This is your chance to work on whatever sewing project you want in our beautiful studio! Our space is your space :) - Just a heads up our Open Studio Sessions will be on pause over the summer holidays but back in September.

Bring a garment that needs fixing, a project you are stuck on, a pattern you are a bit scared to try or buy a kit from us and get stuck in! We will provide all the advice, table space, sewing machines and thread you could possibly need.

When: Fortnightly Wednesday Evenings - 5.45pm till 8.45pm (Choose your date from the drop down menu)

Where: Made My Wardrobe Studio, 27 Portland Square, Bristol, BS2 8SA

What’s included?

• Introduction to using our PFAFF passport and PFAFF overlock sewing machines

• Big tables for cutting out your projects on

• Irons & three different sizes of ironing boards

• Our epic haberdashery of fabric, zips, elastic, buttons, fastenings and much more!

• Help and advice on your projects from the MMW team

• Lots of space for discussion and creativity

• Tea, coffee & treats

If you are interested in buying fabric, kits or sewing machines from us, our Open Studio Sessions are a great time to come and see them IRL! If you want to pop down and do that (but don’t want to stay and sew) drop me an email on

lydia@mademywardrobe.com.

This is your chance to work on whatever sewing project you want in our beautiful studio! Our space is your space :)

Bring a garment that needs fixing, a project you are stuck on, a pattern you are a bit scared to try or buy a kit from us and get stuck in! We will provide all the advice, table space, sewing machines and thread you could possibly need.

When: Fortnightly Friday Mornings - 10am till 1pm (Choose your date from the drop down menu)

Where: Made My Wardrobe Studio, 27 Portland Square, Bristol, BS2 8SA

What’s included?

• Introduction to using our PFAFF passport and PFAFF overlock sewing machines

• Big tables for cutting out your projects on

• Irons & three different sizes of ironing boards

• Our epic haberdashery of fabric, zips, elastic, buttons, fastenings and much more!

• Help and advice on your projects from the MMW team

• Lots of space for discussion and creativity

• Tea, coffee & treats

If you are interested in buying fabric, kits or sewing machines from us, our Open Studio Sessions are a great time to come and see them IRL! If you want to pop down and do that (but don’t want to stay and sew) drop me an email on

lydia@mademywardrobe.com.

Do you have random notebooks filled with doodles of epic outfits, but you’re not sure how to turn the designs in your head into a reality? Then this workshop is just for you.

We’re talking about the full creative potential of making your own clothes and this Intro to Pattern Cutting workshop is the beginning of that journey. In the class, we will take a classic dress block and turn it into your customised dress, top, or skirt pattern. From moving darts to altering necklines, you will pick up the skills you need to make your own patterns in the future. Once you have made a pattern you love, if you would like to sew your garment up, you may want to join our Open Studio Session on a following Wednesday.

What will be included:

• A full day of teaching from Jamilla Ives our in-house pattern expert.

• A full introduction to pattern-cutting skills

• How to use a dress block

• How to take your designs from an idea to a ready-to-sew paper pattern

• How to use pattern-cutting tools

When: Saturday 11th July 2026, 10am-4pm

Where: Made My Wardrobe Studio, 27 Portland Square, Bristol, BS2 8SA

Who: This course will be taught by Jamilla Ives, Made My Wardrobe’s in-house Pattern Cutter. Jamilla’s aunty got her her hooked on sewing when she was twelve years old. Since then, she has studied Fashion Atelier at University, been a Technician on the fashion course at the University of Gloucestershire, and she now runs the fashion programme for The Prince’s Foundation. She loves demystifying pattern cutting for home sewers to give them the creative freedom to sew any design they can imagine.

We are delighted to be running our Screen Print & Sew Retreat this year. Across three days, learn the art of screen printing with the wonderfully talented Jessie De Salis. Then use the fabric you have screen printed to sew up a fully custom garment in the Made My Wardrobe studio.

On Wednesday we will begin by doing a full day of screen printing under the expert guidance of Jessie in her screen printing studio. Nestled away in a barn on her family farm in Yarlington, Somerset (transport info below), Jessie will give you a full introduction to the screen printing process and teach you all the skills you need to print your own fabric. There will be the option to use Jessie’s existing motifs and designs - or you can create your own shapes entirely.

On Thursday and Friday we will be based at the Made My Wardrobe sewing studio in Bristol. Lydia and the Made My Wardrobe team will show you how to turn your fabric into a well-fitted garment. You will be given an epic choice of sewing patterns, shown how to find your size and lay out the pattern pieces on your printed fabric, and then taught a full range of sewing techniques.

When: Wednesday 22nd, Thursday 23rd & Friday 24th July 2026, (10.30am till 5pm on Wednesday, 10.30 till 4pm Thursday & Friday)

Where:

• Wednesday - Jessie De Salis’ Studio, Yarlington House, Yarlington, Somerset, BA9 8DY (If you are coming by public transport we can pick you up from Castle Cary Train station, or we may be able to arrange lift shares from Bristol with other participants)

• Thursday & Friday - Made My Wardrobe Studio, 27 Portland Square Bristol, BS2 8SA

Whats included?

• Three days of teaching from Jessie, Lydia and the Made My Wardrobe team

• A full introduction to screen printing using a range of tools and equipment

• Fabric and haberdashery to make your garment, plus extra fabric to practice screen printing on.

• Introduction to using our PFAFF passport and PFAFF coverlock sewing machines

• One-on-one fitting advice

• Intimate class size with lots of space for discussion and creativity

• We cannot guarantee the private outdoor pool next to Jessie’s barn will be open (as it depends on the weather), but if it is, you are welcome to go for a dip at the end of the day!

Meet Your Teachers:

The screen printing will be taught by Bristol born and bred textile designer and screen printer Jessie De Salis. Jessie studied in Falmouth as well as Manchester School of Art before returning to her home town and setting up a screen printing business. She set up (quite a DIY) studio in an old barn that she rents from her grandparents in Somerset with a 10 meter long print table where she prints fabrics, cushions, curtains and lampshades. It is such a lovely thing to be able to hand print fabrics - each piece is completely unique and tells its own story.

The sewing section of this retreat will be taught by Lydia Higginson with assistance from the Made My Wardrobe team. Lydia started MMW in 2016 - since then she has taught over 1000 people how to make their own clothes in workshops across the UK. When she’s not facilitating workshops, she’s a costume maker for theatre and live performance. She loves demystifying the tricky bits of sewing and getting folks flying on well-oiled sewing machines. She’s a big believer that everyone is creative, folks just need the time and space to let it out.

We might be biased but we think making a beautiful patchwork quilt in our colourful textile studio really is the perfect way to spend a weekend! Join us, and learn a whole array of sewing, patchwork and quilting skills. Your patchworks can either be hung on the wall or quilted and used on a bed or sofa. No previous experience of sewing quilts is needed, we will take you through all the stages step-by-step.

What will be included:

• Two days of teaching and advice from the MMW Team

• Designing intuitively, responding to fabrics and shapes

• Demos of patchwork, appliqué, embroidery sewing techniques

• An introduction to machine quilting, backing and edging techniques

• A full Introduction to using our top range PFAFF sewing machines

• Delving into our epic patchwork fabric stash you can pick out a whole array of fabrics to make your patchworks.

• If you don’t finish your quilt in one weekend that’s no problem, we all know these processes take time and devotion. You can always join our Open Studio or Quilt Club sessions to finish them off.

When: Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th September 2026, 10am till 4pm

Where: Made My Wardrobe Studio, 27 Portland Square, Bristol, BS2 8SA

Do you want to learn how to make your own clothes? This is the perfect place for total beginners learn how to sew!

Throughout the day we will introduce you to the sewing techniques you need to start making clothes and then build up your confidence to use one of our sewing patterns. By the end of the day you will go home wearing something you have made.

What will be included:

• Threading up and using a sewing machine

• Taking your measurements and finding your size

• Choosing the right fabric for the garment you want to make

• Using a sewing pattern

• A full range of sewing techniques

When: Saturday 12th September 2026, 10am-4pm

Where: Made My Wardrobe Studio, 27 Portland Square, Bristol, BS2 8SA

We are delighted to be running our Screen Print & Sew Retreat this year. Across three days, learn the art of screen printing with the wonderfully talented Jessie De Salis. Then use the fabric you have screen printed to sew up a fully custom garment in the Made My Wardrobe studio.

On Saturday we will begin by doing a full day of screen printing under the expert guidance of Jessie in her screen printing studio. Nestled away in a barn on her family farm in Yarlington, Somerset (transport info below), Jessie will give you a full introduction to the screen printing process and teach you all the skills you need to print your own fabric. There will be the option to use Jessie’s existing motifs and designs - or you can create your own shapes entirely.

On Sunday and Monday we will be based at the Made My Wardrobe sewing studio in Bristol. Lydia and the Made My Wardrobe team will show you how to turn your fabric into a well-fitted garment. You will be given an epic choice of sewing patterns, shown how to find your size and lay out the pattern pieces on your printed fabric, and then taught a full range of sewing techniques.

When: Saturday 19th, Sunday 20th & Monday 21st September 2026, 10.30am till 5pm on Saturday, 10.30 till 4pm Sunday & Monday

Where:

• Saturday - Jessie De Salis’ Studio, Yarlington House, Yarlington, Somerset, BA9 8DY (If you are coming by public transport we can pick you up from Castle Cary Train station, or we may be able to arrange lift shares from Bristol with other participants)

• Sunday & Monday - Made My Wardrobe Studio, 27 Portland Square Bristol, BS2 8SA

Whats included?

• Three days of teaching from Jessie, Lydia and the Made My Wardrobe team

• A full introduction to screen printing using a range of tools and equipment

• Fabric and haberdashery to make your garment, plus extra fabric to practice screen printing on.

• Introduction to using our PFAFF passport and PFAFF coverlock sewing machines

• One-on-one fitting advice

• Intimate class size with lots of space for discussion and creativity

• We cannot guarantee the private outdoor pool next to Jessie’s barn will be open (as it depends on the weather), but if it is, you are welcome to go for a dip at the end of the day!

Meet Your Teachers:

The screen printing will be taught by Bristol born and bred textile designer and screen printer Jessie De Salis. Jessie studied in Falmouth as well as Manchester School of Art before returning to her home town and setting up a screen printing business. She set up (quite a DIY) studio in an old barn that she rents from her grandparents in Somerset with a 10 meter long print table where she prints fabrics, cushions, curtains and lampshades. It is such a lovely thing to be able to hand print fabrics - each piece is completely unique and tells its own story.

The sewing section of this retreat will be taught by Lydia Higginson with assistance from the Made My Wardrobe team. Lydia started MMW in 2016 - since then she has taught over 1000 people how to make their own clothes in workshops across the UK. When she’s not facilitating workshops, she’s a costume maker for theatre and live performance. She loves demystifying the tricky bits of sewing and getting folks flying on well-oiled sewing machines. She’s a big believer that everyone is creative, folks just need the time and space to let it out.

Over the last few years the team at MMW has fallen in love with making banners. Sometimes it is to support political movements and trade unions other times it’s to make something beautiful to hang in our homes. The art form feels very alive, responsive and creative to us, which is why this is one of our favourite workshops to teach.

What will be included:

• Two days of teaching from the MMW Team

• Designing intuitively, responding to fabrics and shapes

• Patchwork, lettering, appliqué, embroidery and other banner sewing techniques

• Backing, edging and hanging techniques

• Introduction to using our range of PFAFF sewing machines

• Delving into our epic fabric stash you can pick out a whole array of fabrics to make your banners.

When: Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th September 2026, 10am till 4pm

Where: Made My Wardrobe Studio, 27 Portland Square, Bristol, BS2 8SA