The Make Lounge

Banish the Fear! - Overlocker Workshops

Crafters are often a bit apprehensive about using an overlocker machine (aka serger if you're visiting from the USA). With four spools of thread and some fierce looking cutting blades, it's easy to understand those feelings. 

With a bit of practice, however, the overlocker can (and should!) become your best friend. (Do these students from last night's workshop look scared? Nah!)

An overlocker is an incredibly useful machine as it cuts and stitches in one step. You can use it for sewing seams on jersey, neatening edges on denim, and even making decorative rolled hems like the ones on these lovely napkins we created in class!

If you'd like to learn how to use these brilliant machines, we're running additional Overlocking 101 workshops at The Make Lounge. Click here for all the info.

Getting Crafty - Summer Craft Night

Last night, The Make Lounge's three studios were packed with people 'getting their craft on,' so to speak.

Our craft nights are always popular and this summer themed one was no exception - with guests making everything from embroidered drinks coasters to needle-felted mice and lady birds!

Thanks to everyone who came out for a bit of festive creativity. Craft Night will be on hols for August but it will return on Thursday, September 24. (Sign up for our newsletter off our web site to get all the details first!)

Out Of The Bin And Into The Gallery - The “Worthless” Art Installation

We were intrigued by this article on Crafty Crafty about an art installation that will turn your old junk into art. Starting this Friday, from the 22nd through the 29th of May, you can take your donation of rubbish to London-based Art Organisation Pollack’s live art installation called “Worthless” at 37 Endell Street, where the artists will transform it. If you like, you can purchase it back once it’s been suitably improved! Art-ified items will be auctioned off for charity after the installation ends.

Needle Felting - The WOW Factor

We recently spent some time perusing the Flickr craft pool (as you do), and found this incredible polar bear:

He’s made using needle felting, a process where barbed felting needles are repeatedly pushed into lengths of carded wool to condense the wool into specific shapes. Here’s another stunning example from Flickr:

We so want to learn how to do that! So we are excited to have an upcoming needle felting workshop on the books. When you come to the workshop, you’ll learn how to make this little guy:

Isn’t he amazing?

The Cutest Little Virus You’ve Ever Seen - Free Piglet Amigurumi Pattern

In the spirit of not giving in to hysteria and doomsaying regarding every single little flesh-eating death virus germ that comes down the path, we suggest sending out good piggie vibes by making this perky porcine cutie. The pattern is available free here. (You’ll have to register for Lion Brand’s site if you haven’t already, but they have so many free patterns there, you should be registered anyway!) If you’re new to amigurumi, these ridiculously adorable little soft toys, why not sign up for a workshop to learn how to make them?

Sugar Sweet - Learn to Decorate Cupcakes

It’s spring in London, and is there a more wonderful place to be when the sun is shining? The new crop of workshops is up on The Make Lounge website, and in keeping with the sunny weather, we have fun, bright projects to try. The cupcake decorating workshop is selling out fast, and that’s just the beginning. Click here for a complete listing of upcoming workshops.

Bon appetit!

Valentine's Craft Night at The Make Lounge

Our Valentine's-themed DIY Craft Night was a great success - thank you to everyone who joined us for a night of drop-in crafting.

Special thanks to Qype, for coming along and for making this lovely video, and to Craft Guerilla for creating the fantastic kits (more than a dozen to choose  from!)

The tattoo brooches were very popular...

 

...as were the adorable felt egg cozies.

We're already looking forward to our March DIY Craft Night!

Crafty Kids Holiday Club at The Make Lounge

We've gone a bit quiet this wek, but it definitely hasn't been quiet at The Make Lounge! Quite the contrary, as we've had 14 kids on hand for our Crafty Kids Holiday Fun Club. We've been making monsters (above)... 

... batik T-shirts (using easy-to-wash-out soya wax)...

...in a variety of lovely designs...

...including this one from football mad Emma.

We've craved colour...

...decorated photo frames...

...and made plenty of other projects, from snow globes to gorgeous marbled paper, which we used to create Japanese stitched journals.

What a week!

In praise of oilcloth

Image and tutorial at Craftstylish

I've had oilcloth on my mind of late, not least because I've been ordering it in prep for this week's Zips and Buttonholes Intensive at The Make Lounge.

Of course, traditional oilcloth is a heavy cloth with linseed coating, used to make tents, heavy coats and sailing hats. Most of what we call 'oilcloth' today is actually PVC (yes, that evil stuff) bound to a flanneled cloth. Even so, it's a great fabric as it's easy to cut and the edges won't fray, so no sewing is required.

Oilcloth is also water resistant, which makes it the perfect material for a stylish cosmetic bag, lining for a swim bag, or even the basis for a collapsible dog water bowl, as shown in this easy tutorial on CraftStylish.

Brilliant stuff.    

Plastic is fantastic

I've always admired the striking, geometric necklaces that feature bold Perspex shapes in their designs, but have always been floored by how much they cost.

The reality is that the individual elements are not terribly pricey (though shops do require a fairly large minimum order when laser-cutting the shapes).

In fact, armed with the proper tools, a bit of creative know-how and some practice, you can easily create something to rival what you'd find in the designer boutiques, at a fraction of the price.

Taught by jewellery designer Merle O'Grady, students in last Saturday's Geometric Necklace class fashioned chunky, oversized necklaces using oversized wooden beads, grosgrain ribbon, bold laser-cut shapes, vintage chains and jewellery findings. 

Here's proof.