Author: Cassian

Space improvements

We’ve got a new sign over the door, courtesy of Avery, Corinne, Cassian and Jim:

L to R: Avery, Corinne and Jim

We cut the shapes on the laser cutter, which makes us even more legit as a makerspace.

Also we have new lino in the bathroom/backdoor/kitchen zone:

Open event: T-shirt bleach-stenciling

Saturday 25th May 2024, 12-2pm

Hosted by Avery and Cassian. Bring 100% cotton t-shirts new and old that you’d like to enhance with a DIY industrial aesthetic. It’s very simple and easy and fast! You can use some nerdy stencils pre-made by Avery, you can cut stencils yourself in cardboard, and if it’s not too busy we might be able to help you make a more detailed, reusable stencil from plywood with the laser cutter.

You will need to bring:

  • Any clothing that you would like to try bleach-stencilling, must be over 95% cotton.
  • Designs that you would like to turn into stencils – PNG or SVG files for laser cutting, printed or drawn onto paper for cardboard stencils.
  • A corrugated cardboard box, with as little ink printing on it as possible.
  • A face mask, if you are sensitive to strong smells.

We will provide:

  • Rubber gloves
  • Bleach spray
  • Sharp craft knives for cutting stencils

Warnings:

  • Your fabric must be >95% cotton, or the bleaching won’t work well/at all!
  • This craft uses bleach, and there will be strong bleach smells throughout. We will be ventilating the space by opening the front and back door to encourage air flow, but the air will still be quite bleachy. You might have a better time wearing a really good face mask, if you’re sensitive to that kind of thing.
  • The bleach may land on your clothes and cause discolouration that can’t be undone. Wear clothes that you don’t care about that much.
  • We will be using sharp craft knives. We’ve got first aid supplies and plasters just in case.

As it’s an open day, Machspace will be open to the public and free to attend. We invite you to read our open day rules before attending.

We look forward to seeing you there! 🙂

Facebook event: Click here

Press release: Machspace awarded National Lottery grant for laser cutter

A few weeks ago we were very fortunate to receive a grant from the National Lottery Awards for All (Wales) Community Fund, which we have so far used to buy a laser cutter, an A3 printer-copier, and some new storage furniture.

National Lottery Awards for All (Wales) Logo: Cronfa Gymunedol / Community Fund

Today we’ve produced a press release to announce it, which you can download as a zip file here (3 MB), or see here on Google Drive.

Left to right: Nikki, Fee and Avery appreciating the new laser cutter

If you are a Machspace member and you too would like to cut/engrave things very quickly and precisely, please feel free to email us (hello@machspace.org) to ask for a laser cutter induction. And if you’re not a member, you can apply for membership here – it’s pay-what-you-feel until March 2025.

Event: Open day, theme lino-printing

Saturday 16th March 2024, 12-2pm

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

This open day will be led by Pat, who has experience with a similar community workshop focused on printing. She’ll teach us how to cut a design into a small square of lino, and then print it onto paper. You’ll also have the option of turning your print into a badge with our badge maker.

As it’s an open day, Machspace will be open to the public, and we invite you to read our open day rules before attending.

We look forward to seeing you there! 🙂

Facebook event: Click here

Event: Patchwork workshop

Hand-stitched patchwork workshops with Chris Richards

Starting Friday 15th March 2024, 10am – 12pm noon

All welcome to come along. Sessions will run approximately every third week thereafter.

Learn how to create a beautiful hexagon lap quilt or wall hanging. Tuition given on creating the patchwork top, quilting and finishing. Bring your in-progress project, materials to start one, or buy materials on the day. All levels welcome.

£10 for the session, free light refreshments, Machspace membership not required. Email chrisroserichards@hotmail.com for more information or to book.

Event: Knitting workshop

Knitting workshops with Chris Richards of Blind Ram Yarns

Friday 8th March 2024, 10am – 12pm noon

Friday 22th March 2024, 10am – 12pm noon

Everyone welcome from beginners to improvers. Bring a project, or use the resources at Machspace. Help will be given, from basics to reading patterns, to shaping and stitch techniques such as intarsia and Aran textural knitting. Relaxed friendly space.

£10 for the session, free light refreshments, Machspace membership not required. Email chrisroserichards@hotmail.com for more information and to book.

Open day: hand stitch

Saturday 2nd March 2024, 12-2pm (public, drop-in)

Join Penny and Cassian at Machspace for our Hand Stitch Open Day!

Bring your own project or choose from:

  • Fun cross stitch patterns and kits 
  • Learn ‘painting with thread’ using long-and-short stitch
  • Make an embroidered rose
  • Bring your mending project and create a decorative mend
  • Use our interaction badges – choose to craft quietly or stitch ‘n’ socialise
Image via LovemeoksEmbroidery on Etsy. Pattern will be available to stitch on the open day.

Here’s a few of the cross-stitch kits we’ve bought to share, pay-what-you-feel:

Some of them have beads too!

Plus we have a whole selection of embroidery hoops to go with them, so you can join in even if you’re a complete beginner. We also now have one of those giant magnifying glasses with LEDs on it, which clamps onto the table, like so:

As it’s an open day, Machspace will be open to the public, and we invite you to read our open day rules before attending.

We look forward to seeing you there! 🙂