Following the success of our pilot programme, Làmhan is looking to bring our free Saturday sewing clubs to more young people across Scotland. Designed for young people aged 12–18, the programme provides an opportunity to learn practical sewing and garment-making skills in a supportive and welcoming environment. From learning how to use sewing equipment and making or repairing clothes to working towards making their first kilt, participants can develop valuable practical skills, build confidence and work towards nationally recognised qualifications.
Free workshops for young people
We start with simple, achievable projects that introduce the basics of hand sewing and allow young people to see results quickly. By learning essential stitches and techniques through small, practical projects, participants can develop their skills at their own pace and build confidence in their abilities. As their knowledge and experience grow, they can gradually take on more challenging projects and begin exploring more advanced sewing and garment-making techniques.
The Saturday Club programme is led by Jo and Siobhan, who bring together extensive experience in education, textiles, dressmaking and traditional kiltmaking. Jo, the founder of Làmhan, is a dress historian with a Master’s degree in Textiles and is an apprentice kiltmaker. Siobhan, Làmhan’s Head Teacher, is an experienced dressmaker with over 30 years of experience, a degree in Fashion and Textiles, and has been a kiltmaker for more than 10 years. She has also taught kiltmaking professionally for over three years.
Both Jo and Siobhan have undertaken postgraduate teacher training and are passionate about creating an encouraging, inclusive learning environment where young people can develop practical skills, build confidence and discover their own creativity. Throughout the programme, participants also have opportunities to learn from specialist guest tutors, introducing them to new techniques, areas of expertise and different career pathways within textiles, heritage crafts and the wider creative industries.
Làmhan is committed to providing high-quality, structured learning opportunities that can support young people as they develop their skills and consider their future pathways. Làmhan is a Qualifications Scotland approved centre, an education partner of UKFT—the sector skills body for the UK fashion and textile industry—and an Arts Award centre. These partnerships and accreditations allow us to combine practical, hands-on learning with opportunities for recognised achievement and progression.
Where appropriate, young people taking part in our programmes have the opportunity to work towards nationally recognised qualifications and awards, helping them gain formal recognition for the skills, knowledge and experience they develop. Whether a participant is interested in pursuing further education or a career in textiles and the creative industries, or simply wants to learn a valuable practical skill and enjoy making things, our aim is to provide a supportive environment in which every young person has the opportunity to learn, progress and achieve.
Our 2025/6 SATURDAY CLUB
Our 2025/26 pilot group in Callander has been a wonderful example of just how much young people can achieve when given the opportunity to learn practical skills in a supportive and encouraging environment. When the group first came together in September, they started with little or no sewing experience. Since then, they have designed and drafted their own skirt patterns from scratch, learned hand and machine sewing techniques, experimented with wet and dry felting, made bags and explored the properties and uses of different types of textiles.
They have also learned about sustainability in the textile industry, putting this into practice by transforming recycled denim into their own aprons. Over the course of the year, every member of the group has developed an impressive range of practical skills, creativity and confidence. They are now applying everything they have learned to their most ambitious project yet: making their very first kilts. With their kilts now nearing completion, we could not be prouder of everything this remarkable group of young people has achieved.
