Clothes and Textiles Repair Cafe

The Clothes and Textiles Repair Cafe is back at the Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill on Saturday 16 January, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. It's a regular thing, running on the third Saturday of January, April, July and October, so if you can't make this one, there are more coming on 17 April, 17 July and 16 October.

The cafe is run by skilled facilitators who help you mend your clothes and teach you the skills to keep treasured items alive. It's not just about a quick fix, either; there's space to cut out patterns, carry on with your own craft projects and meet other people doing the same. If you've got a favourite jumper with a hole or a dress that needs a bit of work, you can bring it along and get it sorted while picking up a few tricks for next time.

You'll find it at The Cutting Table in the Assemblage Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. The Museum of Making sits on the site of what's widely regarded as the world's first modern factory, part of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it celebrates the region's 300-year history of making. The museum was developed with major grant funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, with support from Derby City Council, Rolls-Royce and charitable trusts. It's picked up a few awards along the way, too: highly commended as Sustainable Project of the Year at the 2021 Museums + Heritage Awards, named project of the year under £20m at the 2021 Construction News awards, and bronze for Visitor Attraction of the Year at the 2024 Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Tourism Awards.

Entry is free, with a suggested donation of £3. The session runs from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Saturday 16 January, at The Cutting Table, Assemblage Gallery, Level 2, Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill, Silk Mill Lane, Derby DE1 3AF.