Can Do Crafts . Shop reviews

Gwen reviewed: Denim jeans - be the designer!

"I really enjoyed this workshop- I learned so much! It takes place in Angela's quirky shop, which is part of the 'Olde Watermill Shopping Centre'. Their cafe is a good place to get lunch, if you don't bring your own. The workshop starts with copying your trousers or jeans to make your pattern. That in itself is a really useful mini-workshop on jeans pattern copying from a garment you like. Then it is on to cutting and sewing your jeans from the pattern. Angela is really knowledgeable about the industry and the process and I enjoyed learning about both! As others mentioned I learned quite a few neat little tricks that I will be using in my sewing. What I particular liked is that due to the 1on 1 teaching Angela can adapt this course from the complete novice to advanced sewers and all of them will learn from it. There is a lot to learn, so I definitely recommend bringing your phone and a notebook and pen to make some notes in addition to your pair of well fitting jeans or trousers."

Heidi reviewed: Denim jeans - be the designer!

"When I saw this course I thought it was too good to be true, how could you make a pair of jeans in a day? Under Angela's guidance and using proper machines (bliss compared to mine at home!) it can be done! Really pleased with my jeans, loved the process, you can be as involved as you want, learn as much as you want, design as much as you want and anything outside of that Angela will show you how it's done. Angela is patient, knowledgeable and a fantastic host. The location is quirky, an old watermill, it's worth being prepared to dress warm as it can get a little chilly, the Cafe on site is lovely. I've shown my jeans off already and the overriding reaction is disbelief that a) they are 'home made' and b) they were made in a day. I will definitely try to make another pair on my own at home and have come away inspired to try some other sewing, creative projects. Thanks Angela!"

Tazreen Kassim-Lowe reviewed: Denim jeans - be the designer!

"I am so proud of the Jeans that I designed with Angela's guidance as I finally have a pair that fit me perfectly. Angela was extremely knowledgeable and patient and I thoroughly enjoyed learming a new skill. It is a good idea to bring an old pair of Jeans which fit well as a starting point for the pattern."

Niamh reviewed: Denim jeans - be the designer!

"I had an amazing sewing day with Angela. She is very welcoming and friendly, and is extremely experienced. We made a patched bag together using different styles of stitches (as I’m a beginner). I honestly couldn’t recommend anyone better. She has extreme amounts of knowledge on sewing/designing and has pushed me to want to learn more. I will definitely be back!!!! And to add, her equipment is insane, with her workshop also being so quirky and cute. Such a lovely, skilled and generous lady."

Can Do Crafts . Shop responded:

"Niamh it was a pleasure to show you how to do lots of different things to find that Designer in you. And that nothing is impossible. When you break things down and eventually we will patchwork and applique those jeans. Love your energy. Enjoy your sewing machine."

Pauline Galliers reviewed: Denim jeans - be the designer!

"Very practical & informative. I won't have any difficulty making my own jeans & black work trousers from the pattern we've made. I know how I can customise future pairs now to make them unique. Bonus! I have a brand new pair of jeans that actually fit me & not some made up figure."

Can Do Crafts . Shop responded:

"Thank you Pauline keep me updated with those sewing projects. Glad to help."

Kerry reviewed: Denim jeans - be the designer!

"Shared a really lovely day with Angela making a pair of jeans. She was very generous with her knowledge, very patient in explaining slowly and sometimes everything over again! I came away with a replica pair of my very favourite pair of jeans and armed with the knowledge of how to make more, now the fun begins! Thank you Angela for a great day!"

Can Do Crafts . Shop responded:

"Another Great review thank you so much Kerry glad you had such a lovely time. Welcome back anytime with any projects. Angela"

Chloe reviewed: Denim jeans - be the designer!

"Great course with Angela. Her knowledge about the machines that are used in the jean/denim industry and how to replicate that at home was fantastic. Angela's descriptions and how to manipulate the fabric was very instructive and she made everything seem simple. Now to try again by myself, I'm sure it won't be as easy!"

barry reviewed: Denim jeans - be the designer!

"I just wanted to say what a fantastic time I had with Angela , the jeans that Angela helped me with are just so much better than anything you can buy , Angela was such a good teacher , the equipment second to none, the jeans of my dreams, I had a fab time , thank you Angela all the best Barry"

Sarah reviewed: Denim jeans - be the designer!

"Just returned after a day with Angela on a one-to-one course to make a pair of jeans. I found it particularly instructive in learning how to cut a pattern from an existing pair of jeans, which will give me confidence to try this at home. I enjoyed working with Angela in sewing it all together. It was a lovely day working in an Aladdin's cave of jeans, denim, other materials and haberdashery and excellent value for money."

Katherine Tubby reviewed: Denim jeans - be the designer!

"I really enjoyed learning how to draft a pattern from an existing pair of well fitting jeans and make a new bespoke pair. Angela is a wonderful teacher-very easygoing, relaxed and clear in explaining how everything fits together. We very much enjoyed hearing about her experiences working in the industry and also found it interesting using her industrial machines and learning about all the other pieces of kit available to the professionals. Since attending the course I've been able to continue fine tuning my pattern using old fabric, and am heading out now to buy myself lots more denim. It was a great course in a fascinating workshop. Thanks also to Angela's husband for sharing his experiences and also making tea! Highly recommend this course."

Lynne reviewed: Denim jeans - be the designer!

"Very welcoming. Angela is very knowledgeable about jeans and is keen to share facts, tips and methods with her students. This one to one course sets you up with all the materials and skills needed to make a pair of jeans and I was thrilled, as a real beginner, to take home an actual pair of jeans which I had made using an existing pair as a pattern. I got to use machines which I had no previous experience of and Angela was very helpful in instructing. It's a quirky workshop, full of jeans and all sorts of things and I learnt so much my head is spinning! I hope I remember it all. Thank you."

Romana reviewed: Denim jeans - be the designer!

"I brought a pair of old jeans and I learned how to make a new pattern from them. Then we made a brand new pair of jeans from that pattern. I learnt lots and lots of tricks of a trade,I got to use industrial beautiful Singer machine, I also learnt how to use overlocker. I designed my new jeans with fantastic help of Angela (course provider). It's one to one tutorial where you learn about denim industry from Angela, who has years and years of experiance working with denim. You take the paper pattern home and can then make many more pairs of jeans. We run out of time due to my excitement and talking too much but Angela kindly invited me back to finish the garment and to learn so much more free of charge. The workshop is a fascinating place with interesting collections of various craft materials, tools, manequins and vintage denim clothing. Its a real craft retreat. Friendly, welcoming, quirky. I would definitely recommend to spend a day with Angela and listen to her fascinating stories and to learn heaps and heaps."