Crafts

Online Fashion and Textiles course is a hit!

Written by Debra, ACL Fashion & Textiles Tutor

The online Fashion & Textiles Award Creative Craft Level 1 Course has been a great success at ACL, teaching learners new eco-friendly ways to reuse old materials and clothing.

The class included a mix of abilities, some complete beginners and some with previous knowledge. They all learnt a range of sewing techniques and completed their first project - a basic top. They went on to develop techniques, get creative with their own ideas, and produce a textile piece and clothing, as well as a portfolio.

As a tutor, I adapted my teaching style to deliver the course. I had to tackle technology whilst teaching learners how to use the sewing machine. Learners have really embraced learning online’ we’ve explored new ways to be sustainable, and discussed many wonderful ideas - it has been such a rewarding experience.

Having never taken a course like this before, I was unsure if I could keep up, but I shouldn’t have worried. Everything is explained thoroughly, and nothing is rushed. It’s been great to be able to develop my skills and perfect techniques that I wouldn’t have attempted before. Being part of a class where everyone has similar interests has done so much to inspire me and keep me motivated to push myself with projects. I would recommend the course to anyone with an interest in sewing. It has completely exceeded my expectations and I have enjoyed every minute of it!

When I started the Fashion Textiles Clothes making course, I couldn’t thread the sewing machine! Since being on the course, Debra has enabled me to grow in confidence. I now have a new passion. I have made clothing, bags, and soft furnishings. Additionally, it has improved my emotional wellbeing. As a mental health practitioner, I talk to all my clients about the course. I believe in supporting your mental health and wellbeing through being active & creative.

Melanie

View all upcoming Fashion & Textiles courses on our website: www.aclessex.com/crafts

My lack of confidence in the technology led to a shaky start, but with support from the ACL IT team, Debra, and fellow online classmates I persevered, and it has turned out to be very successful.

The weekly online lessons and videos, that can be viewed again post lesson if necessary, took us through basic sewing skills and techniques. We were then able to use those skills to make a garment to our own personal measurements with support and advice from our tutor.

We have also learned about decorative techniques such as embroidery, applique, and an introduction to fabric construction and types. As a class we are all ages with various skills and experience. It has been a pleasure to listen to and share tips with each other as a friendly group, united in our enthusiasm for the subject, but each with our own special interests. The combination of thorough grounding in the basics, and encouragement to release our creative spirits in practical projects, has been stimulating and inspiring. I look forward to continuing to learn and create in the Level 2 course next year.

Traditional & Thrift Crafts

Traditional Crafts

Discover the wonderful world of traditional crafts that have undergone a significant makeover throughout recent times.

There is a huge joy in producing hand crafted objects, each with a unique quality that harks back to a previous era steeped in nostalgia. The wider benefits of crafting include developing and maintaining high manual dexterity, gaining understanding of design and creating something from raw, basic materials either for personal use, as gifts or to sell and gain new income.

Courses

• Floristry • Model Aviation • Pottery • Print Making • Silversmithing • Stained Glass • Woodturning • Woodworking • Applique • Art Silk Painting • Embroidery • Fashion Clothes Making • Floristry • Textiles • Upholstery

Thrift Crafts

Start making a difference to our environment by engaging in a thrift craft where we focus on recycling, re-purposing and repairing to give old items a new lease of life.

Raw materials are becoming more precious and therefore making use of what you already own to produce a beautiful craft object is more relevant than ever before. The benefits are far reaching including reducing objects going to landfill, keeping resource costs in producing crafts low, personal wellbeing in making a difference to the sustainability of our planet, raising awareness of ecology and the small steps everyone can take to conserve.

Courses

Courses start September 2021 - Book your place today! visit: aclessex.com email: lifelong.learning@essex.gov.uk call: 03330 600 111

Woodwork returns

to the Basildon Craft Studios

Written by Mike, ACL Woodwork Tutor

Onsite woodwork classes are back in the Basildon Craft Studios, after over a year away.

It has been a great pleasure as a tutor to meet students face to face. Much hilarity has occurred when they discover how tall I am (just one of the distortions of teaching online). It has also been good to catch up with other colleagues and be able to support one another in person rather than virtually.

A number of significant changes had taken place in order to accommodate the various Covid-19 restrictions. Class sizes of just four students, with each bench having a glass screen between those facing one another, and individual toolboxes to avoid cross-contamination.

At present the students are having to put up with me shouting instructions from a distance when they are engaged in their individual work. My often repeated ‘point your finger’ to students learning to saw straight has been heard ringing out of the studio door on several occasions since classes begun. But as always, the students take it all in good part.

Class demonstrations and teaching generally have been greatly assisted by digital technology. The students are able to watch close demonstrations captured by a visualiser and displayed on the large approximately 8’ x 4’ tablet at the front of the studio, which has replaced both white and smart boards, giving a significantly improved experience.

In normal times, up to 10 students can write on the tablet at once. For left-handed students the visualiser has the facility of flipping the image so they can see how it would look to do the activity from their perspective too.

Students have happily adapted to earlier end times for teaching and the cleaning regimes necessary to ensure one another’s safety.

Well done to all academic, site and student services staff who have made it all possible and very many thanks. I am very happy, as are my students, to be back in the studio!

ACL learners are able to gain traditional craft skills with dedicated tutor support. In the lessons, learners explore their creativity that could support them in work or for personal development.