Introducing...
Alison Leese, our ever talented dressmaking and sewing tutor, knows more about the technical side of sewing than all of the staff put together! She's never without an idea for a new course and has a love of very stylish fabrics.
Alison has been working at Ministry as a tutor since 2010 and has developed our range of
Beginners Sewing courses, making sure there is a sewing course to suit everyone, including folk who have never used a sewing machine in their lives! Since 2011 she's been working as Operations Supervisor in the Ministry of Craft office as well. She may be super efficient on a sewing machine, but she's damn fine with a spreadsheet too!
Beginners Sewing courses, making sure there is a sewing course to suit everyone, including folk who have never used a sewing machine in their lives! Since 2011 she's been working as Operations Supervisor in the Ministry of Craft office as well. She may be super efficient on a sewing machine, but she's damn fine with a spreadsheet too!
What first drew
you to your craft?
Being a typical
teenager wanting all the latest clothes but not having the funds to access
them, I decided the only other option was to make them or alter what I did
have.
Having a
wonderful ‘needlework’ teacher (Mrs Boden) at school inspired me to work hard
at the subject so I was always designing and making things in my spare time.
What’s your crafting
background?
I am not so
much a crafter but a sewer; I have always worked in product design and
development in both the clothing industry and event merchandise and then I
gained a PGCE to teach Design and Technology
 |
| Made in Alison's son's nap time! |
Did you train professionally or are you self taught?
I took a
clothing design and production management degree at Manchester Metropolitan
University but most of my experience has been through my working career in the
clothing industry and working hands on in product development and manufacture.
What are your
main sources of inspiration?
Scanning the
internet, Pinterest is one of my favourites, looking at any products that can be
sewn and made at home without the need for ‘industrial type’ processes. I
usually start with a fabric as the fabric design itself can be very
inspirational.
 |
| Foxy tunic dress |
I think I have
to say my needlework teacher as I may have never sewn if it was not for her
knowledge and ability to teach the subject well and enthusiastically.
What’s the best
thing about being a crafter?
The
satisfaction you get from making something yourself that looks good, is
functional and may have even saved you some money in the process!
 |
| Best make - boned bridesmade dress |
Do you do any
other crafts in your spare time, apart from what you specialise in?
Taste wine?
What’s the best
thing you’ve ever made?
I was a bridesmaid
for a friend and made a quite complicated boned dress when I was still a fairly
inexperienced sewer, probably the best thing I made at the time
 |
| Sew a gorgeous girls dress |
Have you ever
made a creative mistake?
Yes lots, but
less as I have become more experience. The worst was on an overlocker, I cut a
hole in the front of my final degree project and there was no going back!
And your
favourite tool or material?
My quick unpick
is my most useful tool, I love my Janome sewing machine, as do all the customers
that come on our courses, and I love Amy Butler fabric.
 | |
| Is there a plaster in this pouf? |
What’s you
favourite crafty anecdote / story?
Losing a
plaster off my finger inside a customer's patchwork pouf when I was stuffing it, I only
realised after she had left ……..should I say that? Also making a typo
on my course ‘Sew your own knickers’ and I called it ‘Sew your own knockers’!
Where can we
see / buy your work?
Come to one of
my courses!
What have you
got coming up in the future?
Lots more courses and I'm in the process of researching a few new ideas for the autumn.
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