You can imagine the excitement at Crafts Beautiful HQ when we heard there was a new series all about crafting hitting our screens. The first episode of ‘Make! Craft Britain’ aired on BBC Four and we were simply glued to our screens when we got a sneak peek. The show follows two groups of ordinary people get stuck in and master two very traditional techniques with the help of incredibly passionate professionals. 

First, we meet expert rugmaker Heather Ritchie as she hosts a workshop with six completely amateur crafters on the north east coast in Bamburgh. “Has anybody done rug making before?” asks Heather, to which she is quickly answered by a chorus of ‘no’s’. It doesn’t take long, however, until each apprentice is well underway with the basics of rug making.

Heather starts off by introducing the ‘hooky’ technique. This involves inserting a sheet of hessian tightly in an embroidery hoop and pulling long strips of fine fabrics or yarns through the holes of the hessian from underneath by catching it with a hook – this creates small, even loops on top. All kinds of recycled materials are perfect for hooky rugs, including old garments – even raw fleece or wool can be worked into the design for added texture.

As the students continue to get to grips with the hooky technique, it becomes clear that there is an overwhelming sense of zen filling the room. “In daily life there’s a lot of pressure and I think doing this really gives me some me-time,” explains working mum, Indra.

Next, Heather demonstrates how to incorporate patterns and images into rugs. This is achieved by simply drawing the desired design onto the hessian with chalk and tracing over it with a marker pen which can then be used as a guide. The finished result is an intricate and one-of-a-kind work of art! If you fancy trying out rug making and have plenty of fabric scraps to hand, be sure to craft our colourful rag rug. 

Meanwhile, in South London wordsmith and typographer Kelvyn Smith welcomes six makers into his workshop and shows off what he does best; letterpress. “The outcome of this technique is very beautiful – it’s a lovely way to get inside language,” explains Kelvyn.

Letterpress is a traditional craft using individual letters to create bold inked impressions on paper or card which dates back to the 15th century. Kelvyn challenges the makers to create their own personalised print. They start off by selecting the desired typeface to suit the meaning behind their words, it’s a great opportunity to play around with language and create something that is typographically intriguing.

Once they had chosen their font, they were taught the ‘setting type’ process which involves assembling each word together. The individual letters are positioned in a composing stick, working from left to right and upside down. The spacing between the letters can then be adjusted with spacers called furniture and coins. Once the composition is complete, the letters are placed in a printer to create the final impression. Why not have a go at playing around with fonts yourself with our free archive of lettering downloads?

At the end of each workshop, the participants got to take home a work of art that they made with their very own hands. We think every crafter can agree that there is a huge sense of pride when you complete a project and master a new skill. So, Britain… get crafting! 

Don’t miss the next episode of Make! Craft Britain, Wednesday 28th March at 9pm.