Fabrications

Join Sustainable Hackney THIS FRIDAY EVE for the screening of the The True Cost Movie. A thought provoking film that explores the impact of the global fashion industry on our people and planet. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Q&A. More details and link for booking your seat below (FREE / suggested donation £3 - £5) Hope to see you there X
PANEL: Han ATES (denim maker, founder of Blackhorse lane Ateliers) ... Laura BAKER (artist & designer, lecturer at University of arts London, technical coordinator of print at Central Saint Martins) Barley MASSEY (tesxtilke upcycler, fixer & founder of the Fabrications shop) Rena NIAMH SMITH (journalist (podcast Future Heist), content creator for major model management agency)
DETAILS: Friday, 3rd May at St Paul's West Hackney Church Hall. 7pm - Doors open - enjoy drinks/snacks/info table/ stalls 7:30pm - The film starts (92 mins) 9pm - Panel discussion and Q&A 9:30pm - Social network/Green drinks 10:30pm - Finish
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainable- hackney-films-for-…
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We are participating in #yarnshopday tomorrow! Who is joining us? We have lots planned - FREE taster classes, PRIZE draw & GOODY BAGS. Also the lovely Lola with her @thirdvaultyarns is popping up in the house and running a class on stranded colourwork inspired by her book #boardgameknits. 🧶 Follow link in bio to Fabrications website Calendar for more info 🧶I made this piece for the window display for the first #loveyouryarnshop event organised by @letsknitmag and I thought I’d get it out again! An interesting back story about these MACRO knitting needles for all you borrowers out there - a Hackney local fished them out of John Lewis’ bin and turned up unexpectedly with them at Fabrications door “Thought you might be able to make use of these!” Should read “Love your Neighbour” ❤️

THANK YOU to all our “Refresh your Wardrobe” mending party attendees and to my fellow panelists and sustainable sisters @offset_warehouse @styleyourselfsustainable @stitchless_tv & @worn_well_uk for creating such a meaningful #fashionrevolutionweek event last night. Let’s keep learning, keep questioning, keep working together for greater good.

Our shop window this week supports the #fashionrevolution campaign and highlights how we can value and make more of the clothes we already have. We only have a few tickets left for our “Refresh your Wardrobe” #fashionrevolutionweek event tomorrow evening. Bring along 1 - 2 items for inspiration and techniques from myself and our special guests Offset Warehouse, Stitchless TV sewing vlog , Style Yourself Sustainable & Worn Well Tickets are £5. For more info & booking: http://fabrications1.co.uk/…/fashion-re volution-week-refre…/ #lovedclotheslast

Thank You Sarah for promoting our #fashionrevolution event this Thursday evening 25 April, 6.30 - 9.30pm. Sarah's thoughtful kits and book "How to be a Craftivist" The art of gentle protest are also on sale at Fabrications.

In the lead up to #fashionrevolutionweek Sarah Richards Olive Road interviewed me about my upcycling textile practise and philosophy. Read her guest blog post http://fabrications1.co.uk/how-to-be-a-fa shion-revolutiona…/ Thank You Sarah X

A few pictures from last year's Fashion Revolution Week Fashion Revolution event at Fabrications in collaboration with Offset Warehouse. This year we are focusing on ways to make more and realise the value of your clothes through mending and restyling because #lovedclotheslast. Bring along 1-2 items for a creative makeover or gain some inspiration with Barley (Fabrications) Rachel (Style Yourself Sustainable) Sarah (Worn Well) & Tree (Stitchless TV sewing vlog) There will also be a panel discussion, drinks, nibbles & Sewcialising. Thursday 25th April, 6.30 - 9.30pm. Tickets £5. More information & booking: http://fabrications1.co.uk/…/fashion-re volution-week-refre…/ #fashionrevoloution #fashionrev #fashionrevolutionweek #eastlondon

Highlight of my week was the opportunity to meet Riccardo - Thank You for visiting...AND to start making some exciting plans!! What would you like to learn from Riccardo? #greatbritishsewingbee #sewingbee #sewingclass

Following on from my last post, here is the video I mentioned, taken at Fabrications by WinkBall media of a Moody Bright Designs embroidery workshop in action with short interviews with Milou and her students. Showing how fun and stylish it can be to embroider your old clothes - #lovedclotheslast

Meet the wonderful Milou Stella @moodybrightdesigns who is running a class this Sunday at Fabrications on how to upcycle your clothes with hand embroidery. Perhaps you have items with stains, or a hole to cover or want to give an item a creative make over! The class also covers how to transfer a design, use of stabilisers (especially for stretch items) and composition. As a trained painter (from Slade school of art) Milou ‘paints’ with stitch playing with contrast, colour and... texture. She began ‘Moody Bright Designs’ as a response to concerns about fast fashion and the environment, with an urgent need to slow down and appreciate the process of making something unique and of quality, whilst avoiding waste as much as possible. There is a great video of Milou in action and interviews with her students at Fabrications created by @winkballvideo which can be viewed via Fabrications website Calendar (click on Sunday 14th April) Hope you can join us!
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“Mend” & “Skills” (or Lean & Bop) #miymarch19 Due to the high volume of requests as to whether I offer a mending service through my shop it is evident that many have missed out on the opportunity to gain basic sewing skills. I have decided to introduce some hand sewing repair classes for fabric and woollen items starting in May. These classes will cover common wear & tear, care & repair so you can prolong the life of your clothes and household items. Follow link in bio to Fabrications website CALENDARS for more information.

“Supplies” #miymarch19 Snapshots of Fabrications knitting & sewing supplies. Our sourcing choices are quality, locally produced, indie, natural, ethical, recycled, thoughtful & special! Following visiting our shop what have been your #fabricationscreations? @ Fabrications

Another New Class NEWSFLASH! Learn the art of Japanese ‘Boro’ & ‘Sashiko’ with Rob Jones . Boro derives from Boro Boro which means “Rags & Tatters’ whilst Shashiko means ‘Little Stabs’. A customer recently visited the shop wearing this jacket made from authentic Boro patches. A beautiful example of a textile item made by the hands of many. Forthcoming dates for the workshops: This Tuesday evening 26th March & Sunday 26th May . More info via Fabrications website Calendar http://fabrications1.co.uk/events/

Heartened that The Great British Sewing Bee embraced the 3 R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in this week's #sewing challenges. Hopefully an influential contribution to the many conversations and actions to slow down our levels of consumption & waste! #sewingbee #fashionrevolution #loveyourclothes #lovenotlandfill

Last Call! Places still available on our men’s waistcoat sewing workshop THIS SATURDAY! * All sewing abilities welcome (advisable to have used a machine before) * Introduction to tailoring & garment construction * All materials & pattern included * Ladies can join too!!... #sewingclass #learntosew #eastlondon More info & booking: http://fabrications1.co.uk/…/mens-waist coat-sewing-workshop/
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NEW CLASS ALERT!! Next Saturday 16th March is our ‘Men’s waistcoat sewing class’ - An introduction to tailoring and an opportunity to fine tune sewing skills such as adding a ‘welt’ style pocket and create neat buttonholing! We are actively trying to encourage more men into our sewing classes but ladies you are welcome to join this class too! The class is aimed at all sewing abilities (but it is advisable that you have used a sewing machine before) Brought to you by local st...ylist and tailor Russell Philip Peak. Russell much like ourselves is working towards zero waste through creative solutions at his @offcut.studio . He will be bringing along a selection of suitable waistcoat fabrics that are ‘end of rolls’ or ‘dead stock’ that you can use in the class. You will also get your own pattern that you can re use over and over again. For more information & booking follow link in bio to Fabrications website calendar.
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Motivation #miymarch19 The 3 C’s motivate me - Creativity, Community & Conservation. What motivates you? PHOTO: Taken at a @loveyourclothes_uk community sewing event at Fabrications.

Sharing some pictures from the archive - Fabrications 'Before' (1998) & 'After' . Discovering the 'Rescue Centre' and deciding to take it on was a real leap of faith! So glad I jumped in!!

What will you be creating this weekend? Answers on a postcard please!!
Photo: Thanks to Yodomo - who are now offering some of my sewing classes online (photographer: Kathrin McCrea)

t was a lovely workshop I have learned new techniques! Thanks to Barley for showing us how we can reuse unwanted clothes. This workshop gave me more inspiration, new ideas:)

The Upcycled beating heart of London . . . . . .X

Recently attended an event at Fabrications with Rosie Martin, author of No Patterns Needed. I learned a new way of looking at making garments, it made me feel less scared and more enthusiastic about sewing! Such an enjoyable and inspiring evening! Thanks for arranging this Barley. Fabrications is always a welcoming friendly place.

Real lovely vibe. Defo recomend to all..

Looks great! I just joined your newsletter list!

I went to the craft club recently to try out an over locker/ it was so immediately friendly and inclusive and welcoming I'll certainly be returning- and hope to learn more skills from Barley and the others there.

I love this place! Easy to learn with all the latest sewing gadgets!



Great place, great vibes, great people

I love Fabrications, I've done three workshops there now, the Provisional and Improvers machine sewing and alterations. Barley breaks it down really well and is so patient, sticking with you to get your project finished. They also have a craft club where you can drop in to get support with whatever creation your imagination can come up with. Highly recommended.

First beginners knitting class on Saturday 6th January and I'm hooked. Barley is a great teacher, the group are fabulous and it's fun! Highly recommend.

Fantastic Lino cut printing class run by Jane Smith.

Fantastic Crochet Workshop. I was a complete novice and now I can't wait to start tackling crochet projects.

Fabulous workshops, great facilities and a lovely warm atmosphere. Fabrications makes a refreshing addition to the community.

Barley's patient and step by step teaching techniques has given me all the confidence I need to start making the long awaited alterations to so many garments in my wardrobe. I was so pleased with my piece made in our workshop that I even wore it out of the class! Thanks so much Barley and to Mark too for the good music. I'm looking forward to my next class!

Barley is such a great teacher! I still can't believe the quality of the bag I made in the workshop, having never even touched a sewing machine a matter of hours earlier. A really great introduction to sewing, thank you!

An excellent place to learn new skills in a supportive environment