Free Spookacular Craft Night Monday 30th October

Halloween and crafts have long gone hand in hand. This year rather than being one of those people who proclaim ‘nah I’m not doing anything for Halloween’, come along to our free craft night and immerse yourself in crafty fun! We’ve got you covered with workshops from making your own spooky lanterns (as designed by Mia) to crocheting a Glow-In-The dark ghost (yes you read that correctly!) with guest tutor Tone Ward or make bejewelled spider brooches with Natasha Steer. 

No experience needed, our guest tutors will help you.

All materials provided (though you are always welcome to bring donations for our crafty stash.) Come alone or with friends, it doesn’t matter, everyone is welcome…especially those in costume! We’d love to see themed outfits to enhance our fright night which has a spooky soundtrack provided by DJs The Spinning Yarns.

There’s a bar on site and as usual all workshops work via drop in – doors open at 7.30 and we craft through until 10.30. Just collect your free entry ticket from the Picturehouse Cinema box office when you arrive.

Time: 7.30-10.30pm
Date: Monday 30^th October 2017

Venue: HackneyAttic, 270 Mare Street, London, E8

Nearest stations Overground: Hackney Central, Hackney Downs or London Fields

Entry: FREE

See you there!

P.s. we have a brand spanking new website: www.themakeescape.com - here you’ll find details of all our new services which include running private craft parties, corporate events, birthdays, activities for hen-dos etc. We’d love to bring some craftiness to any events you are planning! Get in touch – contact details on the site.

Highlights: #SummerOfLove Craft Night featuring Craftivist Collective and Mind

Summer wouldn't be summer without a festival so we invited Londoners to join us for a special Summer of Love festival themed craft night featuring mindful stitching with the Craftivist Collective, flower power crowns and some seriously groovy recycled earrings. Thanks to everyone who came; it was our busiest night of 2017 so far! 

Here's a look at what we got up to...

Introducing the new Craftivists kit...

Craftivist Collective were our special guests for the night. They launched their new craftivism kit, supporting charity Mind. The kit has been created for you to stitch a message to your MP reminding them that they need to keep fighting for mental health support and provisions to be on a par with other health investments. The kits officially launch on September 4th and will cost £12. £7.20 from each kit goes to fund Mind and the vital services they provide, inside is everything you need, so purchase one then and become a crafting change-maker! 

Mindful making: Flower Power

Guest tutor for the evening, Bryony Acketts from Blooming Barnets dazzled us with her giant paper flowers...one of which is bigger than her cat! Crafty lasses flocked to her workshop to make festive floral crowns, here's some of the fabulous creations made on the night. 

Recycle and Wear

Mia held a session recycling magazines into jewellery. Everyone loved this project as it was so quick and simple, so gave a sense of craft satisfaction, which is what we like at The Make Escape. The hardest part was deciding which pictures to cut out; we were particularly impressed by the Trainspotting earrings!

Knit & Knatter

Madeline was on hand in our yarn corner, helping to develop your knitting and crochet projects. As ever we had a host of colourful yarns and wool available, and some newbie knitters trying their hand at yarn crafts for the first time.

Sarah Corbett, Founder of Craftivist Collective and volunteers with the Mind team

The lovely ladies from Mind were with us throughout the evening, encouraging you to hold your own #Crafternoon where you can craft with friends, family or colleagues while raising money for Mind. Find more about Crafternoon here.

A big thanks as always to The Spinning Yarns, our Resident DJs who provided the groovy soundtrack. 

Momtaz with Make Escape first-timer Natasha who travelled all the way from Kent to come to our night

Don't forget to follow us on social media, we are @TheMakeEscape on Twitter and Instagram.

If you took photos of your wonderful makes share them on social media, tag us and use the hashtags #TheMakeEscape and #SummerOfLove

Our next FREE craft night at The Hackney Attic will be on Monday 30th October, a fright night special and the best Halloween craft night you'll find in London.  

From 7:30pm as always, see you then!

FREE African Charity Craft Night Tuesday 27th September

Come and make African fabric earrings with Karen Arthur

YAY! After a summer break we're back with an Autumn, African themed Craft Night AND it's also our FIRST EVER CHARITY event. We're supporting a new fundraising project by mental health charity MIND who are encouraging people to hold Mind Crafternoons, events where you can get together, craft and make a small charity donation. So this month while entry, workshops & craft materials remain FREE we ask you to bring a donation (around £3) to donate directly to MIND.

Never been to our Craft Night before? Here's a recap...

The Make Escape is a voluntary run, London based Craft Night which takes place bi-monthly at The Hackney Attic. It's aimed at adults (making stuff isn't just for kids) and it's a chance to take a break from normal life, work stress etc and have some chill out time using your hands whether that's for knitting, sewing, drawing, collaging or doodling. 

But don't worry, it's nothing formal or like going to school. 

We have a fully stocked bar and DJs and all the craft materials you need, all you're required to do is bring yourself. 

We usually have 2-3 tutor-led workshops, a knitting area where you can learn to knit (this month it's led by Alison Beadnell) and a collage corner where you can do what you like. 

For our Art Of Africa night we're planning sessions in jewellery making, mask making and instruments and we're super excited that we have Special Guest Tutor Karen Arthur from Reddskin lined up to run a fabric earring workshop.

We're also delighted to be joined by Jewellery Designer Elizabeth Joseph who'll be showing you how to make an African pendant necklace. 

The night and workshops are drop in so turn up when you can, but we recommend coming by 8.30 in order to be able to finish something that you can take home with you. 

The Essentials:

Date: Tuesday 27th September

Time: 7.30pm-10.30pm

Location: Hackney Attic, 5th floor Hackney Picturehouse Cinema, 270 Mare Street, London, E8

Entry: FREE but collect a ticket from the box office when you arrive to get in and don't forget you donation for MIND - hopefully you'll get inspired to maybe even run your own Crafternoon too!

See you there! Come alone or with friends!

DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES THE BATIK SESSION WILL NO LONGER BE RUNNING BUT THERE'S STILL PLENTY MORE GOING ON SO COME ON DOWN!

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