Beginner Patchwork: Mini Storage Basket

Lucy is leading a beginner patchwork workshop at Fashion n' Fabrics in St Albans, and the project is a mini fabric storage basket. It's a course that runs over several weeks, starting on Friday 20 November 2026 and continuing through to 6 February 2027, so you'll have plenty of time to get your head around the basics rather than rushing through it in one go.

If you've never tried patchwork before, this is a good place to start. The focus is on a mini storage basket, which is a practical thing to come away with — something you'll actually use rather than just a sample to keep in a drawer. Lucy will be guiding you through the process, and because it's aimed at beginners, you don't need to have a handle on the technique before you turn up.

One thing to keep in mind: you'll need to bring your own sewing machine, and it needs to have a walking foot. If you're not sure what that is, it's a specific presser foot that helps feed the top and bottom layers of fabric through at the same rate, which is exactly what you need for patchwork. You'll also want to bring along your usual sewing kit — the pins, needles, scissors and threads you'd normally have on hand.

Fashion n' Fabrics is on Beech Road in St Albans, a fabric and craft shop that runs a regular programme of sewing, knitting, crochet, patchwork and textile classes, so it's a proper creative space rather than just a retail counter. The course costs £45.