Meet Rachel

I've been sewing for 15+ years and have worked in the costume industry and as a hobby sewist. I believe that fast fashion pushed aside the beautiful slow making skill of sewing and therefore skipped a generation.. lots of our grannies know how to sew, but it wasn't passed down due to fast fashion being so readily avaliable and cheap to buy.. so you just would! I'm on a mission to bring back the sewing machine into everyone's homes and teach as many people as I can how to sew.

Not only is sewing great of the environment, it's such a great skill to have.. from mending to creating your own garments, to using old garments and making them something that sings to you, it is also an amazing way to get into your creative flow state... which I think is so important to us human beings! Getting off screens and into your hands, using your creative brain, I think, is essential to mindfulness, awareness and joy. 

I'm by no means perfect and I don't know it all, but I'm really happy to explore deeper into sewing with anyone who wants to join the journey and I'd love to create a community of people who enjoy sewing in Cardiff. After all, we have such a rich textile history in Wales which is deep rooted within the welsh generations. 

Classes are for ANYONE who wants to join and my little studio is located in Cardiff Bay, just a 2 minute walk from the new Cardiff Bay Train station. I've got big plans and hope to see lots more lovely faces coming through the doors.

Croseo,
Rachel

The Studio

Our cosy sewing studio in Cardiff Bay feels a bit like a living room. It’s appointment only, a minute’s walk from the new Cardiff Bay station, at Studio 1, Frazer Buildings, 126 Bute Street, CF10 5LE. We’ll email directions a couple of days before your booking.

When you arrive, the music’s on and so is the kettle, with free tea, coffee and hot chocolate (and biscuits, if there are any left!).

Inside you’ll find cutting tables, sewing machines, overlockers, a chill-out area, a big mirror for admiring your makes and a growing haberdashery section.
A white Singer sewing machine being operated by a person whose hands and partial torso are visible, with blue-gray fabric under the needle on a tabletop.

Workshops

We keep our workshops to just 6 people per session, so you get plenty of one-to-one time with your teacher. We aim to release a new schedule of workshops once a month, and the first place you’ll hear about it is through our email newsletter.

Each class has a skill level, and you can find an explanation of each one below:

  • Beginner+
    No experience needed. Ideal if you’ve never used a sewing machine, or haven’t used one in years.
  • Confident Beginner+
    You’ve used a sewing machine before and can thread it and sew a straight line.
  • Intermediate+
    You’re confident using a sewing machine, have made a few projects, and are ready to learn new techniques.

Workshops times are a guide. Everyone sews at their own pace, so the class may finish a little earlier or later depending on the group. If you finish early, you’re welcome to head off.

 See workshops

Fabrics

All our fabrics are 100% natural, with no plastic. They may cost a little more, but clothes you make yourself should last.

You can buy fabric by the metre at any workshop or sewing club evening. If there’s enough interest, we’d love to add a couple of open shopping days a month.