Festive Handblock Printing

St Albans Cathedral is hosting a festive handblock printing workshop on Saturday 5 December, from 10am to 1pm. It's a three-hour session led by expert printer Jesline Kirubajinie, and you'll spend the morning making a set of four bespoke linen napkins.

The workshop is an introduction to the ancient Indian art of handblock printing, a centuries-old textile tradition that relies on hand-carved wooden blocks to transfer designs onto fabric. There are more than 100 blocks to choose from, and some are unique to Kirubajinie, created exclusively for her brand. You dip the blocks into vibrant paint and press the design onto the fabric one print at a time, so you're building each napkin by hand rather than stamping them all out in one go. All the materials are supplied — blocks, paints, fabric and aprons — and hot drinks and pastries are served on the day.

Kirubajinie brings a personal history to the craft. She began her work in Sri Lanka; her family emigrated from the war-torn country in the 1990s to the USA and later to the UK, where she now brings an Eastern flair to a Western audience. The session is open to teens and adults, so it's as much for a solo morning out as it is for bringing someone along.

Tickets are £95, and places are limited, so it's worth booking early — booking closes a week before the event. You'll find it at St Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Yard, AL1 1BY, on Saturday 5 December, 10am to 1pm.