Northants Fashion and Textiles School

30/09/2026

WHEN THINGS DON’T GO TO PLAN… 🤍

This is Adelyn working on her black and white decorative design for this term’s project, and if there’s one thing she’s demonstrated throughout the process, it’s resilience💜

It hasn’t always gone exactly to plan!

The vinyl hasn’t stuck properly, the order of the elements has changed, some of the squares have needed moving and she’s had to redo parts of her design along the way.

And every time?

She’s stopped, thought about what could be changed, tried again… and carried on with a smile🥰

And actually, this is one of the things I love most about creative learning.

Because sometimes an unexpected mistake or something not working quite how you imagined can lead you somewhere better than your original idea.

It can make you stop and look at your design differently.

✨ Could I try something else?
✨ Could I change the layout?
✨ Does this actually look better?
✨ What if I use the problem to create something new?

Those moments develop so much more than practical skills.

Adelyn has demonstrated:

🖤 Resilience
🤍 Patience
🖤 Problem-solving
🤍 Flexibility
🖤 Perseverance
🤍 Attention to detail
🖤 Confidence to try again
🤍 And the ability to embrace change

There’s a real misconception that creativity is about getting everything right first time.

It isn’t.

Creativity is often about what you do when things don’t go to plan.

And watching Adelyn work through each little challenge so calmly and positively has been brilliant. She hasn’t let the setbacks stop her, she’s used them as part of the process.

Sometimes the unexpected part is where the best ideas begin✨

Jamie-Lee 💜

16/09/2026

LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER IS PART OF THE PROCESS 🧵💜

One of my favourite things about our Young Designers Programme is that the learning doesn’t always come from me.

This week, Louloo shared some of her artwork with the group. She’s currently studying GCSE Art, so for some of our young creatives who are thinking about choosing Art, have recently started their GCSE, or simply want to develop their own creative practice, these conversations are invaluable.

Because when young people talk about their work, everyone learns something.

✨ New vocabulary is introduced
✨ Other young people gain an insight into GCSE Art
✨ Techniques and skills are shared
✨ Ideas and creative processes are explained
✨ Communication skills are developed
✨ Listening skills are practised
✨ Young people learn to ask questions and respond to others
✨ They see different approaches to creativity
✨ Confidence grows through talking about their own work
✨ And they begin to understand that there isn’t just one way to be creative

There’s also something really powerful about young people learning from each other.

Louloo gets the opportunity to practise explaining her creative choices and processes, while the others get to see what someone slightly further along their creative journey is doing.

It opens up conversations about materials, techniques, inspiration, experimentation, intention and the choices artists make, vocabulary and concepts that can then feed back into their own work.

And of course, this all happens alongside the practical making, designing and problem-solving that we do every week.

Our studio is always calm and purposeful, but it’s also a place where young people are encouraged to talk, share, question, listen and learn from one another.

It’s learning from each other.

It’s building confidence.

It’s developing creative language.

And it’s preparing our young people to become more independent, thoughtful creatives 💜

Thank you Louloo for sharing your work with us! 🎨🧵

Jamie-Lee 💜

10/09/2026

✂️ IT’S ALL IN THE PREPARATION… 🧵

This week in our Young Designers Programme, we’ve been exploring the pattern for this term’s project, and whilst it might look like they’re simply cutting out paper, there is SO much learning happening here💜

Before a single piece of fabric is cut, we’ve been talking about the importance of precision, patience and teamwork.

We’ve looked at why it’s so important to take that extra time to make sure every pattern piece is perfectly aligned, that the grainline is correct and that everything is positioned exactly where it needs to be.

Because in fashion and textiles, a few millimetres really can make a huge difference!

A pattern that is slightly misaligned can affect the fit, the shape and ultimately the finished garment. So we’re learning not to rush the process, even when we’re excited to get to the sewing machine! 😂

Last term, we spent around three weeks exploring and working through the pattern before moving on to construction.

This time, I wanted to keep that important part of the process but challenge the group to work more efficiently and purposefully.

So… just ONE week on the pattern this time! 👏

That means we’ve had to communicate, work together, problem-solve, pay close attention to detail and really focus on what we’re doing, all whilst keeping our calm and purposeful studio environment.

And now… we have more time to SEW! 🧵🙌

I love watching the Young Designers develop these skills because they’re not just learning how to make clothes.

They’re learning how to slow down, think ahead, notice the tiny details, work through problems and take pride in doing something properly.

Next stop… fabric and sewing machines! 👀✂️💜

Jamie-Lee 💜

07/09/2026

WE’RE BACK TOMORROW! 💪🏽

I honestly can’t believe it’s time to get back into the studio! 🧵

Our Young Creatives are back tomorrow and I’m SO excited to welcome everyone back after the summer break!

There’s nothing quite like opening up the studio, switching on the sewing machines and seeing our young creatives arrive ready to make, create and get stuck into something new 🥰

Our Young Creatives sessions are all about learning practical fashion & textiles skills in a relaxed, supportive and welcoming environment.

Each term, we work on a new project, taking young people through the process of:

✨ Designing
✨ Developing ideas
✨ Learning new sewing & textiles skills
✨ Making their own creations
✨ Problem-solving
✨ Building confidence and independence
✨ And, of course, having lots of fun along the way!

🧵 YOUNG CREATIVES
📅 Tuesdays
⏰ 5:45–6:45pm
👧🧑 Ages 8–16
📍 Northants Fashion & Textiles School Studio, Northampton Business Centre, NN1 2JL
💷 £13 per week, term-time

And if you’ve been thinking about joining us… there are currently just 2 spaces available! 👀

Once those spaces are gone, the class will be full again.

If your young person loves being creative, isn’t necessarily into traditional sports or simply wants to learn something different, we’d love to welcome them into our little creative community 💜

📲 Book your space via the link in our bio

Tomorrow can’t come soon enough! 🥹🧵✂️

Jamie-Lee 💜

05/09/2026

WE’RE IN THE NEWSPAPER! 🥹💜

There’s something really special about seeing something you started around your kitchen table become a real business, a real community and now… a real home.

This week, the wonderful Northampton Chronicle & Echo featured Northants Fashion & Textiles School as we celebrate three years of the business, and the biggest milestone yet: having our very own dedicated studio in Northampton🧵

When I started NFTS, I had a very simple vision.

I wanted to create a space where young people who loved fashion and textiles could come together, learn practical skills, make things with their hands and, most importantly, feel like they belonged.

Three years later, we’ve taught so many young creatives, watched children grow in confidence, celebrated incredible achievements, become finalists and runners-up in business awards, seen our students recognised nationally… and now we have a space that we can truly call our own.

And I honestly couldn’t be prouder.

But this isn’t the end of the journey.

The studio is opening the door to so many more possibilities, from our regular Young Creatives and Young Designers programmes to workshops, home education provision, Alternative Provision and new creative opportunities for young people.

There are some really exciting things coming next 👀

A huge thank you to every parent who has trusted me with their children, every young person who has walked through our doors, every family who has supported the business and everyone who has cheered me on along the way.

And thank you to and the Northampton Chron for telling our story. 💜

Three years in.

And I really feel like we’re only just getting started!

Read the full article here 👇

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/business/ambitious-textiles-school-founder-celebrates-successful-three-years-in-northampton-and-finding-dedicated-space-8958377

Jamie-Lee 💜

04/09/2026

Feeling grateful 💜

Ambitious textiles school founder celebrates successful three years in Northampton and finding dedicated space

01/09/2026

🧵 ONE WEEK TO GO… 💜

How is it September already?! 🍂

There are no classes at the studio today, but this time next week the studio will be bustling again and we’ll be starting a brand new academic year at Northants Fashion & Textiles School🧵

And I genuinely can’t wait.

Our classes are full of young people who are creative, curious, sometimes a little shy, wonderfully individual and happiest when they’re making something with their hands. Some arrive already confident with sewing, while others are starting from scratch.

What they have in common is a love of creating, a willingness to learn and the chance to spend time with other like-minded young people.

Our Young Creatives classes aren’t about everyone making the same thing perfectly. They’re about experimenting, developing skills, making choices, learning from mistakes, building confidence and having a space where they can simply be themselves 💜

And for those who are ready to take their skills further, our Young Designers Programme challenges them with more complex fashion and textiles projects and encourages greater independence in their design and construction.

A new academic year always feels like a fresh start, and I’m so excited to see what our young creatives come up with this year.

One more week… and we’re back! 🥹🧵💜

There are still a few spaces available for September. If your child would love to join us, head to the link in my bio for all the details and booking information.

Jamie-Lee 💜

SewingForKids CreativeKids FashionAndTextiles CreativeEducation SewingClasses NewTerm BackToSchool NorthamptonMums

01/09/2026

A LITTLE HAPPY PLACE 💜

There’s something really special about watching young people completely absorbed in something they love.

A few of our Young Designers, heads down, machines humming and ideas slowly coming to life🧵✨

This is what I wanted our new studio to be, a little happy place where young people can come, switch off from the outside world and spend time doing something they genuinely enjoy.

They’re learning complex sewing and construction skills, figuring things out for themselves, making mistakes, trying again and watching their ideas turn into something real.

But it’s not always about what you can see happening.

Sometimes it’s simply the feeling of being somewhere you feel comfortable, doing something you’re good at, surrounded by other young people who understand why you love it too 💜

A little space to create. A little space to learn. A little space to be yourself.

And I’m so grateful to have created that space 🥹💜

Jamie-Lee 💜

29/08/2026

✨ A NEW TERM IS COMING! ✨

Who can believe it's September next week?! 😱🍂

And you know what that means...

A brand new term of Northants Fashion & Textiles School is about to begin! 🧵💜

Bookings for our September classes are now LIVE and, as our classes have filled quickly in the past, I'd recommend booking sooner rather than later to avoid your young creative missing out.

🧵 Young Creatives | Ages 8–16

Our Young Creatives classes are about so much more than learning to sew.

They're about developing practical fashion and textiles skills, experimenting with ideas, having the freedom to be creative and, most importantly, having a safe and welcoming space to spend time with other like-minded young people.

Along the way, they'll develop confidence, patience, problem-solving skills, independence and friendships, all while creating something they can be proud of. 💜

✨ Young Designers Programme | Invite Only

For young creatives who are ready to take their skills further, our Young Designers Programme focuses on more complex fashion and textiles projects and developing greater independence in the design and construction process.

This is an invite-only programme for young creatives who are ready for that next step and want to challenge themselves creatively. 🧵✂️

September is always a lovely opportunity for a fresh start, new ideas, new skills and plenty of creativity, and I cannot wait to see what everyone creates this term!

Bookings are now open! 🎟️

If you'd like your child to join us this term, please don't leave it too late as places are limited and they really do fill quickly.

💻 Book via the link in my bio

I can't wait to welcome everyone back to the studio! 💜

Jamie-Lee 💜

24/08/2026

YOUNG DESIGNERS PROGRAMME✨

Just look at what our Young Designers have been creating! 🧵

This was a particularly exciting project as our young designers made their very own dresses, taking their sewing and construction skills to the next level.

Throughout the project, they learned how to:

✂️ Interpret and work from a commercial sewing pattern
📐 Understand pattern pieces and construction
🧵 Sew and construct a garment using a sewing machine
✨ Create and sew darts for shaping
👗 Insert sleeves
🪡 Hem their garments
📏 Work accurately and carefully throughout the construction process
🧠 Problem-solve when things didn’t quite go to plan
💜 Persevere and make adjustments to achieve the finish they wanted

And they did AMAZINGLY!

What I love most about this programme is seeing young creatives move beyond simply following instructions and start to develop the confidence to understand why they’re doing something, make decisions for themselves and solve problems independently.

The Young Designers Programme is an invite-only class for young creatives who are ready to take their skills further and work on more complex fashion and textiles projects.

It’s a wonderful next step for those who have developed a strong foundation in our Young Creatives class and are ready for a little more challenge 💪🏽

Both Young Creatives and the Young Designers Programme return in September, with exciting new projects waiting to be created.

If your child loves fashion, sewing and making and you’d like to find out more about our classes, you can find all the details and booking information via the link in my bio 💜

Jamie-Lee 💜

FashionDesign Textiles CreativeKids Northampton Northamptonshire CreativeEducation YoungDesignersProgramme