Saturday 23 & 30 May 2026, 2 - 5pm BST: Smocking & Dorset Button Making with Lu Flux

Online Workshop with Lu Flux

Saturday 23 & 30 May 2026 2 - 5pm BST (British Summer Time)

Lu Flux is a smock maker and designer based in Kent, specialising in hand-crafted garments rooted in traditional textile techniques. With over twenty years’ experience in fashion and textile craft, she studied Fashion Design at Edinburgh College of Art, after which she worked in Paris for designer Bernhard Willhelm. From 2008–2018, Lu ran her eponymous fashion label, trading internationally and showcasing at London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Tokyo Fashion Weeks.

Inspired by historic workwear and domestic craft, Lu’s practice centres on slow, considered making and the preservation of age-old skills. Each piece is hand-cut from organic or naturally dyed fabrics and finished with processes such as smocking, embroidery, pleating, and handmade buttons. Lu now focuses on smock-making, teaching, bespoke commissions and community mending.

Workshop Description
This two-session workshop introduces the fundamentals of traditional smocking and Dorset button making through the creation of a hand-stitched linen pouch.

In the first session, participants prepare their linen fabric for smocking by accurately marking out a dot grid using a chalk pencil, or using the transfer dots. Smocking thread is then used to hand sew the rows of dots, gathering the fabric to form the pleated base required for smocking embroidery. Participants refer to a smocking chart to select suitable stitches for decorating the pleating. Instruction is given on threading, knotting, and starting stitches neatly, with an emphasis on managing tension, understanding pattern placement, and developing a steady, confident stitching rhythm. The session concludes with the construction of the pouch.

The second session focuses on closures and decorative elements. Participants are introduced to the history of Dorset buttons, with examples of different traditional types and an explanation of their traditional uses as both fastenings and decorative features. A step-by-step demonstration shows how to weave the button structure and form the shank for attachment to the pouch. With guided support, participants weave two Dorset buttons and then create two buttonhole-stitch loop closures for either side of the pouch opening.

What You'll Learn: 

• Hand pleating and traditional smocking techniques
• How smocking works structurally and decoratively
• Weaving techniques for Dorset buttons 
• Buttonhole stitch in order to create loop closures 
• Building confidence in working with cloth, managing tension, and achieving neat, durable hand-finished details.
  

Included in Your Material Pack:

• Plain linen fabric
• Chalk pencil
• Smocking transfer dots
• Smocking and embroidery needles
• Pleating thread
• Embroidery thread
• Chart of smocking stitches
• Ribbon drawstring
• Safety pin
• Dorset button brass rings x2
  

Additional Materials to Bring:

• Embroidery scissors
• Ruler with centimetres
• Hot iron
• Tape measure
• A sewing machine to complete side seams of pouch - although this can be hand sewn if you have not got a sewing machine
  

Level
Some embroidery notions, beginner-intermediate.

Please Note: Material packs are shipped on an insured, trackable delivery service. Any customs duties, delays, lost or undeliverable packages are the responsibility of the customer. Once a material pack leaves the workshop tutors' hands with a tracking number, the seller has no further obligation to the buyer.

If we reach capacity, we may close bookings. Be mindful that we must close bookings at least 3 weeks before the workshop, in order to ship material packs. Book now to avoid disappointment.

Location
This is an online event. A Zoom link will be sent to participants the week before the workshop.

Recording
This workshop will be recorded, and a link to the recording will be emailed to all participants. Please allow 7 working days for us to send you the recording.



Cancellation Policy

All places reserved for workshops are non-refundable. 

If you require additional information about this workshop please contact events@selvedge.org.

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