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

Daine Taylor teacher at make

Diane Taylor - Shop Superstar & our Beginner and next stage sewing teacher.

I grew up where a sewing machine was part of the furniture where I started to sew at an early age with the help of my Mum. I found that I could make one off pieces that fitted well and were a little different than shop bought clothes.

I gained a very good CSE grade for my Needlework at school and was also awarded a national dress and textile prize.

I became a hand sewer for a Naval Tailors and for many years making officers' uniforms and outfits for film sets and was taught many tailoring techniques.

When the children were young, I worked from home and as an outreach worker, Making and altering clothes, curtains etc even turning my hand to upholstering furniture. This naturally taught my inquisitive daughter the art of sewing.

Working at Make is not a job for me it's a great place to work, I call it the sewing family who like to share the knowledge of this lovely art. Being so close to wonderful fabric, patterns that are for sale just makes me happy.

I also have a fondness for attending fashion Exhibitions where I get ideas for my next sewing project

I live near Saltrum Park with my Hubby 2 older children and Charlie the dog and enjoy long walks.

Angela Best - Dressmaking Teacher and Instagram Queen

I learnt to sew when I was a teenager. My mum was always knitting and sewing, and I enjoyed all sorts of craft, and so I naturally wanted to do some of the things that my mum did. However like most teenager I didn't stick with it.

Roll on about 20 years, I found that I couldn't find things I liked in the shops to wear. I had watched the Great British Sewing Bee, and started to wonder if I could give sewing a go, and make clothes I liked. I dug out the dusty old sewing machine that had sat rather unloved in the corner of my dining room for years, bought a Tilly and The Buttons pattern, and away I went. I've have never looked back, and my love for sewing and dressmaking has just grown and grown.

Over the years of sewing I have made amazing sewing friends, blogged for different companies about my makes including Make at 140 and helped friends and family with sewing. I'm passionate about sharing my knowledge and helping others fall in love with this hobby.

Margaret Wilcox - Dressmaking Teacher and Pattern Cutter

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 at make

Beatrice Gessa - Embroidery teacher and creator of pretty things

I started embroidery by chance in November 2019 just before my daughter was born. I wanted to embellish in some way the blue pram I had from my first son, and while I was bored on maternity leave I stumbled upon pictures of embroidery and I thought to give it a go. I've always enjoyed being crafty and making things by hand so I stitched some flowers on it and I never put the needle down since. I am totally self taught, YouTube and Instagram were my best friends when I started. After few months I turned this new hobby in a small business opening an Etsy shop, and now I am specialised in DIY embroidery kits and patterns.

I am Italian, I moved to Plymouth in 2021 after living about 7 years in London working in the hospitality industry. I live with my Polish husband and two young kids. I have alopecia areata and love trying new fiber arts like bargello and macrame.

Renata our knitting teacher

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.