Saturday Morning Clothes Mending Café

The Saturday Morning Clothes Mending Café is back at The Folk of Gloucester on Saturday 14 November, from 10:30 to 13:30. It's a relaxed drop-in group led by local textile artist Ally Goff, and it's open to anyone aged 14 and over. You don't need any previous sewing experience to take part, and all the materials are provided on the day, so you can just turn up and get stuck in.

The idea is simple: you bring along a pre-loved item of clothing and spend the morning learning how to restyle, mend and embellish it. It's not just about fixing a hole; you'll be stitching, gluing, painting and decorating to turn something old into a unique piece and give your wardrobe a bit of a refresh. Whether you've got a favourite jumper that's seen better days or a shirt you're bored with, it's a good excuse to spend a few hours making something your own.

The session is made possible by Together Gloucester, and it's held at The Folk of Gloucester, a Tudor timber-framed building at Bishop Hooper's House on Westgate Street. It used to be the Folk Museum and now works as a community space for exhibitions, events and activities. There's a garden you can walk around for free, and the café does homemade lunches, cakes and hot drinks if you fancy a break from the sewing. The building sits right near St Mary de Lode, the city's oldest parish church, and St Nicholas, a 12th-century landmark with a leaning 15th-century tower.

Admission is free, and the café runs on the third Saturday of every month from 10:30 to 13:30, with the next session following on Saturday 21 November. You'll find it at Bishop Hooper's House, 99-101 Westgate Street, GL1 2PG.