Knitting with SWCraftClub

On Sunday afternoon, before all of the craziness erupted in London, we took part in SWCraftClub’s pop up craft event at the Landor pub in Clapham. It’s difficult to picture a more contrasting scene to the madness that came later that evening. Around eight groups of crafty folks got together in a pub garden to help people make badges, jewellery, mood boards and upcycle their wardrobe. Makerhood’s contribution was a knitting and crochet drop-in workshop. We had two experts, Viv and Shona, on hand to get beginners started and to teach new techniques to those who were more advanced. And they did a brilliant job! Over the afternoon they taught crocheting to complete beginners, polished up rusty knitting skills and handled every request for advice that skilled knitters and crocheters threw at them.

We’d prepared a wide range of materials for people to use, including wool of course, but also recycled T-shirts, plastic bags, string and ribbon. These supplies were topped up by Hobbycraft who sponsored the event. Thanks Hobbycraft!

One of the nicest things about knitting is that it’s a slow, monotonous craft. This was also something that concerned us before the event; would people be prepared to commit their time or would they simply pass us by on their way to more immediate rewards? Well, the answer is that they were prepared to commit the time – at some points we had so many knitters that we ran out of seats and our experts had to stand. And the best thing was that the slow pace meant that we got to have proper chats with people, we learnt who taught them to knit, the others crafts they enjoy, about their children and homes, what they like and don’t like about the place they live. Chat and knitting. For me, there’s no better way to spend an afternoon. Thanks to all the people who joined us and knitted and crocheted with us.

Special thanks to Zoe from SWCraftClub for inviting us to be part of this event. Follow @SWCraftClub on Twitter and SWCraftClub on Facebook or check out http://swcraftclublondon.blogspot.com for more crafty events in South West London.

And also to our experts, Viv and Shona. Viv is as talented at sewing as she is at knitting – check out her stall on Makerhood. Shona is planning some workshops to teach beginner’s knitting in the autumn. If you’re interested in taking part contact us on hello@makerhood.com and we’ll pass on your details.

Meet the makers: Sinéad Koehler

Jewellery maker Sinéad Koehler has a packed schedule – she tells us about her hand-crafted wedding and running the Crafty Fox pop-up market at the Dogstar in Brixton

1. You make jewellery from found objects, which fits in well with the current trend for upcycling/recycling. Where did you get the idea for that?
I was looking for a creative outlet, away from my day job. I used to make jewellery when I was a girl, and I’m always buying jewellery, so it seemed an obvious choice. It takes quite a bit of time to track down the different objects – some I buy online, others I get from charity shops or by using bits of old jewellery. I never really expected to sell anything – but I opened up a shop on Etsy and then got some press coverage, which really helped. I still only do it for a hobby, though, as I’m a bit scared about taking the leap into a full-time business!

2. And from that you started the Crafty Fox pop-up market at the Dogstar in Brixton?
Well, organising events is my day job, so setting up a market is actually closer to my core skills than making jewellery! In fact, the jewellery making has been a bit sidelined recently, what with getting married and promoting the Crafty Fox.

3. Where did the name of the Crafty Fox come from?
I love foxes, and there are lots of them around Brixton, so it seemed a good link to the area. I also planned to get my friend jimbobart involved, and he’s great at drawing animals, so I knew he would be able to produce some great fun characters.

4. You mention getting married recently. I gather it was quite a crafty wedding!
We wanted to put as much of our own personalities into it as possible – handmade stuff is what we’re all about. The dress was a big problem – I thought I’d enjoy shopping for one, but I hated it. Then I thought of my mum’s wedding dress, which had been handmade, and used local contacts to find a dressmaker to alter it. And a friend made us an amazing cake – I left it entirely up to her, as I had so many other things to think about! You can read more about the wedding on my blog.

5. Does your husband make things as well?
Stephan doesn’t make things, but he’s passionate about music and he knows about promotion. He acts as my sounding board and is the DJ at Crafty Fox markets.

6. You’re originally from Northern Ireland – how long have you lived in Brixton?
I’ve lived in Brixton for three years now, and was in Clapham before that. We were renting in Clapham and started looking for somewhere to buy. When agents wanted to show us places in Brixton we weren’t very keen at first, but I love it now!

7. So with all your involvement with Etsy and Crafty Fox, why did you sign up with Makerhood?
Makerhood is a really interesting concept and I want to support the idea. Etsy has set up local groups but hasn’t really nailed it. I think there’s room for both – and the idea of encouraging people to buy locally really suits Brixton. I can see it working outside London too – anywhere where there’s a hub or community of makers.

8. Finally, what’s your top tip for a bit of “unknown Brixton”?
Before I moved to Brixton I went on a photo treasure hunt organised by Shoot Experience. We had to solve clues and take photos of the answers, which were then put on display at Photofusion Gallery. It helped me discover things about Brixton I didn’t know about, like the murals and the history of Windrush Square.

The next Crafty Fox pop-up market is on 1 September at the Dogstar, Brixton, 6-10pm.

You can see Sinéad’s original jewellery at http://brixton.makerhood.com/galavant

New makers this week

A big welcome to makers who have set up new stalls on Makerhood in the past week.

Moseley’s Giftware Lucylu’s luxury handmade gifts include sterling silver jewellery, like this single green pearl necklace and earring set. All items are one-offs or limited editions, and she will also take commissions. http://brixton.makerhood.com/moseleys-giftware

Black Cactus in London Anna Jackson’s hand-printed fabrics may feature peeved bunnies or colourful ice lollies. As well as the fabrics you can buy home accessories such as cushions, purses or even plastic bag dispensers. http://brixton.makerhood.com/black-cactus-london

Meet the makers: Gillian Arnold

Textile artist Gillian Arnold makes beautiful textile prints of ferns and other plants on satin. She tells us about making 20-metre table runners for her wedding and why pregnancy has unleashed her creative powers

1. Your pieces attracted quite a bit of attention on the Makerhood stall at the Urban Art Fair. How long have you worked with this technique?
I started printing from actual plants when I was at art college in Liverpool. I actually enrolled for a fashion course but found I didn’t have the patience to make clothes! So I transferred to the textiles course, which gave me the freedom to experiment with printing.

2. So when did you move to south London?
I moved to London after graduating and worked for a prop-making company in Coldharbour Lane. I was producing “throw-away art” for window displays in House of Fraser stores, like Dickins & Jones in Regent Street. It was great fun – we would produce a Bridget Riley-style 1960s painting and then have to work out how to make 100 copies!

3. And now you work on community art projects?
Well, actually I gave up work about a month ago because I’m expecting a baby in a couple of months! But I spent the past eight years working as an artist with schools and the community, doing things like producing large-scale prints from kids’ drawings. But I’ve also covered jewellery, sculpture, mosaic and photography. It’s really stretched my own skills – but I’ve also gathered lots of ideas to work on myself.

4. It doesn’t sound as if you’ve had much time to work on your own ideas!
That’s true! When I got married last year I did make my own table runners for the wedding reception – four 20-metre lengths of fabric featuring feathers and ferns. I also printed on my own wedding dress and printed my husband’s tie as well! But now I’ve given up work, it’s wonderful to have time before the baby arrives to be able to create my own pieces. My website is http://gillianarnold.com.

5. What will happen after the baby is born?
I’ve got to carry on after the birth – I need a creative output, or everyone around me will suffer! Hopefully I will have enough pieces made by the time the baby arrives to be able to continue selling them online. My husband is incredibly supportive – he takes care of the website and the business side of things.

6. Tell us about the work you’ve done in west Africa.
I’ve been working for five or six years on a project in The Gambia, teaching women how to sew and make jewellery. It’s been hugely satisfying, passing on skills to people who really benefit from them – they sell their work in two hotels now. You can see photos on the website, as there are links to Flickr, Facebook and Twitter.

7. What’s the appeal of signing up with Makerhood?
I heard about Makerhood from a friend at Morley College and hot-footed it to the makers’ meeting at the Sun and Doves in Camberwell. It was just a few days before I gave up work, so I had to hurry up and make some pieces to put on my stall! I think it’s brilliant that Makerhood’s emphasis is on localness – from my community work I know that it’s better to work through connections with people rather than some impersonal online shop.

8. What’s your top tip for a bit of “hidden Camberwell”?
Café No 67 at the South London Gallery is brilliant. They do set menus of really well-made food, with a great balance of flavours. It’s got a glass ceiling and walls, so you can look out on the garden while you eat.

Café No 67, South London Gallery, 65 Peckham Road, SE5 8UH

You can see Gillian’s gorgeous textile prints at http://brixton.makerhood.com/gillian-arnold

New makers this week

Here’s an introduction to some of the makers who have joined Makerhood in the past week. Welcome aboard!

Galavant
Sinéad is based in Brixton and makes affordable jewellery using found items. She is inspired by vintage fashions, nature and London, and runs the Crafty Fox Market, which usually takes place every few months at The Dogstar in Brixton.
http://brixton.makerhood.com/galavant

BekyBoo Hat Designs
Rebecca Elizabeth Blow designs and manufactures a range of hats, fascinators and head pieces. You can choose one of her existing designs and she will match to your outfit, or contact her to create a totally new design just for you.
http://brixton.makerhood.com/bekyboo-hat-designs

ruthDOT
Ruth Wilson makes beautiful hand-made cushion covers in unusual designs from vintage fabric. She will also do bespoke commissions.
http://brixton.makerhood.com/ruthdot

Love Cakes London
This family business uses the best ingredients to ensure quality and freshness, whether you need a cake for a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion. And they’ve been shortlisted as a finalist for the National Cupcake Championships on 15 August. Go Love Cakes!
http://brixton.makerhood.com/love-cakes-london