Confident sewer or crafter looking to support your local community?
Here at the Shed, we are always looking for ways to support people to be a little greener. So in 2025, we put together a group of local volunteer sewers and crafters to do just that - the Crafty So and Sews (CS&Ss), run by the team at Letchworth Garden Shed. If you’re a bit handy and like the idea of sharing your skills with your community: this might be the group for you!
What we'd like from you
Your skills
Sewing, crocheting, knitting, supporting learners at the community skills sharing sessions we run, or even running a session yourself, there is a range of ways we’d like to share your skills with the community.
Your time
Loads of options, including volunteering at home - whenever suits.
Your clever ideas
Most of our activities have come from the volunteers.
What you'll get from us
A bit of craft-based community
The sharing of knowledge, inspiration and craft hacks on our group WhatsApp chat and at events is quite a marvel! Our volunteers enjoy being part of a loose group that appreciates a bit of craft-based chat. If that sounds good to you, read on!
Access to specialist machines
Our heavy duty machine can sew all sorts of fabrics. It’s too heavy to lend out, but is available to CS&S members to book and use at the Shed.
Specialist skills sessions
Because there’s always something new to learn! We run events focused on specific skills, open only to the CS&S volunteers, such as how to use our specialist equipment ( the heavy duty machine, overlockers and our fancy embroidery machine), and sewing with formalwear fabrics (chiffon, silk, etc).
What do the Crafty So & Sews do?
As we’ve grown, we’ve built our activities around 4 main goals.
1.
Teaching mending, making and repair skills in the community
We run 'how to' sessions, with lots of one-on-one support, teaching basic skills like knitting, sewing, including how to use the machines available to borrow at the Shed, fixing holes, taking up hems and so on. We’ve also premiered a special event, the ‘Prom Project’ this year doing alterations on outfits bought pre-loved for local students to wear to their end of term Proms. It went so well, we’re lining up to do it again in 2027.
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2.
Making (and mending) things for the Shed
After running as a library of things for a while, we noticed that the boxes some items came in were getting a bit tatty. We also realised that it’s easier for people to remember to bring all the accessories back when there’s a custom-made bag with pockets for everything! The CS&S volunteers have been putting their hands up to make bags for particular items, nominated by the Shed team. There is loads of support and materials available for anyone who fancies a go.
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3.
Making things as fundraisers for the Shed
The Shed is a non-profit, community resource that runs mostly on volunteers, donations and the smell of an oily rag! We’re always looking for sustainable ways to help contribute to the running costs. For Christmas, we make gift bags to sell in Shed, and at our upcoming event in late October, we’re also showing off what the volunteers figured out at the design session to create tool-belts to sell, made from upcycled jeans from the Garden House Hospice Shop - love a bit of upcycling!
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4.
Providing specialist skills training and equipment to CS&S members
A perk for the CS&S team! We have some specialist equipment, like our heavy duty sewing machine, which is too complex and too heavy to lend out to the general public, but is available to our CS&S volunteers. We also run specialist sessions with local tutors for people who want to upskill. After last year’s ‘Prom Project’, we realised a tutorial on working with slippery/silky fabrics would be really useful, and this is in the works.
Want to get involved?
If any of this sounds interesting and you’d like to know more, fill in this quick form to say hi and tell us what your skills are. Our lovely Crafty So & Sewer, Sue will be in touch (or you can message Sue directly at craftysoandsews@letchworthgardenshed.com)
Upcoming Events
Sew Social
Nov 7th 2026 - Settlement
So good in 2025, we’re doing it again! A session to kick off making gift bags to sell in the Shed as fund-raising. You can come along on the day, bring your machine, your favourite scissors and we will provide the tea, sewing inspiration and all other materials. If you only have a couple of hours to give that is fine too. If you’re hankering for a challenge, the team got together earlier in the year to create designs for work-belts made out of upcycled jeans (many thanks to Garden House Hospice for contributing the jeans).
Message Sue if you want to join us in November.
Both the gift bags and tool-belts are available as ‘Sew It Alone’ projects…
Sew It Alone
A way of sharing your skills, but from home! We’ll will provide you with all you need to get crafty at home, with instructions and fabric for the gift bags, tool-belts or both! Packs will be available at the Sew Social Session, 24th of October , and for pick up at the Shed from the following Tuesday, 27th of October.
Sewing with Formalwear Fabrics
Early January/February 2027 – skills session focusing on formalwear fabrics, to prep for next year’s Prom Project.