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The Sewing Shed Ilkley celebrates 15 years

Monday, 13 October 2025 16:48

The Sewing Shed team: Tutors Susan Oliver & Becky Downes-Davies, owner Léonie Pratt and marketing support Harriet Mason

The Sewing Shed in Ilkley is celebrating its 15th Anniversary this October.

To celebrate owner Léonie Pratt and her sewing tutors Susan Oliver and Becky Davies-Downes welcomed a host of sewing friends to mark the event with an evening full of sewing chat and admiring each other’s me-mades at Vitello Lounge.

The Sewing Shed began life back in 2010 when Léonie turned to her training in textiles and started teaching others to sew, fitting it in around caring for her young children. She converted the studio in her Ilkley garden, affectionately known as ‘the shed’, into a sewing space and began with one evening class a week and five students.

Fast forward to 2025 and The Sewing Shed is now based in a bespoke sewing studio at The North Chapel on Ashlands Road and welcomes 110 sewers to its weekly daytime and evening classes. It also has an after school Young Designers Club and hugely popular Children’s Holiday Sewing Classes for junior sewing bees not to mention weekend Patchwork and Quilting Workshops.

That’s a lot of shirts and skirts, dresses, coats and trousers as well as bunting and cushion covers - it’s been a busy 15 years for The Sewing Shed!

Léonie says:

“I had no idea that turning my shed into a sewing studio and helping a few friends learn to sew would lead to this 15 years later.

"What I love most about The Sewing Shed is that it’s a space for people to sew, create and have time for themselves away from their busy lives. It’s also become a fabulously supportive and confidence boosting community; I love hearing the hum of conversation, sharing of tips and ideas across the sewing tables.

"I couldn’t have done it without my brilliant tutors Susan. Becky and Denise. When I think about the past 15 years it’s not only the fabulous me-mades that come to mind, but the friendships too, and that’s what makes this celebration so special.”

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