About

Alison Leese

Alison, an experienced seamstress and qualified textiles teacher, leads the sewing workshops and is the proud owner of Ministry of Craft. After studying Clothing Production at Manchester Metropolitan University, Alison gained valuable experience in the clothing industry with renowned brands before transitioning to event merchandising for UEFA, the Commonwealth Games, and Liverpool Capital of Culture.

Delivering workshops at Ministry of Craft provides her with a unique sense of fulfilment and reward, as she enjoys meeting new people and inspiring them to sew. Her sessions are relaxed yet purposeful, catering to individuals of all skill levels, helping them develop their abilities and confidence at their own pace. Participants frequently express their gratitude for her patience and clear instruction, often returning for additional sessions.

Alison offers a range of workshops, including dressmaking and pattern cutting, as well as specialised sewing skill development sessions. Beginners can rely on her guidance through every stage of becoming a confident sewer. Explore our full schedule of sewing workshops, where we exclusively use Janome sewing machines and overlockers.

Caroline Coates

Caroline, the creative force behind Creative Coati, is a distinguished artist known for her extensive range of craft workshops at the Ministry of Craft. Her expertise extends to managing art programs for Local Councils and Arts Council England, where she is dedicated to fostering community engagement in the arts. As an educator, Caroline excels in introducing individuals to diverse crafts and art forms, ensuring that learning new skills is both enjoyable and accessible. Continuously innovating, she explores new ideas and mediums to design fresh and inspiring craft workshops.

Sam Sterken

We are fortunate to have Sam lead our fabric Lampshade workshop, where she shares her extensive knowledge and experience with all our attendees.She is a valued member of the Needcraft team (the company supplying handmade lampshade making kits) and she can often be found demonstrating lampshade making at exhibitions or presenting on a television channel.