Highlights: Fairytale Craft Night #OnceUponATime

So a few people mentioned we should do a craft night around stories and literature and after some 'umming' and 'aahing' about 'hmmm shall we make Shakespearian collars?' or do 'something historic?' the dressmaking pin finally dropped: FAIRYTALES...of course! So we looked up fairytales on wiki.....gosh there are sooooooo many!!! Literally 100s out there...but we honed in on the classics, for our first craft night of 2017 with our Once Upon A Time Craft Night and here's what you made:

KNIT & KNATTER...(turned into 'Crochet Quarter' for the night)

Knitting Expert Madelaine whipped up a pattern on how to crochet a princess crown and taught three happy ladies how to make one...

SEWING SALON WITH Mia Little Wolf

Taking inspiration from Sleeping Beauty and Peter Pan, Mia designed hand-stitched fabric collars and eye masks and visitors took their pick of which of these fabric goodies to make. 

We were particularly impressed that Clarissa recycled a shiny catsuit to make hers! 

And that wasn't the only shiny stitching going on....also made on the night: a glitzy collar.

COLLAGE CORNER

And for those who simply wanted to do a bit of crafty freestyling, there was the option of making a bookmark inspired by your favourite tales. 

The tunes as usual were on point with story themed tracks by our DJs The Spinning Yarns...

...and we'd like like to say a very big thank you to Hobbycraft for stocking up our supplies where we've been running low so thanks to them we now have new glue, pens, felt etc to keep you all crafting. 

YAY!

SEE YOU MAY 31st

Our next event marks a very special occasion, The Make Escape Craft Night celebrates its 5th birthday on WEDNESDAY 31st MAY and we're looking forward to hosting a creative, crafty extravaganza to mark it. 

Craft workshops, music and special guest tutors coming your way. Hackney Attic, 270 Mare Street, London, E8. 

See you then! More details in May but save the date.  

Highlights: Frost Fair Craft Night

We brought seasonal cheer to the Hackney Attic in November with our Frost Fair themes craft night where you tried your hand at making natural and paper decorations and Christmas cards.

Xmas Cards & décor 

Paper crafter and Scrapbooking Expert Shimelle Laine (who you may have seen on telly on the craft shopping channels!) was our VIP guest this month and not only did she run a workshop, she brought along her own unique papers and motifs, designed by herself, to use in the projects. Here are some of the masterpieces created on the night, some of which required some crafty cutting tech.

Paper decorations
These were made by cutting, rolling and manipulating scrap papers, wrapping paper and print outs and was led by Debbie Michener.

Twig decorations
These were made by tying together twig pieces which were cut to equal lengths, which were then decorated up with ferns, holly, pine, ribbons, berries and sparkly bits, led by guest tutor Karen Shand. There's a full tutorial on how to make them over here. 

Knit & Knatter

Every month we have knitting experts on hand to show you how to knit and we also welcome knitters to simply turn up with their projects and click their needles in a creative environment. Thanks to Larissa and Sheree for being on hand to show us how to make these cute Xmas knits, perfect for hanging on Christmas trees.

We're back in 2016. Join us on 26th January for our Go Green Eco themed craft night - focusing on reusing & recycling. Check the blog nearer the time for all the details. 

Village Fair Craft Night Tuesday 29th July 2014

Illustration by Sal Hughson

Join us for our summer spectacular! We're bringing rural idyll to Hackney with an evening of crafty activities that celebrate the great British summer fair. As well as the usual workshops and music we are delighted to be joined by very special guests The Craftivisits who will be inviting you to join in their new campaign #wellmaking. Oh and in very exciting news we also finally have food!!!!

#wellmaking : The Craftivists

There's a lot of be said about the benefits of crafts. Many people say that making things with your hands is good for you, but is there actually any evidence? The answer? Yes! The Craftivists new campaign #wellmaking is all about promoting health and wellbeing through crafts and they are encouraging people to knit, embroider or crochet flowers.

Find out more in this special video starring Sarah Corbett who will be giving a talk about the campaign at 8.30 and how we can all get involved.

Knitting, Crochet & Embroidery - workshops

Our resident woolley experts will show you how to knit or crochet your own flower while textile artist Purple Claire will be leading a session on embroidering flowers. Flowers created on the night will form part of The Craftivists Garden Project and will go on display next year. (You can make one too keep too if you want!)

The #wellMAKING Craftivists Garden, is a collaboration between the Craftivist Collective, Falmouth University, Arts for Health Cornwall & Isles of Scilly and Voluntary Arts, and is a Connected Communities project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. 

Prize winning corsages

Sadly we are not having a cake contest but you can still make and wear your own corsage with help from sewing expert Katie Farrell who runs creative workshops and sewing parties at The Sewing Circle.

Collage corner

A fair wouldn't be the same without bunting - make your own themed paper bunting to take home with you or colour, cut and paste to your hearts content - we have a host of inspiration including vegetables and cakes to create and colour.

Tuck in!

You can now order food at the bar which will be delivered to you in your own lunchbox which you can munch into as you craft.

Entertainment!

As usual our resident DJs The Spinning Yarns will be on the decks but we'll also be joined by some actual, real, Morris Dancers! Expect some country games too and possibly a tombola....

As ever doors open at 7.30 and we craft through to 11pm. All activities are drop in. The Craftivists will be giving a talk at 8.30pm about their #wellmaking campaign so make sure you get there before then!

Village Fair @ The Make Escape, Hackney Attic, (5th floor Hackney Picturehouse), 270 Mare Street, London, E8

Coming up: Village Fair Craft Night Tues July 29th 2014

Artwork designed by Sal Hughson

Come along to our free summer craft night! You'll have a chance to dabble in some very English crafts like crochet, embroidery and bunting-making and they'll also be some games and entertainment.

Full line-up of the event coming soon! 

Birthday Craft Party! Tues May 27th is our 2nd Makerversary

Image: Alison Beadnell

Would you Adam & Eve it? Our craft night is celebrating its second birthday. That's 2 whole years of spectacular free craft nights that we've curated & you've come along to and enjoyed. When we say you...we estimate that around 2000 people have come through our doors so far. AMAZING.

Our ethos at The Make Escape has always been to make crafts accessible and to show that you don't need money to be creative. So we'de like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has donated their time to run workshops and given us materials for everyone to enjoy (including felt, fabric, card, yarn, beads etc.) Also thank you to our volunteers who help set up & tidy up the night (that's Team Make Escape's Becky & Suzie) and our amazing DJs The Spinning Yarns who without fail provide an amazing soundtrack at every event (and of course our 2nd DJs All Hands On Decks) and all the friendly peeps at The Attic (esp Kate!) who gives us the space to run the night.

COMING UP AT MAKERVERSARY NO.2

SEW YOUR OWN BIRTHDAY CUPCAKE with Alison Beadnell

Local textile artist & baker Alison is combining her two passions - sewing & cake making by running our tastiest workshop yet....sewing your own cake! Beginners are welcome - you don't need any sewing ability and if you do possess some skills, then you can really go to town with the icing!

WOOLLY POM POM DECORATIONS with Sheree Robinson
You can't have a birthday party without decorations! Sheree who ran our popular Aslan lion pom pom session at our Narnia Night last year is returning with a session making fruity/floral pom poms. The word WOW springs to mind.

PAPER JEWELLERY with Clarissa Giles

We've got some gorgeous, patterned origami papers that need using up and what what better way than to show them off as party accessories. Make beaded bracelets & hair accessories with local jewellery designer Clarissa who runs Chrysalis Designs. 

****SHOW & TELL EXHIBITION******

We love celebrating the handmade so please bring along something you've made to display in our special exhibition for the night. 

BIRTHDAY RAFFLE

Whenever we have an extra special night at The Make Escape we love having raffles! Everyone gets a free ticket & prizes up for grabs tonight include a biscuit icing workshop at The Biscuiteers Biscuit Icing Boutique, cinema tickets to use at the Hackney Picturehouse, a peg-weaving loom donated by Purple Claire and lots of amazing craft books, including this lovely set donated by Laurence King Publishing:

PLUS as usual you can learn to knit & go collage crazy and we are also planning some birthday games. It's going to be a fun night!

So, if you've never been to The Make Escape before but keep saying to yourself that you keep meaning to go, if you've only been once before but wish you could go again or in deed are a regular, we hope to see you there. 

Date: Tuesday 27th May 2014
Place: Hackney Attic, Picturehouse Cinema, 270 Make Street, London, E8
Time: 7.30pm-11pm

ALL WELCOME. FREE ENTRY.
MATERIAL DONATIONS ALWAYS WELCOME

PLUS 
Do you fancy joining Team Make Escape? Help run London's favourite craft night. We're looking for help to set up the night, marketing & PR & for volunteers to run workshops. Drop us an email at: themakeescape@googlemail.com. 

Highlights: It's A London Thing Craft Night

Maybe it's because we're Londoners? Or maybe it's because we all love craft? When our It's A London Thing craft night was threatened by a tube strike we were worried no one would turn up but we were so wrong! You made an effort to come and support us and in return we offered you FIVE incredible free workshops led by some very special guests.

Sewing Oystercard holders with Crafternoon Cabaret

The amazing Hannah who runs a monthly craft event at the swanky Hospital Club joined us to run a stitching your own oyster card holder session. Crafternoon Cabaret have just turned 1! Check them out as they have some very fun workshops AND live cabaret guests. Momtaz went along to its old home in an Islington pub. See what she made here.

And here's what you got up to. WOW!

Probably the most glamorous oyster card holder in London!

Making 3D Cityscapes with City Pop Outs

Matt from City Pop Outs is a regular Make Escaper & had previously run our live stage drawing sessions but this was his first workshop and it was so much fun!

Participants made their own incredible London landscapes inspired by Matt's own artwork...which was also on sale at our Maker's Market.

Designing peg dolls with Use It Up Wear It Out

How sweet is this little chappie?

Karen and Jo who are experts in up-cycling showed us what to do with our left over red and black fabric scraps...turn them into queen's guards or course! These ones smile more than the real thing!

Embroidering buildings with Purple Claire

Claire brought along pieces of coffee sack which made the ideal base to embroidery London's finest landmarks. It was the most popular workshop of the night!

Bridges were especially popular!

Knit & Knatter

Resident knitting guru Beryl was on hand to teach newbies how to knit and as ever we had some people pick up needles for the first time.

Collage Corner

We also plied you with inspiration to do your own London themed collaging and modelling.

Music

Finally we'd like to say a huge thank you to our ever fabulous DJs - we were joined by 2/3 of The Spinning Yarns and the city soundtrack was spectacular - they thought of everything!

Join us on May 27th for our 2nd BIRTHDAY! Woop! Woop!

Our humble little craft night is turning 2 and we have a mega prized filled event planned. Same time, same place, same free entry, lots of fun new workshops! Full event details coming soon!