mezza

“Free Form Crochet” is a 4 week course in which we discover the art of free form crochet.

You’ll learn lots of new stiches and “base” motifs as well as methods and techniques for joining and building shapes and textures. This is a fun course where you can go off-piste, see where your hook takes you or work towards a specific outcome such as a wall hanging or cushion cover.

The main aim of the course is to experiment, play with yarn and stitches whilst working without patterns and restrictions!

Course Location

We will be in Esher in the Friends’ Meeting Room, 3 Claremont Lane, Esher KT10 9DP.

Course Dates

This is a 4 week course, running on Monday evenings.

Week 1: Monday 5th June 2023 7:30-9:30pm
Week 2: Monday 12th June 2023 7:30-9:30pm
Week 3: Monday 19th June 2023 7:30-9:30pm
Week 4: Monday 26th June 2023 7:30-9:30pm

Cost

• £55 for 4 weeks.
• £25 if you have already taken this specific course and want to take part again.
• Save 10% by block booking this course and the Granny Square Sweater Course

Please note : the cost of materials are not included in the course fees.

Materials Required

You’ll need a selection of yarns – here anything goes! It’s the perfect project for using up scrap yarn, random skeins, sale purchases and charity shop finds.

You can choose to use yarns of a similar thickness throughout, such as DK, and/or go with a specific colour theme – but this is totally up to you!

You’ll need a hook size or hook sizes that correspond to your yarn choices.

Course Size

Currently the course size is limited to a maximum of 8 students.

Student Resources

I have a dedicated student resource page with a login (which you’ll receive once you’ve signed up) where you’ll find all the class notes and useful videos to watch at your leisure.

Booking

Bookings are secured with the receipt of a full payment.

Please email me if you have any problems booking.

Please read the cancellation policy below, before signing up.

Important – Cancellation Policy

I have hesitated to implement this policy in the past, although it has always been in place as part of my terms & conditions. However, due to a high dropout rate for some of my recent courses, sometimes days before the course starts, I have been left in a situation where I am often not covering my costs and/or earning even a minimum wage. Therefore, I regret that I will now have to implement the policy otherwise I am no longer able to continue teaching. Should you need to cancel, refunds for the course can only be given up to 14 days before the start of the course and are subject to an administration fee of £15. After this time, i.e. 24/05/23, I am unable to issue refunds as I have already committed to the hire of the venue and the purchase of all course materials and it doesn’t leave me enough time to find a replacement student to make the course financially viable for me. Of course, full refunds will be given in the event that the course is cancelled due to the venue or me cancelling the course. Thank you for your understanding.

“Design & Make Your Own Granny Square Sweater Course” is a 4 week masterclass which allows you to create a unique garment.

The course covers layout, shape, sizing and colour placement. Design your own sweater using any granny square pattern or use one of the motifs I have designed especially for this course. We’ll cover different types of joining techniques from sewing to the continuous Japanese method. Using either DK or 4ply/fingering weight yarn, I’ll help you to get the right fit – whether you’re making the sweater for yourself or someone else.

Skill Level

Must be confident with basic crochet stitches and techniques – not suitable for complete beginners.

Course Location

We will be in Esher in the Friends’ Meeting Room, 3 Claremont Lane, Esher KT10 9DP.

Course Dates

This is a 4 week course, running on Monday evenings.

Week 1 – Monday 17th April 2023 7:30-9:30pm
Week 2 – Monday 24th April 2023 7:30-9:30pm
No class on Monday 1st May BANK HOLIDAY
Week 3 – Monday 8th May 2023 7:30-9:30pm
Week 4 – Monday 15th May 2023 7:30-9:30pm

Cost

• £60 for 4 weeks.
• £25 if you have already taken this specific course and want to take part again.
• Save 10% by block booking this course and the Free Form Crochet course.

Please note : the cost of materials are not included in the course fees.

Expectations

The majority of students are not able to complete a full sweater in 5 weeks. The course is desgined to plan out and implement the design, get you started with the project, as well as cover some of the key elements of making a granny square sweater. Additionally, it goes without saying, that you will need to spend time outside of the class making the motifs and working on other elements of the sweater.

Below is a rough guide to the curriculum, this may vary depending on how quickly we get through things and how much help people need for their individual designs.

Week 1 : Choosing the size of your granny square, joining techniques, working out sizing, layout and how much yarn you need.

Week 2 : Order of construction, making the neck section.

Week 3 : Seaming, cuffs, necks and hems.

Materials Required

You’ll need the correct qty of yarn in at least 5 colours, in either DK or fingering weight yarn in natural fibres. Unfortunately, it is a bit of a chicken and egg situation. You’ll need to know what yarn you’re using and have some of it to hand before the class starts. When you sign up, you’ll receive more information about what’s required on the first session. Working out the exact yarn quantities is covered in the first class so don’t worry about having all your yarn ready for then.

I would strongly recommend natural yarns such as wool or cotton. Acrylic yarns do not work very well in these types of garments because the yarn has no stitch memory. Additionally, I try to discourage the use of acrylic since it’s a product of the petro-chemical industry, is toxic to manufacture and leaches microplastics in to the environment.

You’ll need the correct hook size. This will range from 2.5mm to 4mm depending on your yarn choice, and again, this is discussed in the email when you sign up and the first class.

To give you a rough idea of how much yarn you’ll need, I can tell you how much yarn I used for each of the sweaters shown in this post. I am a size 12.

• DK version (below) = approx 6x100g skeins, roughly 1,440 metres.
• 4ply/Fingering version (top image) = approx 4x100g skeins, roughly 1,700 metres.

Course Size

Currently the course size is limited to a maximum of 8 students.

Student Resources

I have a dedicated student resource page with a login (which you’ll receive once you’ve signed up) where you’ll find all the class notes and useful videos to watch at your leisure.

SOLD OUT

Sorry, this course if fully booked.

Please sign up to my newsletter to be notified of upcoming courses.

Important – Cancellation Policy

I have hesitated to implement this policy in the past, although it has always been in place as part of my terms & conditions. However, due to a high dropout rate for some of my recent courses, sometimes days before the course starts, I have been left in a situation where I am often not covering my costs and/or earning even a minimum wage. Therefore, I regret that I will now have to implement the policy otherwise I am no longer able to continue teaching. Should you need to cancel, refunds for the course can only be given up to 14 days before the start of the course and are subject to an administration fee of £15. After this time, i.e. 04/04/23, I am unable to issue refunds as I have already committed to the hire of the venue and the purchase of all course materials and it doesn’t leave me enough time to find a replacement student to make the course financially viable for me. Of course, full refunds will be given in the event that the course is cancelled due to the venue or me cancelling the course. Thank you for your understanding.

I will be running my ever popular Riverhouse Owl crochet course on Tuesdays from 10:00-12:00pm at the Whichcraftwools, Cheam, Surrey!

This is a 4 week course (4 x 2 hour sessions) where you will learn the basic techniques of Amigurumi toy making by creating the Riverhouse Owl. I use it as a doorstop but it could also be used as a toy!

Please advise if you have an allergy to wool.

This course is for you if you :

• have taken my beginners course and are looking for your next project.
• have basic crochet skills and want to learn some new techniques.
• are a more advanced crochet student but fancy a fun project.

As well as my expert guidance and hands on practical work, the course includes detailed class notes with photo tutorials, videos AND everything you need, including hook, yarn and stuffing.

Owl Crochet Course Dates 2023

• Week 1 -Tuesday 18th April 10-12pm
• Week 2 -Tuesday 25th April 10-12pm
• Week 3 -Tuesday 2nd May 10-12pm
• Week 4 -Tuesday 9th May 10-12pm

Cost

The course consists of 4 x 2 hour session and costs £70 – this covers all materials needed & exclusive access to the online student resources.

What you might want to bring

• Notepad & pen.
• Scissors.
• Drink.

This is a great way to practice your hobby in a friendly setting where you can meet other students with similar interests as well as supporting your local arts centre.

Booking

Bookings are secured with the receipt of a full payment. Please read all Terms & Conditions before booking. Please read my cancellation policy below.

If you have any problems with the payment form, please let me know!

Important – Cancellation Policy

I have hesitated to implement this policy in the past, although it has always been in place as part of my terms & conditions. However, due to a high dropout rate for some of my recent courses, sometimes days before the course starts, I have been left in a situation where I am often not covering my costs and/or earning even a minimum wage. Therefore, I regret that I will now have to implement the policy otherwise I am no longer able to continue teaching. Should you need to cancel, refunds for the course can only be given up to 14 days before the start of the course and are subject to an administration fee of £15. After this time, i.e. 02/04/23, I am unable to issue refunds as I have already committed to the hire of the venue and the purchase of all course materials and it doesn’t leave me enough time to find a replacement student to make the course financially viable for me. Of course, full refunds will be given in the event that the course is cancelled due to Whichcraft Wools or I cancelling the course. Thank you for your understanding.

I have booked the Esher Quakers Meeting Room for 2×4 week course from 7:30-9:30pm, with us being able to stay until 10pm if anyone needs extra help or wants to carry on with what they are doing for a bit.

I am also trialling a new, less than half price, option (see below) for those that may have already done the course before but would like to do it again and/or get help finishing off or revisiting some of the techniques.

Course Dates

Course 1

1. Monday 17th April
2. Monday 24th April
   BANK HOLIDAY
3. Monday 8th May
4. Monday 15th May

Course 2

1. Monday 5th June
2. Monday 12th June
3. Monday 19th June
4. Monday 26th June

Cost

Each course will be £55 (apart from the Granny Square Sweater Course, which is £60) or £25 for a student attending the same course for the second time (materials not included).

Save with Block Booking

Save 10% if you book both courses at the same time! This option is not available for the reduced/return student price.

With all this in mind, I now need your feedback on which courses you’d like me to run.

Please look through the available courses below and then vote! You can make multiple votes. If you have any specific questions about the courses, please get in touch via email.

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Please vote in both polls!

Please select all you are interested in – if there’s one you particularly want to do, please mention it in the comment box – thank you!

I have designed the beautiful, lacy “Lake Agnes Shawl” to introduce you to top down, triangular shawl construction.

Techniques Covered

During the 4 week course you’ll learn:
• How to create a top down, centre start triangular shawl.
• How to read from a chart.
• The V stitch.
• Picot stitch.
• How increases affect the shape and size of the shawl.
• How to customise the size of your shawl.
• How to apply a fancy border stitch.
• How to block your finished shawl.

Skill Level – Improvers

You’ll need to be confident with : US single, double and half double crochet stitches (UK double, treble and half treble crochet stitches).

Not suitable for complete beginners.

Materials required

Natural 4ply, yarn such as Holst Garn Coast and/or Holst Garn Supersoft 100% Wool in two shades, 2 x50g cakes for the main body of the shawl, 1 x 50g cake for the trim. Other yarn suggestions will be emailed to you if you sign up.
4mm crochet hook.

Times & Dates

Week 1 : Friday 5th May 12:30-2:30pm
Week 2 : Friday 12th May 12:30-2:30pm
Week 3 : Friday 19th May 12:30-2:30pm
Week 4 : Friday 26th May 12:30-2:30pm

To book

Bookings are only secured with the receipt of a full payment.

Please read about our cancellation policy in our terms and conditions: Terms & Conditions

A relaxed, 4 week course where you can crochet your own custom bunting. Your bunting will feature lettering/text of your choice. Do you want to make bunting to celebrate the birth of a new member of your family? A wedding? The coronation? Or maybe your “word of the year”… Whether it’s for yourself or a gift, you can get your message across in a unique, one of a kind creation.

Deluxe Customised Bunting

Techniques covered :

• Making a triangle.
• Decorative border stitch.
• Tassels.
• Lettering in felt. 
• Stabilising the bunting.
• Making a cord.

Skill Level – Improvers

You’ll need to be confident with the basic crochet stitches such as chaining, double crochet (UK treble), single crochet (UK double).
You wouldn’t need to attend every class, however, missing the first class would not be ideal and you’d still have to pay for the whole course – but of course you’d receive any relevant class notes/links to videos.
Not suitable for complete beginners.

Times & Dates

Week 1 : Friday 24th March 12:30-2:30pm
Week 2 : Friday 31st March 12:30-2:30pm
NO CLASSES FOR 2 WEEKS – EASTER HOLIDAYS
Week 3 : Friday 21st April 12:30-2:30pm
Week 4 : Friday 28th April 12:30-2:30pm

Materials

DK yarn in 4 or more colours. I recommend natural yarns such as cotton. Yardage will depend on how many letters you have in your word, how many colours you are going for and how you’re distributing the colours.

Corresponding hook size to your yarn – 3.5mm for DK yarn.

Felt for backing & lettering – I will have some felt that will be included in the course, however, I have a limited range of colours so if you are after something specific, it’s best to get this yourself.

Estimated yardage examples
6 Flags –  DK Cotton: total of 200g (4x50g)
8 Flags –  DK Cotton: total of 300g (6x50g)
10 Flags –  DK Cotton: total of 400g (8x50g)

Cost

£55 for 4×2 hour sessions. Materials are not included (except the felt mentioned above).

What you might want to bring

• Notepad & pen.
• Scissors.
• Drink.

Booking

Bookings are only secured with the receipt of a full payment.

By popular demand, I will be running a beginners course on Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:30pm at Whichcraft Wools in Cheam, Surrey, in their new Craft Cabin.

My beginners crochet course, consists of 4 classes where you will get to grips with all the basics needed to get you competent and confident in the art of crochet.

I have developed a special project that covers starting off, chaining, the basic stitches and joining motifs together for a finished item.

This course is for you if you are :

• a complete beginner and you’ve never even picked up a hook.
• someone that has dabbled in crochet but never really got to grips with it.
• someone that may have crocheted many years ago but need refreshing on the basic techniques.
• self-taught from the internet but want to make sure you’re not picking up any bad habits.

As well as my expert guidance and hands on practical work, the course includes detailed class notes with photo tutorials AND everything you need, including hook, yarn, needles, stitch markers and a handy project bag. You’ll also receive exclusive access to my online resource page which includes videos of all techniques covered in class.

You’ll be making a small item which will teach you how to make a traditional and solid granny square.
You will learn all the essential techniques that can be applied to most basic projects such as:

• choosing the right size hook and yarn
• how to hold your hook and yarn
• chaining
• slip stitch, single & double crochet
• crochet chart symbols
• how to make a square
• how to change colours
• how to join motifs using sewing and crochet
• how to make a cord
• how to finish off

Learn to Crochet Course – Thursday Eveing Dates 2023

Week 1: Thursday 2nd March 2023 7:30-9:30pm
Week 2: Thursday 9th March 2023 7:30-9:30pm
Week 3: Thursday 16th March 2023 7:30-9:30pm
Week 4: Thursday 23rd March 2023 7:30-9:30pm

Cost

The course consists of 4 x 2 hour session and costs £85 – this covers all materials needed & exclusive access to the online student resources. Tea, coffee & biscuits are also provided.

What you might want to bring

• Notepad & pen.
• Scissors.

This is a great way to learn a new hobby in a friendly setting where you can meet other students with similar interests as well as supporting your local yarn store.

Important – Cancellation Policy

Should you need to cancel, refunds for the course can only be given up to 14 days before the start of the course and are subject to an administration fee of £15. After this time, i.e. 16/02/23, I am unable to issue refunds as I have already committed to the hire of the venue and the purchase of all course materials. However, full refunds will be given in the event that the course is cancelled due to Whichcraft Wools or me cancelling the course. Thank you for your understanding.

Booking

Bookings are only secured with the receipt of a full payment.

SOLD OUT

If you missed out on this course, please sign up to my newsletter to be notified of new and upcoming courses

FAQ

Q: Why is the course 4 weeks long?
A : I have seen many day classes and classes that are a couple of hours long, promising to teach you to crochet. Of course there are some that can pick things up very quickly, but a key element of learning to crochet is muscle memory… this is very difficult to achieve in a short, one off class. In fact, a large percentage of my students had previously attended these kinds of classes and not quite managed to commit the techniques to memory. My immersive courses allow you to go home and practice what you’ve learnt in class and come back to me the following week for help with anything you’re unsure of. This 4 week structure really allows the skills to sink in and stick!

Q: I would like to attend your course but I am not able to make all the classes.
A : You can still get a lot out of the course, even if you have to skip some of the weeks, however,  Week 1 & Week 2 are mandatory. It’s very difficult for me to re-teach a whole missed class for one student and then fit in the content for the scheduled class. I have tried to do this in the past and ends up being unsatisfactory for the the student trying to catch up and also for the other students who didn’t miss a class. You will be sent class notes and videos (where applicable) for any classes missed and I’m happy to help via email/WhatsApp. The full cost of the course also applies, even if you can only make some of the classes.

Q: I do not need the starter kit as I have my own yarn and hooks.
A: After many years of teaching crochet to beginners, I have found that the hooks and yarn used make a massive difference to how easily the student picks up the technique and how much they enjoy the experience. Students that bring unsuitable equipment invariably end up frustrated so I have made the decision to provide and include all the materials in the cost of the course.

Q: I am a knitter. I’d like to crochet but I’m worried I won’t be able to.
A: Yes, I have come across this concern many times. There still seems to be a misconception that you either knit or crochet… of course you can do both! Often those with previous experience of knitting or other types of handicrafts can find picking up a new skill relatively easy.

Q: What is your cancellation policy.
A: Please read about our cancellation policy in our terms and conditions: Terms & Conditions

Q: The dates of this course don’t suit me, will you be running another course and if so, when?
A: Yes, I am always adding new course dates to my schedule. The best way to make sure you don’t miss out is to sign up to my newsletter below.

I will be running next beginners course on Thursdays from 10:00-12:00 at Whichcraft Wools in Cheam, Surrey, in their new Craft Cabin.

My beginners crochet course, consists of 4 classes where you will get to grips with all the basics needed to get you competent and confident in the art of crochet.

I have developed a special project that covers starting off, chaining, the basic stitches and joining motifs together for a finished item.

This course is for you if you are :

• a complete beginner and you’ve never even picked up a hook.
• someone that has dabbled in crochet but never really got to grips with it.
• someone that may have crocheted many years ago but need refreshing on the basic techniques.
• self-taught from the internet but want to make sure you’re not picking up any bad habits.

As well as my expert guidance and hands on practical work, the course includes detailed class notes with photo tutorials AND everything you need, including hook, yarn, needles, stitch markers and a handy project bag. You’ll also receive exclusive access to my online resource page which includes videos of all techniques covered in class.

You’ll be making a small item which will teach you how to make a traditional and solid granny square.
You will learn all the essential techniques that can be applied to most basic projects such as:

• choosing the right size hook and yarn
• how to hold your hook and yarn
• chaining
• slip stitch, single & double crochet
• crochet chart symbols
• how to make a square
• how to change colours
• how to join motifs using sewing and crochet
• how to make a cord
• how to finish off

Learn to Crochet Course – Thursday Daytime Dates 2023

Week 1: Thursday 2nd March 2023 10am-12pm
Week 2: Thursday 9th March 2023 10am-12pm
Week 3: Thursday 16th March 2023 10am-12pm
Week 4: Thursday 23rd March 2023 10am-12pm

Cost

The course consists of 4 x 2 hour session and costs £85 – this covers all materials needed & exclusive access to the online student resources. Tea, coffee & biscuits are also provided.

What you might want to bring

• Notepad & pen.
• Scissors.

This is a great way to learn a new hobby in a friendly setting where you can meet other students with similar interests as well as supporting your local yarn store.

Important – Cancellation Policy

Should you need to cancel, refunds for the course can only be given up to 14 days before the start of the course and are subject to an administration fee of £15. After this time, i.e. 16/02/23, I am unable to issue refunds as I have already committed to the hire of the venue and the purchase of all course materials. However, full refunds will be given in the event that the course is cancelled due to Whichcraft Wools or me cancelling the course. Thank you for your understanding.

Booking

Bookings are only secured with the receipt of a full payment.

SOLD OUT – Please sign up to my newsletter to be notified of upcoming classes.

FAQ

Q: Why is the course 4 weeks long?
A : I have seen many day classes and classes that are a couple of hours long, promising to teach you to crochet. Of course there are some that can pick things up very quickly, but a key element of learning to crochet is muscle memory… this is very difficult to achieve in a short, one off class. In fact, a large percentage of my students had previously attended these kinds of classes and not quite managed to commit the techniques to memory. My immersive courses allow you to go home and practice what you’ve learnt in class and come back to me the following week for help with anything you’re unsure of. This 4 week structure really allows the skills to sink in and stick!

Q: I would like to attend your course but I am not able to make all the classes.
A : You can still get a lot out of the course, even if you have to skip some of the weeks, however,  Week 1 & Week 2 are mandatory. It’s very difficult for me to re-teach a whole missed class for one student and then fit in the content for the scheduled class. I have tried to do this in the past and ends up being unsatisfactory for the the student trying to catch up and also for the other students who didn’t miss a class. You will be sent class notes and videos (where applicable) for any classes missed and I’m happy to help via email/WhatsApp. The full cost of the course also applies, even if you can only make some of the classes.

Q: I do not need the starter kit as I have my own yarn and hooks.
A: After many years of teaching crochet to beginners, I have found that the hooks and yarn used make a massive difference to how easily the student picks up the technique and how much they enjoy the experience. Students that bring unsuitable equipment invariably end up frustrated so I have made the decision to provide and include all the materials in the cost of the course.

Q: I am a knitter. I’d like to crochet but I’m worried I won’t be able to.
A: Yes, I have come across this concern many times. There still seems to be a misconception that you either knit or crochet… of course you can do both! Often those with previous experience of knitting or other types of handicrafts can find picking up a new skill relatively easy.

Q: What is your cancellation policy.
A: Please read about our cancellation policy in our terms and conditions: Terms & Conditions

Q: The dates of this course don’t suit me, will you be running another course and if so, when?
A: Yes, I am always adding new course dates to my schedule. The best way to make sure you don’t miss out is to sign up to my newsletter below.