Thanks to the recent craft revival, it’s now perfectly acceptable for adults to sit down with scissors, paper and glue, with nothing more complex in mind than making something lovely to take home.
Even if all you make is a mess, taking time out of your schedule to do something creative can be calming and hugely rewarding – all good reasons to check out The Making Space, which runs workshops and classes for crafters of all ages and skill levels in its East London HQ.
Run by former RADA prop-maker Simon and his ‘chief muse’ Nicki, The Making Space provides a fun and relaxed environment for those who want to escape London life for a few house and get into the creative zone. In addition to the crafty tuition, Simon, who set up the Making Space six months ago, is well known for his catering skills and provides crafters with plenty of food and drink to keep the creative juices flowing.
Unlike many craft-related activities, the clientèle at The Making Space is not overwhelmingly female, and Simon explained to us that he likes to keep the activities ‘gender neutral’. He has a healthy stream of repeat visitors, around 40% of whom are male. Crafting, it seems, is appealing to more and more men, as well as younger people: the main age group at the Making Space is 18-35.
There’s a varied programme of workshops ranging from charm-bracelet making to gravestone carving, and the space can also be hired for private events, with tailored tuition for your invited guests. Popular past workshops have included mask-making, chainmail knitting, book-hollowing and glass-engraving. Simon explained to us that the workshops began as a response to the popular trend for masqued balls at events like White Mischief and the Last Tuesday Society, and branched out into other crafts when demand grew.
All workshops at The Making Space are run as group events, which keeps prices affordable and also gives crafters the chance to meet new people. Crafting is a great way to make new friends, as it brings strangers together while providing an excellent focus for discussion.
The Making Space is at 10 Sunbury Workshops, Swanfield Street, London E2 7LF.
