Bring your project. Find your people.
A drop-in space in Nailsworth for anyone working with their hands.
What we do
A place to make, share, and be inspired
The Handwork Room is a space for those who enjoy working with yarn & threads – knitting, sewing, crochet, weaving, embroidery, and more. Bring the project you’re partway through, the one you got stuck on months ago, or no project at all – we’ll help you find one.
Sit and work alongside others, borrow some inspiration, and get advice when you need it. Not sure what to make, what materials or tools you need, or how to even start? That’s exactly what we’re here for
Just as welcome are the experienced hands among us. Come and share what you’re working on, pass on your ideas, and hand down the tips that took you years to learn. It’s a collaborative, welcoming space, and we all learn from each other.
Above all, we want The Handwork Room to be a place of inspiration – somewhere to connect with your creativity and find real joy in making things.
It’s also a place to browse and buy. Our shelves hold handcrafted items made by local makers, and they make fabulous gifts. Come and find out about the people behind them, and what inspires them to create.
How it works
A mix of drop-in and scheduled time
Some of our time is drop-in: come and go as you please, work on your own project, and lean on us or your fellow handworkers for help along the way.
Other times bring workshops or a themed week – check the calendar below to see what’s on.
Who it’s for
However far along you are.
- Complete beginners, and those who’ve been at it for decades
- Anyone with an unfinished project sitting in a bag somewhere
- Those who like to work in company rather than alone
- Anyone who wants to start, and doesn’t know where
Workshops & Themed weeks
Two ways to learn something new.
Alongside our regular drop-in sessions, we run workshops and themed weeks – two different ways to pick up a new skill or a project.
Workshops are usually run by specialist teachers who are only with us for a short time, so they’re a focused, hands-on introduction to a skill in a single session. The Handwork Room team is on hand afterward too – come back to a drop-in session for follow-up support as you keep practising.
Themed weeks are another way to learn – at your own pace, without a set schedule. Some weeks, we all work on the same thing: it might be a new skill, or a project that teaches you one along the way, something you can pick up and keep going with long after the week is over.
A themed week runs across several days. Drop in and out as it suits you – tuition, help and materials are on hand throughout, so you can come back and pick up where you left off.
See “This week in the room” below for what’s currently on.
This week in the room
Drop -in week
| Tuesday 29/9 – Saturday 3/10 All week drop-in – bring your project, stay a while, join in with the group around the table. Please purchase regular hot drinks (Our decaf coffee is excellent!) Ask us questions – we’ll help where we can. We have oodles of books and magazines in our library area which you are welcome to browse. While away a happy hour (or two) getting inspired for your next make! (Or just 20 minutes if you are pushed for time!) A great time to try us out, come and join in – everyone welcome. Open Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm. You are always welcome to ‘buy a coffee’ for a member of our team who has been super helpful 🙂 |
… and next week
| Time for Crochet Tuesday 6/10 – Saturday 10/10 This is the week to get started on crochet. Focussing on beginners, and those who are ‘stuck’ with the pattern or technique that they can’t make sense of. Come along with a little knowledge, or none at all. Bring crochet hooks and yarn if you have them; ideas and patterns if you’ve got that far – I have plenty of projects to suggest if you need inspiration. £20 for a starter session, approximately 2 hours, includes Coffee/Tea. I will teach you individually so that everyone moves at their own pace and follows their own goals. There may be up to 3 people in a session at the same time, and usually at least two people who can help. If you are able, please book ahead using the button below and tell us what time you would like to come for your initial session. You are also most welcome to just come along at any time to suit and if you want tuition, I will fit you in as soon as possible. Following your crochet tuition session, you can stay on or come back and hang out with us as often as you like! Help and advice is always available, don’t get stuck and give up – come back and let us gently help to move you along. Timings are flexible – We are open Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm each day. You can book using the button below which will take you to a SumUp payment link. Please leave your email address in the notes field, and the day/time that you would like to come along. Book here for crochet |
Blitz that mending pile
Tuesday 13/10 – Saturday 17/10
Start gathering your mending pile together. We will be tackling mending during this week. Tuition, help and advice available all week.
Cost £20 for initial 2 hour session, drop-in afterwards to get additional help.
Timings are flexible – We are open Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm each day. You can book using the button below which will take you to a SumUp payment link. Please leave your email address in the notes field, and the day/time that you would like to come along.
Book here for mending
Supporting the room
We don’t charge for the time. Rent’s another matter
Keep the coffee coming
We don’t charge for time spent in the shop – but to pay rent and keep the lights on does require a bit of support! We ask our handworkers to keep the coffee and tea flowing: we have excellent decaf, a good range of herbal teas, and all the regulars besides.
If someone on our team has spent time helping you, buy them a coffee – or two. It’s a small thing that keeps this space going.
We’ll keep you a tab by the coffee station, please settle up when you leave, and if you want to acknowledge our team’s support, please say ‘Can I buy you a coffee?’ and we will add it to your payment. Named acknowledgements will go direct to the named person. And you are very welcome to buy multiple coffees for our team. We really appreciate you supporting the Room in this way.
Keep in touch
Find us
Just turn up – no need to book for a drop-in visit.