A beginner's introduction to the world of abstract and experimental collage with textiles.
This workshop begins with an overview of basic embroidery stitches followed by collage exploration using scrap and discarded textile materials. Freely explore a material or idea using intuition and creative stitching techniques in an inclusive and encouraging environment. Develop the confidence to engage with textiles in a therapeutic way, and meet more like minded creative queer people in the process.
This workshop is suitable for anyone! Both beginners and those with experience are welcome.
You're welcome to sip on a beverage while you stitch :)
What will be provided?
Embroidery hoop, embroidery floss, scissors, needles, scrap fabrics, and one piece of calico fabric cut per attendee. Attendees will take home the textile piece they create. Reuse-able materials such as embroidery hoops, scissors, and needles are for workshop use only.
Should I bring anything?
If you have any scrap or craft materials (excess yarn, old clothes, string, scrap paper) that you would like to bring and work with, you are welcome to do so! But it is not necessary, and all attendees will have everything they need provided at the workshop.
Facilitated by Cristina Rago
Date: 4th Sunday of the month
Sunday 23 November 2025
Sunday 25 January 2026
Sunday 15 February 2026 (note that this event is on the 3rd Sunday, and will run from 2-4pm)
Sunday 22 March 2026
Sunday 26 April 2026
Time: 4-6pm
Location: Betty and Joan's, Hewson Way, Elephant Park, London, SE17 1JS (a 6 minute walk from Elephant and Castle Station, Zone 1)
Accessibility: The venue and bathrooms are accessible with step-free access
Cost: £10-20. Booking in advance is essential as we have venue caps.
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Sappho Events welcomes LGBTQ+ women, trans and non-binary people to our events.
Your Facilitator
Cristina Rago (they/them) is a non-binary Filipino American multidisciplinary artist. Their artistic practice spans painting, textiles, and film to explore identity integration, healing, and reparation from a queer perspective. Their textile pieces often utilise domestic materials including discarded clothes, cheesecloth, and doilies that are reworked through processes such as dyeing, destruction and mending. This cyclical process becomes a holistic act of self-reckoning, and an integration of past selves and thought patterns with the present. Cristina works out of their studio in Wandsworth, London.
https://www.cristinarago.comhttps://www.instagram.com/cristinaragoart
