Stitching together: a couple of recent workshops
The fun part of finishing off the studio has begun. As I slowly furnish it with Facebook Marketplace finds and IKEA’s finest storage solutions, I’m using local community spaces to run workshops until it’s ready.
The first was at Chapter Arts Centre, in the deliciously named 'Cwtch.' Six women, with varying levels of sewing experience, came together to learn the art of visible mending and sashiko stitching.
As always, the session starts with a little trepidation. Everyone assumes they won’t be very good. Some haven’t picked up a needle in years; others need a hand just threading one. Almost everyone, though, has a story about sewing.
It always surprises me how many experienced stitchers come along, too. One incredibly talented embroiderer showed us the immaculate stitching on her tote bag. She was there simply because she wanted to sit quietly with like-minded people and stitch. It reminded me that sewing can be a surprisingly lonely hobby, even when you love it.
There’s something special about a group of people sitting together, concentrating on a shared task. Hands are occupied, but heads are free to connect. Stories are shared, conversations flow, and before long, it feels as though we’ve known each other for years.
One woman showed us a pair of jeans that her mother had mended almost forty years ago, when she was a student travelling around Europe. It reminded me, yet again, that once something has been lovingly mended, it can become almost impossible to throw away. You form a unique connection with it. It becomes tactile, familiar, and carries a story of its own -much like a scar on your knee. You never forget how it got there.
The second workshop of the month took place in one of my favourite Cardiff shops, Iechyd Da. It’s a refill shop that also sells wonderful Welsh produce, and it smells incredible as soon as you walk through the door - a combination of herbs, spices and freshly ground coffee.
The owner, Alwen, is a good friend and suggested running a visible mending workshop in the shop after closing time. Once again, I was struck by how easily people connected with one another.
Two hours is just enough time to introduce a few different sashiko techniques, experiment with stitches and discover how a rip, tear or stain might become an opportunity to mend rather than discard. Everyone left feeling that little bit more confident about giving it a go themselves.
And that, really, is what Textiles Reimagined is all about. Yes, it’s about learning practical skills, but it’s also about changing the way we think about our clothes, making use of what we already have, and discovering the satisfaction of repairing something rather than replacing it. Along the way, we might even make a few new connections.
Next stop: my very own studio!
The first workshop in the new space will be on 7 November, when we’ll be making sustainable Christmas wreaths from fabric scraps. I’m looking forward to welcoming people into the studio at last and continuing to find creative ways to turn waste into value.
You can find details of upcoming workshops here on the website, or follow along on Instagram at @textiles_reimagined.
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