Get Creative! Book a Workshop

There are 56 workshops of all kinds to choose from as part of this year’s festival, from embroidery to jewellery-making, upcycling to collage, stitching, ceramics, bookbinding and heaps more. Take a look below and make sure you head to the organiser’s page to book yourself in.

TEXTILES AND FIBRE ART

Saturday 10 October

Make do and Mend with The Social Outfit
The Social Outfit Workroom, Newtown
Learn techniques to refresh you most loved garments with dressmaker Joucelen Gabriel. Materials provided, Bookings essential, $45, 10am – 12pm

Embroidery and Sewing Workshop!
UsefulBox, Marrickville
Join embroiderer Amy Jones and sewist Caz Adams for this unique workshop to embroider and embellish a lovely linen scarf. Materials provided, Bookings essential, suitable for ages 16+, $165, 6 per workshop, 10am – 4pm

Make Your Own Tote Bag Workshop with LoveAndWest
LoveAndWest HQ, Arncliffe
Turn gorgeous vintage linen tea towels and textiles into a unique shopping tote. Materials provided, Bookings essential, 3 per workshop, $75, 10am – 12pm and 12:30 – 2:30pm

Abstract Textile Collage Workshop with Rhonda Pryor
Barometer Gallery, Paddington
Sharpen your composition skills making an abstract textile collage with textured fabrics. Materials provided, Bookings essential, suitable for ages 10+, $36, 11am – 12pm and 2 – 3pm

Earrings with Flair: Pom-Poms and Tassels with the Social Outfit
The Social Outfit Workroom, Newtown
Create your own earrings using scrap yarn, string and fabric. Materials provided, Bookings essential, $45, 2 – 4pm

Sunday 11 October

CUPCO CHILDBIRTH
CUPCO HQ, Summer Hill
Make your own mini CUPCODOLL using hand-stitching, screen-printing, and other fun techniques you will give birth to your greatest child ever! Materials provided, Bookings essential, suitable for ages 8+, 10am – 1pm

Embellished Appliqué Workshop by Grandpa Cat
The Happen Store, Annandale
Design a unique embroidery piece using beautiful, vintage kimono silk appliqué, hand stitching and beading with textile artist Amy Jones. Materials provided, Bookings essential, $150, 10am – 3pm

Techstyle Tinker Time!
Bobbin and Ink, Petersham
Tinker with basic electronic components and get an insight into how they can be used in textiles. Check website for details and event times

Thursday 15 October

Craft Up Late with Nicole Robins
The Social Outfit Workroom, Newtown
Make woven wearables with The Social Outfit’s fabric remnants and weaver Nicole Robins. Materials provided, Bookings essential, $45, 5 – 7pm

Changing our approach to embroidery
Gallery76, The Embroiderers' Guild NSW, Concord West
An evening of embroidery, upcycling and creative stitching – all skill levels welcome. Materials provided, Bookings essential, free event, 5 – 8pm

Mossy Mountain Workshop by Grandpa Cat
The Happen Store, Annandale
Create an intricate and unique 3D moss inspired embroidery piece with textile artist Amy Jones. Materials provided, Bookings essential, $90, 5 – 8pm

Woven Together by Koskela
Online
Join a virtual weaving workshop with Barkindtji/Yorta Yorta woman, Tegan Murdock of Ngumpie Weaving. Weaving pack included, Bookings essential, $65, 6:30pm – 8pm

Saturday 17 October
Woven Together by Koskela
Online
Join a virtual weaving workshop with Barkindtji/Yorta Yorta woman, Tegan Murdock of Ngumpie Weaving. Weaving pack included, Bookings essential, $65, 10:30am –12pm

Upcycling Tee Shirt Embroidery Workshop with Clementine Barnes
East Sydney Community Arts Centre, Darlinghurst
Join artist Clementine Barnes for a hands-on embroidery workshop and create a personalised motif on a tee-shirt! Materials provided, Bookings essential, 10 per workshop, $30/ $20, 1 – 4pm

Native Arabesque Drawing Workshop with Kathie Najar
Barometer Gallery, Paddington
Join artist Kathie Najar in this drawing and watercolour design workshop. Learn how to stylise native flora on traditional Arabesque patterns. Materials provided, Bookings essential, suitable for ages 13+, $66, 2 – 4pm

Daily

Hoop La Embroidery Extravaganza
7 Clovelly Road, Randwick
Join us for a two-week smorgasbord of all things embroidery! Workshops for beginners to advanced – day, evening and weekend. Materials provided, Bookings essential, Tuesday 6 October – Sunday 18 October, check website for workshop times

Fibre Art in Australia Shop workshops
Fibre Art in Australia Shop, Hunters Hill
Creative classes will be offered at the Fibre Art in Australia Shop. 
Friday 9 October – Sunday 18 October, check website for workshop times

Meet the Makers by Designers on Show
The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability, Waverton
Meet the Maker daily workshops with Milliner Jenepher Walker, a maker of hats and headpieces from recycled vintage materials. Saturday 10 October – Sunday 11 October, check website for workshop times

CERAMICS

Friday 9 October – Sunday 18 October

The Craft of kil.n.it
kil.n.it Experimental Ceramic Studios, Glebe

Workshops run by the kil.n.it community:

• The Craft of Gold Lustre with Ebony Russell
• The Craft of Corrugated Coiling with Glenn Barkley
• Pinching Large Forms with Alexandra Standen
• The Craft of Blue and White Decoration with Adrienne Richards
   

Materials provided, Bookings essential, Check website for event details and workshop times

JEWELLERY

Saturday 10 October

Unnaturally Natural: Making for Change
The Bench, Joynton Avenue Creative Centre, Zetland
A participatory making workshop facilitated by Lauren Simeoni and Melinda Young. Write a message of hope and wrap it into a wearable talisman. Materials provided, Bookings essential, $20, 10am – 2pm

SquarePeg Studios Jewellery Events
SquarePeg Studios, Marrickville
Treasure Hunt launch and Exhibition: 10am to 4pm; Open Studio and Resident Jewellers Market: 10am to 4pm; Two Free 45-minute Brooch-Making workshops: 12pm and 2pm

Sunday 11 October

My Kitchen Jewels
The Bench, Joynton Avenue Creative Centre, Zetland
A sustainable creative workshop with Pennie Jagiello. Remaking discarded objects into new wearable heirlooms. Materials provided, Bookings essential, $300, 10am – 4pm

SquarePeg Studios Jewellery Events
SquarePeg Studios, Marrickville
Make a Ring in a Day Workshop: 10am to 4pm

Saturday 17 October

SquarePeg Studios Jewellery Events
SquarePeg Studios, Marrickville
Carve a Silver Ring - Wax Workshop: 10am to 4pm 

Saturday 17 October

SquarePeg Studios Jewellery Events
SquarePeg Studios, Marrickville
Earring Making Workshop - Create Art for your Ears: 10am to 4pm
 

OTHER CRAFTS

Saturday 10 October

Introduction to Bookbinding
Owl and Lion Bindery, Precinct 75, St Peters
Bind five books in one day using four different bookbinding techniques. Materials provided, Bookings essential, $260, 9:30am – 4:30pm

Sunday 11 October

Paper Marbling Taster Day
Owl and Lion Bindery, Precinct 75, St Peters
Perfect for beginners, creatives and those looking for unique Sydney experiences, $60, Session i) 9.30am - 10.30pm; Session ii) 11.30pm - 12.30pm; Session iii) 1.30pm - 2.30pm; Session iv) 3.30pm - 4.30pm

Tuesday 13 October

Beyond the fold
Owl and Lion Bindery, Precinct 75, St Peters
Explore the world of the Artist book, make your own and experiment with paper structures. Materials provided, Bookings essential, $60, 9:30am – 12:30pm

Mobifold: Playing with flexible forms by STEAMpop
Australian Design Centre, Darlinghurst
STEAMpop and Lisa Giles explore the beauty of the mysterious Möbius Strip. Using patterned paper and your own designs you will be able to twist, turn and fold paper into sculptures or unique wearables. Materials provided, 5 – 8pm

Wednesday 14 October

The Long and Short of it
Owl and Lion Bindery, Precinct 75, St Peters
Learn how to ‘long stitch’ leather to create a decorative journal perfect for drawing or writing. Materials provided, Bookings essential, $60, 9:30am – 12:30pm

Craft Up Late: Shining a Light
The New Artisans Gallery, Milsons Point
A taster event of all the classes offered by The New Artisan Gallery. Materials provided, $20, 5 – 8pm

Thursday 15 October

Bookbinding and Beer
Owl and Lion Bindery, Precinct 75, St Peters
Bind our limited-edition speciality print of ‘The Art of Brewing’ into an Artists Book while enjoying the best beer in town. Materials provided, Bookings essential, $30, 5 – 8pm

Scrap Journals
Owl and Lion Bindery, Precinct 75, St Peters
A great way of using up all those odds and ends and turn them into beautiful keepsakes. Materials provided, Bookings essential, $60, 9.30am – 12.30pm

Saturday 17 October

Introduction to Bookbinding
Owl and Lion Bindery, Precinct 75, St Peters
Bind five books in one day using four different bookbinding techniques. Materials provided, Bookings essential, $260, 9:30am – 4:30pm

Daily

Crafts you haven't tried by Waverley Council
Waverley Library and Bondi Basin, Bondi Junction
Join us for artist-led workshops on taxidermy, collage, yarn bombing, macramé and more. Tuesday 6 October - Thursday 15 October, check website for event details and workshop times

Japan Craft Shop by Simply Native
Shop 2/19 Victoria Avenue, Castle Hill
Simply Native will also be running online live workshop sessions through YouTube Live with Japanese artisans, to bring to you a truly immersive and ‘hands-on’ learning experience of Japanese craftsmanship. Check website for event details and workshop times

Make Your Mark, Online workshops from the Central Coast Online
Online
Develop skills in Japanese origami paper crafts, Russian doll making, fibre art, found object construction, ceramic classes and weaving workshops. Tuesday 13 October – Saturday 17 October, check website for event details and workshop times

TALKS

Saturday 17 October

Free Online Masterclass: How to land the artist residency of your dreams with Amy Kennedy
Online
Curious about artist residencies? Dream of doing one, but don’t know where to start? Online masterclass, Free event, 10am – 11:30am

Daily

The MakerSpace & Co. Makers Conference
MakerSpace & Co, Marrickville
A weekend of panel discussions, Q&A sessions, workshops and networking opportunities. Elements will be available online and free. Saturday 10 October – Sunday 11 October, check website for event details and workshop times

Image credits (top to bottom):

Mobifold Workshops, Mobifold, 2020. Images courtesy of STEAMpop (left)
Craft workshop. Image courtesy of D'Alton Baker Productions (right)
Kil.n.it Workshops, Scott Duncan, ceramics. Photo: Leeroy
The Bench, Image courtesy of The Bench Jewellery School Workshop
Adventures in Bookbinding, Block printing with Isabelle McGowan, 2020. Image courtesy of the Owl & Lion Bindery
How to land the artist residency of your dreams, Baer Art Centre, Iceland, 2016. Photo: Amy Kennedy