Make Fabric Boutique Team
Our fabulous team in all of their glory.
All of the team at Make work hard to give you the BEST customer service.
We work hard at make to offer you the best quality workshops with the best teachers we can find and I think you'll all agree they are pretty fabulous.
Here is a bit about each of our staff members
Diane Taylor - Shop Superstar & our Beginner and next stage sewing teacher.
Angela Best - Dressmaking Teacher and Instagram Queen
I knew from a very early age that I wanted a career in the fashion industry. My best subject was always Art and my favourite topic was drawing and designing clothes.
After Secondary school I enrolled at PCAD on their BTEC Fashion Design course where I gained my diploma; a few years later I returned to college where I gained my Higher National Certificate in Fashion Design.
Following college I have held many roles within the fashion industry, including pattern cutting made to measure wetsuits at Gul and special sample cutting at Jaeger. My skills include designing, pattern cutting/grading, cutting, fitting and sewing.
I’ve also worked as an alterations seamstress on general and special occasion/bridal wear, ensuring that every garment is a perfect fit.
But what I enjoy most passionately is making a garment completely from scratch, seeing it transformed from a paper pattern or a toile into a beautiful, well-fitting garment that fulfils all the customer’s requirements. There’s something just so magical about it!
I am sustained by my wonderful husband and 3 children, who are always a great support and inspiration to me, encouraging me to use and improve these fabulous skills that I have developed.
I have acquired many skills along the way and I’m really looking forward to sharing them with all you sewers, inspiring you to have a go and create something well-fitting and unique.
Elizabeth Edwards - Dressmaking teacher & Pattern Cutter
Elizabeth was inspired to make her first garment at the age of 8 - a sundress that she proudly wore to school the very next day. Her teacher sadly accused her of lying saying she couldn’t possibly have made it herself. This made Elizabeth even more determined to prove that she could succeed as a creative!
Gaining qualifications in Needlework to ‘A’ level, she followed her dream and graduated with a BA(Hons) in Fashion from London’s iconic Central St Martins School of Art
She followed a career as a Designer/Pattern Cutter in the Fashion industry for more than 30 years, serving her apprenticeship under the watchful eye of international designer Jean Muir where her designs were shown on the catwalk during London Fashion week and featured in the national press, and working for many other prestigious brands and top end designers including Betty Jackson, Mulberry, Catherine Walker and David Nieper, and also on the High Street for BHS, Etam, BonMarche and Forever 21. She has worked across the UK and in France, Italy, the US, India and Hong Kong, and has taught Fashion Design at London College of Fashion and Hammersmith and West London College
Along the way she has dressed many celebrities including Joanna Lumley, Jennifer Saunders, Victoria Wood, Alison Moyet and Marianne Faithfull
Moving to Sheffield in 2003 she ran her own successful couture business specialising in wedding dresses and bespoke made-to-measure garments. Her attention to detail is of paramount importance to her; she is a highly skilled pattern cutter and is passionate about fit.
Having lived in Plymouth since January 2022 with her husband, a Professor at the University, and giddy Weimaraner Otto, Elizabeth is delighted to be a part of the Make team and have the opportunity to share her skills with others.
Beatrice Gessa - Embroidery teacher and creator of pretty things
Renata Chatkevic - Crochet and knitting queen
My name is Renata and I am an avid fibber crafter, curious about colour combination and stitch textures.
Since I took my crochet and knitting classes when I was 13, I have loved making garments, accessories and story character toys. I currently test knit for the designers and make amigurumi characters to order by using book illustrations to create the 3D crochet versions. My work has been appreciated by the practitioners- the true masters of the storytelling, who wanted to spark conversation of their young learners.
I treat each project as adventure that allow me to explore the new design techniques, stitches or combination of textures. Most importantly, I am not only a lifelong learner, but also an educator, who also understands a therapeutic power of making and wearing what you create with pride and joy!
I am looking forward to meeting you in my classes, share my skills and empower you to start or develop your crafting journey.
Stephanie Hurrell - Macrame Expert
I began learning macrame to raise funds to support medical aid donations to Ukraine alongside displaced Ukrainian families living in my hometown. I have tried lots of crafts over the years but macrame fast became much more than a hobby. I now have my own business selling my pieces and sharing my love of knots.
I use traditional macrame techniques with a modern twist, combining a wide range of materials and textures to create items that celebrate nature plant hangers, wall hangings and home/garden décor.
I am passionate about sustainability and use rescued or recycled material in my creations to give them a second life. I ensure that no harm is done to people or the planet through the ethical and local sourcing of my materials wherever possible. My pieces show how discarded items can be made beautiful and given a second life.
Macrame promotes mindfulness, patience and wellbeing. It is a forgiving craft, if you don’t like your result, you simply undo and have another! I am self-taught and love the endless possibilities of Macrame.