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Getting More Life Out of Your ClothesThe cost of living has touched everyone in recent years. For families especially, buying clothes can feel like an endless expense, particularly when children grow out of uniforms or trousers just a few months after you’ve bought them. The easy option is often to buy new, but when you’re counting every pound, that can put real pressure on your household budget.
Many clothes items end up being thrown away or replaced when they could actually be worn for much longer with just a few small tweaks. A dropped hem here, a button sewn back on there, or even reshaping an item so it fits a changing body — these are small fixes that can save you money and reduce waste. Yet for lots of us, these once-common skills have been lost.
The Community Foundation Wakefield District is running a series of free workshops designed to help people get more life out of their clothes.
What makes these workshops different?
This isn’t about craft or fashion design. It’s about everyday skills that make a real difference. Knowing how to carry out a few basic repairs means you don’t have to throw away a perfectly good pair of school trousers or work skirt just because they’re an inch too short. It means you can keep a favourite jumper going instead of replacing it when a button falls off. And it means teaching your children that making do and mending isn’t old-fashioned — it’s good for the planet, it saves money and it’s fun!
Why should families come along?
These sessions are for everyone, regardless of age or experience. Families are particularly encouraged to attend, because sewing isn’t just for adults, or just for girls — it’s a life skill every child can benefit from. Spending an hour together learning how to adjust a hem or patch a tear is not only useful, it can be a great bonding activity too. Kids love the sense of achievement when they can say, ‘I fixed that myself’.
What will you learn?
In a friendly, relaxed environment, participants will be shown:
How to sew on a button securely
How to drop or take up a hem on trousers or skirts
How to make small adjustments to clothing so it lasts longer
The basics of hand stitching for simple repairs
No prior knowledge is needed. You’ll walk away with the confidence to fix and adapt your clothes at home, saving money in the long run and helping to cut down on unnecessary waste.
More than just sewing
These workshops aren’t about being perfect with a needle and thread — they’re about making life a bit easier. It’s about being practical, cutting waste, and picking up skills that families used to pass down without thinking. And because the sessions are open to everyone, they’re a chance to spend time together, learn something useful, and walk away with know-how you’ll use again and again.
This event is supported by Wakefield Council Culture Grants.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Queen’s Mill, 1 Aire St, Castleford WF10 1JL, 1 Aire Terrace, Castleford, WF10 2LU, United Kingdom
