workshops

Chloe has been teaching workshops to adults and children for 10 years. Her textiles workshops are often in response to exhibitions or themes. She particularly enjoys empowering people to be creative and gently connecting sustainability, making and the objects around us.

Chloe is experienced in teaching a wide range of different workshops, specialising in the the design and production of textiles. An example of workshops she has taught are below, if you’d like to book a workshop or develop a programme with her, please get in touch.

natural dye

I run a range of natural dye workshops dyeing fabrics with food waste and plants. Natural dye has always been part of my process, and over the last 5 or so years I have been exploring a greater number of dyes and methods. These workshops are a joy to teach because everyone is always amazed at the colour you can get from everyday materials, and it’s a lovely way to discuss sustainable production, water pollution and how our clothes are made. Also, I find everyone loves to play with water and natural materials, so it’s a sensory experience for young and old!

communal weaving

This method of weaving on a multisided loom was developed during our first Craft Show, we like to call it ‘Common Cloth’. We designed and made the looms so that groups can sit all around them and chat whilst they weave. The best conversations happen when your hands are busy. Alongside the 3D looms I also teach on handmade cardboard looms, an easy DIY option participants can continue at home. Our favourite yarn to use is up-cycled jersey yarn, which is made with pre-consumer waste. We always chat about how are fabrics are made on looms, and how there is waste in that process, before it even gets to us.

The National Portrait Gallery

I was invited to organise a drop-in weaving workshop for primary school aged children at The National Gallery in response to Pintoricchino’s Penelope with the Suitors, where Penelope is seen weaving. Participants were invited to explore the exhibition, taking note of shapes and colours. They then sketched out a ‘cartoon’ before translating their design into a tapestry on the loom. Whilst learning the basics of weaving we had conversations around why people make with their hands, mindfulness, why Penelope is making, what she is working on, what is a loom and what is the loom’s context in modern day life.

making mums

After the birth of my first baby, I found myself a little adrift and surprised by the intense feeling of matrescence - which I had never even heard of before becoming a mother. All of the ‘mum and baby’ classes out there focused on the baby, and I struggled to talk to people at them. I knew that the best thing for my baby was me feeling happy, and for me, that means making. I also knew that people find it easier to open up and connect with busy hands. I developed workshops for mums with small babies, and have been teaching them regularly for 4 years, helping lots of women to relax and reconnect with themselves and others in the beautiful and tough postpartum period.

embroidery

I teach a range of simple embroidery stitches such as chain stitch, couching and blanket stitch. These workshops are great because you teach a skill participants can easily use at home, and in just an hour or two everyone is making something entirely different. I tend to select sustainable fabrics, or repurposed ones from charity shops and yodomo and bring along all different fibres from my stash so we can talk about the difference between cotton and wool, silk and acrylic. I find everyone is shocked to discover polyester is plastic! These classes can be adapted for children by using different fabrics and needles.

tassel making

I started to make tassels during a period of burn out, when I wanted to be creative but I just couldn’t do anything too complex. I was playing with wrapping yarns, and developed a technique to create tassels and small textile sculptures or charms. Everyone I’ve taught it to becomes obsessed and ends up with tassels all around their house! This workshop is great to spark creativity and encourage play.