If you walk into the Princess Alice Hospice shop on Walton Road in East Molesey on a workshop day, you might be met by the buzzing sound of sewing machines, and a hive of creative energy. These community craft workshops were born from the passion and imagination of our shop assistant and Compassionate Neighbour Tamara Melvin, a finalist on The Great British Sewing Bee in 2014. 

Tamara’s journey began at just eight years old, making clothes for her dolls before moving on to adapt her own wardrobe as a teenager. Today, she is eager to pass on that lifelong love for upcycling, helping neighbours of all ages embrace sustainable fashion. For Tamara, it is about giving unloved or unworn textiles a second life whilst bringing people together. 

That ethos sparked the series of free children’s craft workshops, which kicked off at Easter. The first session saw young makers crafting their own bunny ears and pom-poms from unsellable donated rags, followed by a lovely Father’s Day workshop where children transformed their dads’ old shirts into handmade cushions. As one parent, Lauren, shared, “the children loved getting hands-on with sewing machines, picking out fabrics, and learning step-by-step from Tamara”.  The fun continues throughout the year, with the August session dedicated to making back-to-school pencil cases and PE bags, whilst Halloween lovers will be creating treat bags from old sheets and T-shirts in October, and the festive season will be dedicated to making the most cheerful Christmas jumpers. 

Alongside the children’s crafts, Tamara is also trialing evening “Fit&Fix” sessions for adults keen to build their sewing confidence and revive their wardrobes. Following a successful first class on mastering hems, the next workshop focuses on the art of fit, teaching tailoring techniques and darts to alter ill-fitting clothes, so they no longer sit forgotten in the back of the wardrobe. Later in the year, the focus will turn to festive upcycling, showing participants how to turn tired knitwear into personalised Christmas stockings. 

With spaces kept to just eight per session to keep things relaxed and personal, these workshops are proving to be a wonderful way to connect, learn practical skills, and see the potential in what is right in front of us.  

To find out more or book a spot for an upcoming session, simply pop into the East Molesey shop or click on the buttons below: