SOS sewing surgery

Are you tired of spending money at the dry cleaners getting alterations done?

Have you recently bought a sewing machine, but don’t know how to get the best out of it?

Have you been inspired by all the home make-over shows, but don’t know how to even begin making a cushion?

Want to shorten that great bargain that sits in the back of your cupboard?

A drop in session where you get to work on your own projects, with guidance from us and using all our equipment. This is the perfect session to bring along any alterations you have been unsure how to do, or a favourite item you want to copy. You can also come along and use your time to learn new skills, like piping, using zips.

Suitable for any level. Running 10.30am-4pm, you can pick the time that suits you to drop in.

You will need to bring along your own projects as materials are not included in this session

£30 for a 3 hour session.

The Thrifty Stitchers are a network of professional theatrical costumiers led by Claire-Louise Hardie and Alex Watherston who met whilst working on the musical ‘Scrooge’ in London’s West end many years ago.

We are passionate about costumes, clothing, cushions & all things fabric! We just love making beautiful things - sometimes it is a stage costume, sometimes it’s a beautiful interior, and sometimes it’s just resurrecting our favourite jeans.

Claire-Louise's training as a costume designer lead her to begin her career in the work-room of the Welsh National Opera, and then The Royal National Theatre. Some of her costumes have been displayed at the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden. After working as a freelance costume maker for several years, Claire-Louise began working in the running wardrobe department, starting with a summer season in St Andrews. Claire-Louise has worked on numerous west end productions including Fame, Footloose and most recently speaking in tongues. Claire-Louise spent 6 years running around back-stages all over the world, touring productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Christmas ’08 & '09 saw Claire-Louise working on Christmas shows at the 02. Claire-Louise’s role as a wardrobe mistress is to ensure that every audience sees the costumes looking as gorgeous as they were on the first night. She is currently focusing solely on The Thrifty Stitcher.

Alex started out as a textile designer, but was drawn by the bright lights of the theatre into a career in costume. Her first taste of showbiz was dressing on ‘Starlight express’,and this got her hooked. Alex then became a resident member of the wardrobe team at Bromley theatre for 2 years and really learnt the craft of costuming. After touring up and down the UK, and working on some fantastic musicals including ‘hot shoe shuffle’ and ‘Anything goes’, Alex re-trained as a soft furnisher. Her soft furnishings have popped up in film marketing campaigns on the red carpet, and appeared in some classic British TV dramas. Alex juggles a successful business as a bespoke soft furnisher, with a career as a costume supervisor and designer. She recently re-mounted the fantastic production of peter pan at the 02. Alex is currently focusing solely on The Thrifty Stitcher