Waste Authority & This Saturday 26th November, 11am - 2pm at Jack Cornwell Community Centre, E12 5NN. More info

2) Meanwhile at Fabrications, this Saturday will be bringing her stitch magic for a “Day of the Dead” embroidery class (with surprise guest appearance from behind the veil!) A lovely photo of Bella with from our recent “Transformation” collab. opening event with

3) Save the Date! Thursday 7th November -
Join us for an evening of “Care & Repair” and “Menditation“ as part of the annual sewing community sewathon to raise money for
We’ll be dedicating our Community Craft Club to the Sewathon. The usual £5 subs will be donated to Mind. Book your place through our website calendar or link in bio or get in touch directly!

4) Other November classes are also live & booking!

Looking forward to being with you!

💚 Barley ♻️

Birth & Death, Life & Decay, Degeneration & Regeneration - “skull” art works from Mexico remind us that death is but the manifestation of the ONE life.

Come celebrate the full circle of existence with incredible embroidery stitches next Saturday (26th October) with in Fabrications studio. You will explore the rich heritage of the embroidery of Mexico as an art form and create and stitch your very own skull.

A great opportunity for artistic and creative beginners to embrace the colourful richness of Mexican hand embroidery and Mexican culture.

The session will also include a surprise, special guest appearance! Additionally, there will be a facepainting kit available for you to paint and wear your very own Mexican art work if you choose! Get ready for

Slide 1: “Day of the Dead“ embroidery by Bella Lane

Slide 2: Bella Lane is from Iquitos Peru. A Master Peruvian embroiderer, she went on to train at the Royal School of Needlework. She has taught hand embroidery skills all over the globe and is a world embroidery stitch collector. Recent collaborations include The V&A, British Museum and the Guildhall Art Gallery. She is currently leading a 9 month community embroidery project with , creating a sacred mantle inspired by the ancient Peruvian ’Paracas’ civilisation, which will be part of the “Mouth of the Gods“ performance in November.

Slide 3 & 4: Images from last year’s by .bidois

Don’t miss out on this special workshop with More details & booking via Fabrications website cslendar or link in bio!

Looking forward to seeing Rob Jones this Saturday for his & class with us, and hearing some of his textile tales from his recent study trip in Fujino, Japan (Each year Rob takes a group of textile enthusiasts there)

📷 Thanks to

1) Sashiko Stitching by Rob Jones
2) Rob wearing vintage kimono style jacket
3) Study group wearing their hand made Mokume Shibori dyed scarves
4) Vintage fabric with “Boro“ mending
5) Modern “Boro” inspired mending by Rob
6) Back of vintage jacket

There are a few places still available if you’d like to join too! More details on Fabrications website calendar or Eventbrite profile (see link in bio)

1 week to go! Until our & talk “Setting up and running your own sustainable fashion brand“ Thursday 3rd September, 6:30 - 9pm.

Whether your business idea is at seed stage or a mighty tree or just curious about living examples of , we warmly invite you to join us for a fun evening of connecting, learning and sharing in a relaxed and welcoming space.

Myself & Smart will be joined by
Sandy .co and Hannah

Each of us are committed to working towards more circular business models within fashion, design, craft, creative industry. We will candidly share our own journeys and experiences, with the aim of offering some guidance and inspiration on your path!

And what a great way to celebrate! &

Tickets include refreshments. More details in link in bio.

Jackets: 1of1, part of “Transfornation / a mini collaborative collection by Barley Massey & Smart Urhiofe. The collection incorporates offcuts from previous collections and linen sourced .co reuse hub.

Creative direction & photos:
Models: The makers Barley Massey & Smart Urhiofe

MAKE WAY FOR THE MUSHROOMS!

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the role that fungi play in sustaining life on earth and healing the planet

💚 Neutralizers of carbon pollution (trees slient partners)
💚 Restorer of soil quality (enhancers & decomposers)
💚 Remover of microplastics (converting into organic molecules)
💚 Mycofiltrators (reducing bacterial runoff from crop & livestock production)
💚 Cleaner of environmental disasters (contributing to regenerating soil following a hazardous “clean up“)
💚 Sustainable food source (meat supplement or replacement)
💚 Biodegradable packaging ingredient (alternative to oil based plastics)
💚 Sustainable building material source (“Biobricks“)
💚 Saviour of Bees (giving resilience to certain diseases and infections)

🧵 Supporter of darns and woollen repairs!

Sunday 29th September: “Grandma’s Hands - introduction to hand sewing repairs”

Wednesday 2nd October: Mending Surgery with Dr Mend - Kate Sekules & Emma Mathews

For more info and booking see links in bio!

Sewers!! Is your machine in need of some TLC? Or got some 'issue' that you can't resolve? Or it's time for a service and you can't find a local mechanic? (or they are booked up for months)
This is the class for you!!

Can you fix it? YES YOU CAN! Join us THIS SATURDAY afternoon, with your machine for a class with cheekyhandmades who will guide you through common issues and how to service your own sewing machine. The tutor (and mechanic) Jennie will also tailor the session to address any specific issues with your own machine. The session costs less than a regular service by a mechanic too!! (Class is suitable for all brands of sewing machine, mechanical & digital but not mini battery operated and overlockers)

In the morning Jennie will also be teaching another class "get to know your overlocker". Classes can be book individally or book both to get a discount!

How to service & repair your own sewing machine Bring along your poorly sewing machine for some TLC!

’TRANSFORMATION’ - a new mini collection and collaboration between Barley Massey & Smart Urhiofe

PROCESS >>> Fabric Alchemy >>> 360* offcuts from Not Far Behind’s previous collections into new PatchReWorked panels >>> fragments into wholeness >>> a new cycle of renewal through co creation >>> Symbols of change >>> 🦋 Butterfly 💎Diamond 💮 Lotus Flower ⚡️ Lightening Bolt

Only 1 week to go until our opening event: Thursday 19th September. We hope you can join us for....

✨ First Time viewing of the “Transformation” collaborative collection
✨ Meet the makers and learn about our inspiration and techniques
✨ Late Night Shopping
✨ Live music arrangements by (percussion) FRATTS (percussion) & special guest (Alto Sax / Electronics)
✨ Refreshments courtesy of & Sewcialising courtesy of YOU!

This is an intimate event, be sure to register (Link in bio) and arrive early! Thank You.

DOORS OPEN: 6:30pm

The collection and collaboration aims to showcase how fabrics headed for landfill can be used to encourage a slower and circular fashion, merging two different creative styles. Each piece is hand crafted in Hackney and are ONE-OF-ONE.

Collaborative Pieces & other NOT FAR BEHIND items will be on display at Fabrications between Thursday 19th September and Sunday 6th October.
Come and discover a unique piece made for you!

We are excited to be participating in the "Community Fringe" of this year's Sustainable Fashion Week and have a month long programme of events centering around 'slow' & 'circular' fashion coming up...Kicking off this Satuday with an "Introduction to garment alterations & repairs" (machine sewing) class. Have a look at what else we've got in store!
Hope you can join us!

Sustainable Fashion Week 2024 - W'shops & Events Fabrications has put together a programme of activities and events as part of the "Community Fringe" around this year's UK wide "Sustainable Fashion Week". Create, Connect, Collaborate, Challenge, Conserve and Celebrate the with us!

“TRANSFORMATION” - a new mini collection and collaboration with Smart Urhiofe of

We warmly invite you to our showcase opening at Fabrications on Thursday 19th September, from 6:30pm. Come along to see what we’ve been upto in person.

On the night we will also have music arrangements by (percussion) FRATTS (percussion) & special guest (alto sax / electronics)
Refreshments courtesy of
Be sure to register your FREE tickets link in bio) and arrive early for this intimate and friendly night!

Smart & I have been busy putting this together behind the seams! A 6 piece collection made entirely from remnants and offcuts from previous collections incorporating my PatchReWork panels, making each piece completely unique and One-of-One.
These will be available to try on and purchase during the showcase, which will also include a mini shop takeover by until 6th October. The event is also part of Community Fringe events.

On Thursday 3rd October, 6:30 - 9:30pm we are also hosting a Sewcial & Talk “Setting up & running your own sustainable fashion brand“ and wil be joined fellow creatives & - Each of us are committed to working towards more circular business models within fashion, design, creative industry and will candidly share our own journeys and experiences.
We hope you can join us for that evening too!

Creative direction & photos:
Models: The Makers: Barley Massey &

Happy to be back at Fabrications!
We are now open as “usual“
Wednesday - Sunday, 11am - 5:30pm.

A few places are still available on our “Open Day“ this Friday 6th September, 11am - 1:30pm
& 2:30 - 5pm.

🧵 Advice & machine demoes.
🧵 Discounts & Free gifts with purchases on the day.
🧵 Find out about our classes & events.

📷
Still love this photo of & I. It was such a fun and heartfull shoot and communicates the joy of learning new skills and the joy I feel sharing the skills that i’ve honed over the years.

Hello September! Looking forward to re opening the “Imaginerium“ studio this week and greeting new students and regulars. I’m feeling rested and renewed and ready for you!

Kicking off on Friday (4th September) with our sewing machine “Open Day“ aimed at those of you thinking about purchasing your first sewing machine or upgrading. Myself & Rob from “Brother“ will be on hand to answer any questions, offer demonstrations and give you the opportunity to test drive different “Brother“ machines. There will also be discounts and free gifts available on the day!

On Saturday, Rob Jones is back in the house with a day of Japanese inspired textile techniques - “Sashiko“ stitching in the morning and “Boro“ mending in the afternoon.

Sunday is my “Beginners Sewing 1“ (introduction to using s sewing machines) which is fully booked but other dates are coming up on the calendar.

For more info and booking for this month’s classes and events, please visit Fabrications website or Eventbrite (see link in bio!)

Looking forward to assisting you in developping new or enhancing practical skills and creativity.

💚 Barley X

Last month we had a “special delivery“ by bike along the canal from Hackney Wick!!

We now have a small .co fabric concession at Fabrications! Focussing on their quality cotton & linen upholstery fabric remnants - average piece size are 1.5m x 75cm. Each piece is £5 and ideal for various cushion & bag making, pieced curtains, jackets/gillets and more!

We are open Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 11am - 5:30pm this week. Back to usual opening hours from next Wednesday, 4th September.

PS: will be part of our Sewcial & Talk on Thursday 3rd October, 6:30 - 9:30pm “Setting up and running your own sustainable fashion brand“ as part of our activities More announcements about this on it’s way! Details & tickets on Fabrications website calendar & Eventbrite (link in bio!)

🧶 You are amazing!!! Since our last post, all rectangles have now been assigned on our collective KnitWork
It’s been heart warming seeing your contributions coming through! Let us know in the comments how you’re getting on or if you have any questions.

🧶 Thank you so much - this is a visual demonstration that collective resistance and hope for another world is possible!
However, we also recognise that there is a lot of unravelling work and knots to undo in our individual as well societal ’structures’.

🧶 Please share and show your progress using and do tag the three shops , and As we love seeing how you all are getting along! Send your rectangles to one of our ELYT shops by 5th September.

🧶 Photos depict previous collective knitted ELYT banners:





🧶 Feel free to join one of our in person, knit nights if you’d like to help with sewing together the rectangles and banner construction:

Fabrications: Every fortnightly Thursday 6 - 9pm

Knit with Attitude: The third Thursday of every month, 7 - 9pm

Wild and Woolly: Once a month, the next “Late Night Knitty Lockin“ is 11th September, 8 - 10:30pm

🌞 Everyone loves the Sunshine 🌞

💛 I am now on holiday, on tour! Busing & Training around the UK to catch up with friends and family.

💛 Mark-Paul will be opening Fabrications x 3 days a week - Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays for the rest of August, so you’ll still be able to pick up your crafty supplies, enquire about classes & events (now live and booking for September) or find yourself something special in my sale of upcycled items!

💛 Open “as usual“ from Wednesday 4th September.

📷

🖼 Window Display

👗

👞

I am having a SALE during August - 35% off my upcycled pieces, in store at Fabrications. I’ve posted s few pics of what to expect!

If you’re in pop in and say hello! And have a look! Each piece is remade with creativity & love, transforming the “old“ into “gold“ with only 1 in the universe - just like you!

💚 Barley ♻️

This Sunday (11th August) Join us for our annual community craft club PiKnit (and Stitch)
This year we will be in Haggerston Park (by Hackney City Farm, Goldsmith’s Row, entrance) There will also be a quiz and games with PRIZES!

Meeting Point:
12:30 at Fabrications and we will walk over together or meet us in the park later. If it’s raining we will stay at Fabrications.

What to Bring:
🧶🧵 Your Project
👗👖 Wear a Me Made or Re Made
🍎🥂 Something to eat or drink to share with the group
🪑⛱ Picnic blanket or other seating
🌝🐝 Your company, conversation and community spirit.

It’s Free to attend and all are welcome, but please book your place(s) via Fabrications website or link in bio! (to help me prep the games and prizes!) Thank You 🙏

💚 Barley 💚

In the Bag! Boom! Lovely to round up the season’s classes with this group of new sewers. Over 3 Wednesdsy evenings, they travelled from never using a sewing machine to making these multi pocketed bags made from offcuts and found fabrics. The road had its share of holes, navigation issues and U turns but they powered through and I am really impressed with everyone’s patience, perseverance and willingness to learn from “mistakes”. The third evening (on the hottest day of the year yet) was definitely like our own version of the but without the cameras and crew 😁

We are pausing classes for August to reset and renew. September classes are now live and booking (see link in bio!) or get in touch directly.

💚 Barley ♻️

Another great hosted by & at the Cundy Community Centre, Custom House, over the weekend! Such a nice turn out from the local community including support from who brought along a Wallis dress that a seam had ripped open (🙁the dress was only 6 months old but on closer inspection could see a combination of needle choice and quality of the cloth were the cause) I decided to bind the seam to close and reinforce using some bias binding in my kit (orginally from Woolworths for 39p 😀)
“Every repair has a story“

Feeling grateful to be included in the team of “Repair Specialists” for these events and always a pleasure to work alongside my upcycling sister Kemi

We had a steady stream of clothing & textile items to repair and alter including:

👖 3 x trousers re hemmed

👗 Chiffon dress re hem

👖 Children’s jeans patched on knees

🧵 A couple of plether skirts opened seams re stitched.

🪡 Hole in a dog bean bag bed fixed to prevent spillage!

👖 Elastic re attached to leggings.

👜 3 x bags for zip surgery!

👗 Ripped seam patched and closed with bias binding.

If you are interested in learning these type of skills for yourself, I run regular hand and machine sewing classes. New dates for September are now live and booking - More details on Fabrications website calendar (see link In bio!)

💚 Barley ♻️

We only have a few workshops left for July, before we take a break from teaching to reset and renew during August. New dates for September now live and booking! More details on Fabrications website calendar (link in bio!)

🧶 This Saturday 20th July - Beginners Crochet with Aikeda.

🧵This Sunday 21st July - “Windrush Toile Decoupatch” with appliqué, hand embroidery & beading with Elizabeth Joseph

🧶 Saturday 27th July - Beginners Crochet (Next Steps) with Aikeda

🧵 Sunday 28th July - “Grandma’s Hands“ - introduction to hand sewing repairs (AM: fabric items, PM: woollens)

Then & Now & Then...love these photos from 2017 from last book event with celebratory window display at Fabrications.

In essence nothing has changed since then, but externally so much has, the social, political and envitonmental climate of our world has rapidly altered.
More than ever we need to continue our work in shining the light of awareness, know the principle of Cause & Effect, stay open to learning, practice compassion, kindness and understanding and Be the change we wish to see in the world.
Sarah’s approach to “gentle protest“ and Craftivism offer transformational tools and actions to help oeople on their journey as “change-makers”.

I’m looking forward to our and “in conversation with Sarah this Thursday 11th July, 6:30 - 9:30pm. We will be discussing Sarah’s new book “The Craftivist Collective Handbook“ and the art of gentle protest, followed by a Q&A with you! There will also be refreshments and time to unwind, get inspired and make connections!

There are a few tickets still available. See link in bio or visit Fabrications website calendar to book yours!
💚 Barley 💚

Fun and repair satisfaction was measuring high on the studio fixometer yesterday with for my monthly “Freestyle Open Sewing“ session.
My neighbour of many years and owner of “Lock 7“ bike shop, Kathryn is no stranger to repair, so in her current role as shop manager she is helping customers get their much loved Ally Cappellino bags repaired and refurbished in house at the shop on
These bags are certainly built to last and the leather used just gets better with age, but as is to be expected after years of constant use, the zips can go and the linings get worn and stained, so replacing zips and linings were the skills we focussed on during the session.
We were “In it to Win it“ with Peter Gill’s wife’s bag of over 10 years by making an entire new lining that reused existing pocket components. (Peter runs an attendance initiative by the same name in schools)
Both of us really chuffed with the end results! Well done Kathryn for being so patient and good humoured with my Tao of sewing teachings, some tricky maneuvers, unpicking and reconstructing!

✨ Only 2 weeks to go until our next when I will be In conversation with award winning, author & Fellow, on Thursday 11th July, 6:30 - 9:30pm ✨

✨We will be discussing Sarah’s new book “The Craftivist Handbook“, focussing on the art of and how can be a transformational tool for personal wellbeing and community cohesion ✨

✨ There will also be a window display and mini exhibition of Sarah’s Craftivism work and previous projects, Kits & resourses and Refreshments will also be served! ✨

✨ Those of you that have attended our previous sewcials, know, these events are intimate and brought forth from the heart, offering inspiration and opportunities to connect / re connect. We are very happy to have been included in Sarah’s current UK wide book tour! ✨

✨ Sew! All that’s left to say is “Have you booked your ticket? See link in bio! ✨

💚 Barley X

💛 Honouring and Celebrating the Windrush generation 💛

We are excited to welcome Elizabeth Joseph into Fabrications fold who will be hosting 2 special workshops next month. Elizabeth will share some creative textile skills passed down by her family alongside her academic resesrch into traditional textile crafts from the Caribbean.

Elizabeth has designed a limited edition celebratory “Windrush Toile“ fabric. The toile is hand drawn by Elizabeth and based on images of African and Caribbean women who came to the UK during the 1950’s & 60’s. A unique take on traditional French toile fabrics from the 1700’s depicting pastoral motifs of wealthy people at leisure.

Working with the “Windrush Toile” and African patterned fabrics, Elizabeth will guide you through different appliqué, hand embroidery and beading techniques to decorate / personalise to create your own piece of textile mixed media “hoop art” (or future patch / custom piece) whilst also sharing her memories, research and a pre prepared non alcoholic cocktail made from ginger beer, lime, cinnamon and Angostura!

Elizabeth is an experienced creative workshop host, most recently and . She also runs regular craft workshops for elders of African Caribbean Community groups in London and has founded a non profit “Heritage Community Crafts CIC”

We hope you can join us! Sunday 21st July, 11am - 1:30pm & 2:30 - 5pm. (£35 per session or £60 full day) For more information and booking see Fabrications website calendar (link in bio)

Get ready for the weekend! T-shirt weather is here! Hot off the sewing machine, my latest batch of patchworked T-shirt items including:

“Love Power“, “Crew“ & “Front to Back“

Artwear, remade with love in the heart of Hackney. Each piece is playfully patched together reusing “old“ t-shirts and printed organic cotton “offcuts“ & “test runs“ from studio. The offcut shapes are often my starting point for creating a unique cloth with no waste. Sizing and styling varies with only 1 of each design in the universe - come and discover if there is one made for you!

💚 Barley ♻️