I teach at a number of venues across Cheshire. The workshops are very relaxed and suitable for all levels of experience, for anyone who is interested in textiles, stitch and exploring and extending their skills. I supply everything needed and guide the group through the workshop step by step, so that no one feels rushed. Scroll to the bottom of the page for photos showing the wide range of teaching I have previously delivered.
The workshops are designed for adults. However, if accompanied by an adult, a young person of 11 or above would be welcome. I have at times visited large groups of people such as WI groups and craft groups to run workshops. To discuss this please message me though my contact page.
Scroll down for details of all upcoming workshops. Prices and booking details vary depending on the venue.
Secret
Garden
Price: £60
Date: 26th April 2025 10am-4pm
Venue: Bunbury Mill, Bunbury Village, Watermill Lane off Bowes Gate Road, Cheshire, CW6 9PY
During this workshop you will be guided to create a little secret embroidered garden with just two simple stitches. It is suitable for beginners with little sewing experience. The two stitches: French knots and straight stitch will be taught, as well as simple appliqué. Delicate voile fabric is ironed onto a muslin background, this is then stretched onto a wooden embroidery hoop.
I will demonstrate each stage as we go along, including how to use iron on Bonda Web, split stranded embroidery threads, using an embroidery hoop, and how to create the stitches. Once the embroidery is finished it is trimmed to size and glued onto the chunky artist canvas. The final canvas can stand on a shelf or go on the wall. The workshop is intended to be very relaxed and easy, yet quite unique in its approach to traditional hand embroidery.
A Stitch In Time
Block 3
5 Friday morning workshops for £80
Dates: 2nd, 9th,16th, 23rd May and 6th June
Time: 10.30am-12.30 (Please note this is a 10.30 start)
Venue: Bunbury Mill, Bunbury Village, Watermill Lane, off Bowes Gate Road, Cheshire, CW6 9PY
To book or ask a question about the workshops email me on racheldaviesartwork@gmail.com
A set of 5 Friday mornings exploring heritage stitches that can be used for mending and embellishment on garments. This is a stand alone set. (Beginners are welcome,you do not need to have completed set 1 or 2 previously). Everything is provided for a relaxing and informative series of creative mornings in very pretty surroundings at Bunbury Mill.
To book or ask a question about the workshops email me on racheldaviesartwork@gmail.com
One Day Visible
Mending Workshop
Price: £80
Date: Saturday 3rd May 2025, 10am- 4pm
Venue: Willow Gallery Oswestry, 56 Willow Street, Oswestry, SY11 1AD
To Book please contact: willowgalleryoswestry@gmail.com or phone 01691 657 575
Bringing a new lease of life to your wardrobe favourites. Join me at the inspiring Willow Gallery in Oswestry for a peaceful introduction day of experimental stitching to explore the world of visible mending.
I will take you step by step through a series of mending techniques, such as eyelets, patches and darning. Beginners are very welcome and for those of you with sewing experience this relaxing hand stitch day will inspire you to return home and turn your worn garments into unique fashion statements.
Decorative repair is very personal, there are infinite ways to ‘embellishmend’, and yours will be unique. The resurgence of mending as an art form is trending and is a step further to healing the planet.
You will be topped up with coffee, tea and biscuits throughout. Time will be taken during the lunch break to view work in the current exhibition. Everything is supplied for you during the workshop, and you will complete the day with a series of colourful samples, and an eco-cotton mending goody bag to take them home in, along with your own wooden embroidery hoop, patching fabric, needle and threads to continue with, because you will be hooked!
"Flower Patch"
Hand Embroidery Workshop
Create a unique patch for your own clothes !
During this workshop you will be guided to create a hand embroidered flower patch to be used on either jacket or jeans pockets or to attach onto a pocket on a bag with just a few simple stitches. It is suitable for beginners with little sewing experience. The stitches: lazy daisy, french knots and straight stitch will be taught, as well as simple applique.
You will paint your own canvas background, before adding texture and stitch when your fabric is stretched onto a wooden embroidery hoop. I will demonstrate each stage as we go along, including how to hand paint with eco fabric paints, split stranded embroidery threads, using an embroidery hoop, and how to create the stitches. Once the embroidery is finished it is trimmed to size ready for you to take home and add to your garments or bags.
The workshop is intended to be very relaxed and easy, yet quite unique in its approach to traditional hand embroidery.
Price: £60
Date: Saturday 10th May 2025 10am-4pm
Location: Bunbury Mill, Bunbury Village, Watermill Lane off Bowes Gate Road, Cheshire CW6 9PY
Summer
Roses
Hand Embroidery
workshop
Price: £80
Date: 7th June 2025 10am-4pm
Venue: Willow Gallery, 56 Willow St, Oswestry, SY11 1AD
To book: Speak to Anthony on
01691 657575
Join me at the wonderful Willow Gallery in Oswestry. This simple hand embroidery workshop is a celebration of the burst of colour that roses add to our summer gardens. Choose from a selection of beautiful rose printed fabrics. You will be shown how to apply acrylic paint the fabric, dry it off, and then put it into a hoop. Using just running stitch or satin stitch to echo the petal shapes you will embellish the rose fabric to give it extra texture and detail.
Once completed the embroidered fabric is then cut into a square shape and then glued onto an 15 x15 CMS artists canvas. I will guide you to work further into the piece with a little more paint. You do not need to have any experience at all in sewing or painting to enjoy this relaxing workshop as all the techniques are very simple and I will take everyone through each step. The rose fabric design becomes a pattern to stitch along and even a small amount of stitching and paint looks successful. The final canvas can stand on a shelf or go on the wall.
You do not need to bring anything for this workshop, everything is supplied. Tea coffee and biscuits will be served, and you can enjoy lunch in the Willow Cafe or bring a packed lunch. There will be an exhibition on to view during lunch time.
To book; Speak to Anthony on 01691 657575
Woollen Florals
Price: £60
Date: Saturday 11th October 2025
Time: 10 am - 3.30pm
Venue: Bunbury Mill, Watermill Lane, Bowe's Gate Rd, Bunbury near Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 9PY
Create cosy neck pieces, wrist warmers and brooches with unwanted woollens!
Join me at homely Bunbury Mill Visitor Centre to upcycle preloved jumpers into snug floral pieces that will warm up even the coldest October day! This sustainable workshop focuses on knits that have been prewashed a bit too hot and have shrunk a little, becoming felted, creating a warm, dense fabric.
Everything is supplied for this one-day workshop. In the morning you will be shown how to produce different styles of flowers all cut from unwanted knitwear. You do not need to be an expert stitcher!! After lunch you can decide whether to create a flower wrist warmer by adding to your morning’s flowers. Or start afresh and develop a flower corsage brooch.
You will leave with the instructions and knowledge to work with your own woollens at home and perhaps make a full necklace scarf.
(If you have your own unwanted cashmere, or wool jumpers that you would especially like to use then do bring them along, and once you have made the mornings samples you can begin a larger neck piece to continue at home. You do need to have washed them on a hot cycle to felt them up before arriving. If this is something you might like to do, then do message me if you have any questions).
We are all looking for ways to utilise our favourite pieces, and we all have old jumpers that are pilled or have shrunk, so before you throw them away consider reinventing them!
