Water - Colour

It's London Design Festival time again! Last night I attended the opening of Katherine May's 'Water-Colour' installation at the new Precinct space at the 'Arthouse' on Richmond Road in Hackney and what a special experience it was. I'm looking forward to seeing how the installation evolves over the next few weeks and beyond....

The installation brings together Katherine's sustainable textile practise which focuses on cloth and community , her recent MA research and cleverly references Arthouse's past life as a laundry.
Up above in the tall atrium, dyed silk cloths gently whisp about from a series of washing lines, while below a series vats of blue liquid covered in bubbles await the next submerge of white cloth.

Here is Katherine and blue was definitely the colour of the evening! The vats contain the natural dye 'Indigo' produced by the plants leaves. The process is truly magical as the cloth goes through a range of shades during the dying process from green to deep blue as the dyed cloth oxidises with the air at the drying stage.

Over the course of the installation time frame, cloth will be dyed daily until the dye vats are exhausted. The washing lines will fill up with cloth journeying through slow graduations from dark to light blue. The Dye vats will then get replaced by a sewing work space and the making of the cloth into quilts.

The Water-Colour installation has been designed to raise awareness of water consumption in the production and use of textiles and aims to reconnect us physically to water through a direct experience of handling water in a dye vat. As the space filled up with visitors, it was certainly mesmerising watching the dyeing process, which was attracting quite a crowd!

Over the next 2 weeks there is also an exciting programme of talks, workshops and events taking place within the installation. I've got my eye on the following:
Emma Rigby's  (co founder of the Dalston ethical fashion store 'Here Today, Here Tomorrow) 'Garment Polling Station'.
Emma Neuberg's (Slow Textiles Group) workshop on Sashiko, a decorative reinforcement stitching from Japan.
Katherine May's patchwork and mending workshop inspired by the Japanese technique Boro.
To find out more and book visit Precint's Eventbrite page.

Patchwork Lives

I took this picture last Thursday Evening at Fabrications monthly Craft Club. Meet Richard Walker and his amazing patchwork quilt. I've got to know Richard over the last 5 years through his regular attendance at our classes, craft club and out and about in Hackney. Richard has become a prolific maker and gardener and in his own words is living the life of a "Council Estate Crofter".  After attending Katherine May's Taste of Patchwork and Piecing Patchwork classes, Richard embarked on making his sister this quilt, it contains special fabrics from his family including pieces of his sister's school uniform, needles to say as it gets close to completion he is feeling a little reluctant to hand it over!

Feeling inspired? Katherine is running some more of her classes, this Sunday 13th May - Taste of Patchwork (find out more HERE)  and on Sunday 27th May - Piecing Patchwork.(find out more HERE)

Katherine has also been working on a year long project called 'Patchwork Lives' with East London Textile Arts, who are based in Newham and run community classes and groups teaching traditional textile skills.It is run by local people and is open to those of all faiths, ethnicities, ages and abilities.
'Patchwork Lives' is made up of embroidered depictions of people we share our lives and streets with in East London. Go and meet them for yourself at an exhibition at St Martin in the Fields 14th - 19th May. (opening next Monday 14th May, 6 - 9pm)

MARCH - workshops

This month's workshops focus on different hand sewing methods. I'm really excited about this month's activities as we are introducing some new classes and textile teachers to Fabrications fold!
Starting with this Sunday 4th March, Katherine May fresh from her popular classes at the V+ A this week is running a quilting class. For those of you unfamiliar with the technique, quilting is the decorative sewing through of your patchwork fabric or whole cloth and wadding to create designs and texture. Katherine wanted to do a class that focuses on quilting as she found that it tended to get rushed at the end of her patchwork classes as students get engrossed in the patchwork part. She also wanted to highlight historical and contemporary examples and show the variety of applications for the technique.


On Saturday 17th March, local textile artist Jessie Chorley is running her full day special workshop 'embroidered memory books and pages'. Once you've booked on, Jessie will send you a materials list and encourages you to bring along special fabrics and mementos so you create something truly unique to you. Before you get going with learning the embroidery and applique methods that Jessie uses, she will talk about the inspiration behind her own narrative textile works and take you on a visit to her shop on nearby Columbia Road. The full day will give the space to really get into the making process.


On Sunday 18th March, Sarah Corbett will be running her Craftivism workshop - making mini protest banners. For regular followers of my blog, I have written about a number of Craftivist projects that Sarah has initiated. Sarah set up the Craftivist Collective and is seen as one of the leading spokespeople for the global craftivist movement. During the workshop she will talk about how the movement started and the benefits of using craft as a beautiful, non threatening and thought provoking method to activism. It will also be very creative and hands on, where you will learn how to interpret design and text into cross stitch or embroidery and create your very own mini protest banner, which hopefully you will want to hang out in the street after the workshop as other craftivists do!

On Sunday 25th March, I will be running an introduction to weaving workshop. During the class I explain how to create your 'warp' and 'weft' looking at colour, design and material choices. I will show 3 different weaving techniques - flat board weaving, a technique I developed for my woven upcycled inner tubes, 'tube matting and cushions'. Peg loom weaving on wool-n-dance peg looms. Both these methods are very low tech and a quick method to create fabric. Then there will be opportunity to have a go on my antique foot peddled loom. - a slower process but more intricate. You will create a series of samples to take away.

FEBRUARY workshops and events

We've got another action packed month of different classes, some have already passed as I'm updating my blog a bit late but this is what's on for the rest of the month. To keep up to date with the workshop and events programme, check into the website calender:

This Saturday (18th Feb) 2 - 4.30pm : Beginners Knitting with me! Learn or refresh on the basics and get started!
This Sunday (19th Feb) 2 - 4.30pm : Piecing Patchwork with Katherine May. This session focusses on pattern and design and starting your own project. Next month Katherine will be running another session which focusses on the quilting side of patchwork.

Saturday 25th Feb, 1 - 4pm: Mrs Bears Clothes swapping event. Bring up to 7 quality but unwanted items and raid the rails!! There will also be a vintage SALE rail, with hand picked goodies by Mrs Bear.

Sunday 26th Feb, 2 - 4.30pm: Refresh your wardrobe - simple sewing alterations with me! Another opportunity to go through your wardrobe or bring in items found at the clothes swap for simple alterations, re tailoring or re vamping. I will tailor the session according to what each participant wants to learn and the clothes they want to transform!

More next Month! Love BarleyX

NEW workshop programme

Fabrications is proud to announce new dates for our Sunday afternoon (2 - 4.30pm) classes for January - March. Firm favorites are back but we are also very excited about introducing some different sessions and also a couple of new teachers to the fold! For further details and information on how to book please visit the workshop and calender section of our website.

Katherine May's 'Textile Tokens' workshop draws inspiration from her favorite
exhibitions 'Quilts' at the V+ A and 'Threads of Feeling' at the foundling Museum

January Dates:
Sunday 16th: Beginners Knitting with Barley Massey, learn the basics and get started.
Sunday 23rd: Taste of Patchwork with Katherine May, create a mini quilt sample 'block' step by step from choosing fabrics to edging and finishing.
Sunday 30th: Beginners Crochet with Ayda Anlagan, how to hold the hook and yarn to create single, double and treble chain stitches.

Barley Massey 'Darn it!' workshop. Image taken by Clara Vuletich at Bricolage's
pop up shop in Brixton market, December 2009

February Dates:
Sunday 6th: Textile Tokens with Katherine May, make a personal fabric keep sake to give to someone special from embroidery stitches and patchwork.
Sunday 13th: Refresh your Wardrobe with Barley Massey, give your old garments a new look through darning, patching + customising.
Sunday 20th: DIY Couture - make your own cloak with DIY couture author Rosie Martin.
Sunday 27th: Beginners Knitting with Barley Massey, learn the basics and get started. If you attended the beginners knitting on the 16th January, then you can explore more!

This could be you! Images from Rosie Martin's 'DIY Couture' Make a cloak book, which is included with Rosie's session

March Dates:
Sunday 6th: Socks + Spinning with Sue Russell. From top to toe and step by step through the process.
Sunday 13th: Unravelling Knitting Patterns with Lisa Margreet. Aimed at beginners get confident reading patterns, increasing + decreasing and assembling + finishing techniques.

Hope to see you, meet you, teach you!

And Sew To Bed Project

Today is World Aids Day and the Craftivist Collective are having a bed-In replicating John Lennon + Yoko Ono's Bed- In (and celebrating Jon Lennon's 70th birthday) under their colourful peace + equality quilt at the Blue Coat Gallery in Liverpool.

The quilt has been slowly growing with contributions from other craftivists from all over the world. To see the patches in more detail visit the Craftivist collectives flicker pages. The purple spaces allow for visitors to the Blue Coat gallery and the West Everton community to contribute as well. Each patch addressing a local or global issue and aiming to raise awareness of national and international inequality and demand change. As always the Craftivists collective's protest is peaceful, engaging people in crafty action.

This is my contribution. I became aware of the Saharawis protest in an article by New Internationalist magazine via a friends link on facebook. I was really struck by the image, the taped up mouths and the way the young men have linked arms indicating a peace V with their hands. With every stitch I completed, I thought about their silent protest and how it spoke for so many other people also facing repression.

As one of the protesters stated in the article "Our silence said so much. Our silence was an eloquent denunciation of the repression to which we are subjected, our lack of freedom and the violation of our rights"

Tommy inspects the patches at Fabrications during laying out in preparation for assembling.

Undercover stitching!

Stitched + Told

I found the 2 'Stitch + Tell' workshops over the weekend very interesting and moving. I met a group of lovely women of all ages and walks of life and 1 man visiting London, who participated, stitched, shared stories, memories and emotions around the table.

As you will have seen in my last post, participants were invited to choose a pre prepared hexagon patch and stitch into and leave behind a secret, memory, a piece of emotional baggage, an affirmation. The 'Handmade Tales' exhibition at the the Women's Library also contained a lot of nostalgia and family memories for participants which they drew on.

Here are some of the stories behind and contained on the patches:

"The lilac design is in memory of my great grandmother Olga and her beautiful hand embroidered screen of lilacs. Olga is also the name of my grandmother and my friend who currently has breast cancer " (Barbara)

" I have just found my birth mother" (Lindsey)

" Be useful Be happy" (Amy)

" T + G " in memory of my music teacher Thora who taught me tatting and lived with her sister Greeba (Dita)

" A Christmas pudding in memory of making steaming Christmas puddings with my grandmother" (Natasha)

"BE WITH" Learning to BE but also BE WITH (Anna)

At the BUST Christmas Craftacular the stitching and telling continued to flow on the Sunday. 2 people made complete flowers, which was a pleasant surprise for me!

" I have an illness" was stitched into the central hexagon with "But my illness doesn't have me" on each of the outer petal hexagons (Caroline) This was very touching for me as I know Caroline and admire her strength and generosity of spirit even when she is feeling a great deal of pain.

"Love stinks, unless you act!" (Sarah)

"Nancy Jackson" (Sarah) In memory of the embroider, who Sarah visited twice a week as a support worker. She continued to embroider into old age and inspite of her health and movement in her hands.

This is a detail of one of Emma's patches "Actually it is easy to say but it is difficult to do". Emma who is a stitcher and also teaches at RCA and Bournmouth Arts University is currently researching into the recent resurgence of craft and I enjoyed the discussions she brought to the table on her own personal observations into craft.

Some of the finished flowers ready for planting in the Handmade Tales exhibition at the Women's Library, so if you haven't visited already, I highly recommend a visit! You've got until April 2011. If you'd like to contribute a patch or even a whole flower then just pop in to Fabrications to get your patch! (s)

Stitch + Tell

Needles and threads at the ready? I've got a double (trouble!) workshop planned this weekend at 2 cracking East London locations...

Stitch doctor Barley Massey will be on hand to assist you in leaving behind a secret, a memory, a piece of emotional baggage (happy or sad) or simply your initials marking the moment by stitching onto hexagon patchwork pieces.
Your creativity and contribution will form flowers or 'rosettes' which will be added to one of the walls of the 'Handmade Tales' exhibition, creating a patchwork pattern known as 'grandmother's garden'.

A drop in session aimed at all ages and abilities. There will be pre prepared hexagon patches from Barley's stash of pre loved + upcycled textiles and colourful threads and demonstrations of simple but effective decorative stitches or just go free styling!

Where can you Stitch + Tell?

Saturday 27th November, 12 - 5pm - The Women's Library.

Sunday 28th November, 12 - 6pm - BUST Christmas Craftacular - Shop, Craft, Dance and Make Merry!
I'm really excited as my fellow crafting friends will also be there - DIY Couture, Make and Do with Perri, Prick your Finger + Tatty Devine! Yeh!!

Piecing Patchwork

Katherine May's 'Piecing Patchwork' class here last Sunday was so interesting. In this session as well as showing techniques Katherine gives the space for participants to bring in their own projects or explore a new idea with her guidance. And what fantastic ideas and projects came in through the door!
There was mother and daughter team Louise and Pauline Hunt. Louise had found a great little footstool in a skip and wanted to recover it with her own patchwork fabric. Artist/writer Rebecca LaMarre wants to explore patchwork in her work. Anita Barnard along with her friend Christena Grove want to create a community patchwork picnic quilt for their newly wed friends. Anita had sketched out their warehouse home which she discussed ways of interpreting this into patchwork and got to work! She will be distributing patches from her outline design amongst their circle of friends to sketch and decorate - how nice is that!

Meanwhile Tendayi brought in 100's, more like 1000's of tiny hexagon patches which she's been creating most of this year. Apparently this is what happens when you attend the 'Stitch Up' V+A late night event for the quilting exhibition and get given a free sewing kit containing small hexagon templates!!

Subsequently she confessed that she now only sees textiles in terms of mini hexagons! Her ironing board covers have been hexed, favorite old clothes, bandannas. Watch out for any hexagon shaped holes out there!! We look forward to seeing what Tendayi creates, last confirmed idea was a map of the world quilt.

An Insiders View : Fine Cell Work

An event on Buckingham Palace Road last Thursday was an affirmation once again to me of the value of craft in our society and it's power to create social change, well being and self worth.

I felt very lucky to get a place at this month's Craftivist Collective's monthly meeting, which on this occasion was limited to 20 places as Craftivist Collective's driving force Sarah Corbett had scored a talk with Fine Cell Work at their cosy cushion filled offices.
Fine Cell is a charity and social enterprise which trains and pays men and women in prison to do professional needlework. The work they produce sells internationally. Recently they were commissioned by the V+A museum to produce a quilt for the amazing 'British Quilts 1700 - 2010' exhibition.

The talk was very insightful and surrounded by the prisoner's exquisitely fine and detailed needlepoint cushions, piled high ready for orders (for the Tate Modern, English Heritage..) was even more inspiring.
Fine Cell was founded in the 1980's by social reformer Lady Anne Tree (born 6 November 1927 and died this month 9 August) Last Saturday The Guardian wrote an article about this exceptional and determined lady who used her standing and energy to drive parliamentary changes in prisoner's rights and abilities to earn a small wage whilst in prison. She was an advocate of crafting in prisons as a constructive way forward to achieve this. In the article she is quoted
"Sewing could not only provide a small nest egg to ease prisoners lives on release, it also has a spiritual quality - you can retreat into sewing, you can block out the noise. It is meditative, a way of thinking, of taking stock. so it's not just about the money. it's the feeling of self worth that is vital"
The talk revealed how a high proportion of the prisoners that Fine Cell Work with are ex-forces and live with mental health difficulties. Fine Cell Work's training and projects offer them an opportunity to reflect on their lives and make a worthwhile contribution.

We learnt more about our favorite quilt from the V+A exhibition - 'The HMP Wandsworth Quilt' which was created by a total of 52 prisoners who contributed designs, ideas, drawings and embroidered samples over 3 years. Assisted by 9 Fine Cell Work volunteers - women trained by the Royal School of Needlework or members of The Embroiders Guild who are highly respected and appreciated by the prisoners for giving their time and knowledge to them.
The prisoners were determined to make the base design of the patchwork the architectural footprint of the Wandsworth prison itself. The quilt is an authentic portrayal of 21st century prison life, with the prisoners stories, emotions and hopes stitched into the layers of fabric.

Thank You Fine Cell Work for the work that you do. I was touched by this quote by Jeffry Marcus (HMP Wandsworth) in your literature "You're rejected by society and you have to reflect on what you've done, and then let go, then you need something in place that you can actually get self worth back. With the quilting you go can go inside yourself, start creating things and feeling that you can belong to society"

Now for a shameless plug! Fabrications will be proud to be a stockist (in about a month's time!) of Fine Cell Works witty 'SWAG' bags and also 'The HMP Wandsworth Quilt' postcards.

Weaving a new beginning....

Last night I had the pleasure of witnessing Katherine Hayward receive her beautiful gift, woven together by her friends and colleagues at Eco Active. Katherine is the long standing inspirational education officer at Eco Active.

In a top secret plot...they had got together one evening and wove panels from strips of clothing (including the finance directors ties!!) The panels were then quietly brought down to Fabrications where myself and Katherine May transformed the samples into a baby quilt for Katherine's forthcoming new baby!

Eco Active were inspired by this simple upcycling weaving technique which I introduced as part of a project I collaborated on with Eco Active, Immediate Theatre and the Good Companions at the Kingsmead estate in Homerton earlier this year, which I will be reporting on in my next post.......

APRIL + MAY CLASSES

Our classes are currently on a Sunday afternoon, 2 - 4.30pm at our shop 'Fabrications' on Broadway Market, East London.
Each class includes a suitable kit for the class and refreshments.
They cost £20 or £15 concessions.
* BOOKING ESSENTIAL *



INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED KNITTING
* PLACES STILL AVAILABLE *
Sunday 25th April, 2- 4.30pm

This session is tailored to what YOU want to learn. Rachael Matthews fun approach can guide you through reading patterns, increasing + decreasing, colour work, cable, 3d shapes....
the decision is yours! But everyone benefits from each others requests too!

Rachael Matthews is an inspirational and experienced crafter. Founder member of the notorious 'Cast Off Knitting club for Boys + Girls', responsible for public knitting antics such as 'Knitting on the circle line' and the 'completely knitted wedding' at the Pump House gallery.
Author of 'Knitorama' and 'Hookerama' and winner of Jerwood contemporary makers prize in 2009.



PATCHWORK QUILTING taster class
Sunday 2 May, 2 - 4.30pm

Katherine May will be passing on traditional skills whilst encouraging recycling, exploring poetic ideas and emotional attachments. Participants are encouraged to experiment with colour and pattern, share stories and memories and work together as a group.

Textile techniques and skills: step by step making of hand pieced patchwork, sewn by hand, creating your quilt 'sandwich' and basting, rocking stitch, tying/knotting the quilt, creative recycling.
Materials: Collected pre loved and vintage fabrics will be supplied but participants are encouraged to bring items they have at home, from textiles which hold special memories to those simply no longer used. Fabrications will provide a basic sewing kit and instructions/inspirations sheet for participants to take home and carry on developing their skills.

Don't forget to visit Katherine's current exhibition 'Quilty Pleasures' at Liberty until 12th April. A colourful celebration of quilting and the current Quilts exhibition 1700 - present day at the V&A museum

Katherine May is a textile designer maker inspired by the communities that have developed around crafts, such as quilting. In her practise she explores traditional skills working intuitively to piece together patchwork designs that favour bold use of colour and strong geometric pattern. She creates textile products for the home that will build bonds with the user to enjoy a long life.

BEGINNERS KNITTING
Sunday 9th May, 2 - 4.30pm

Learn the basics - how to cast on, Knit + Purl stitch, introducing a new colour and casting off. If you are an improver we can also show you combinations of knit + purl stitches to create different textures.
This session will be run by Fabrications' Barley Massey

PIECING PATCHWORK
Sunday 16th May, 2 - 4.30pm

For this session Katherine May will focus on developing your understanding of patchwork design, with the aim of participants starting their own patchwork quilt project in the session. Using a variety of traditional shapes such as; triangles and hexagons, you will experiment with creating patchwork patterns. The workshop will concentrate on each participant developing their personal project ideas and you will leave with patchwork samples to develop designs at home
or you will start your patchwork during the session.
As always please bring your favourite textiles that you may wish to work with, but pre-loved textiles and a kit with materials and information booklet will be provided.

Quilty Pleasures......

The eagerly anticipated V&A exhibition 'Quilts 1700 - 2010' opened yesterday! We are looking forward to visiting the show. It is very timely, as a patchwork revival is already underway, and the show can only fuel and inspire a new generation of stitchers.

Wonderfully, a number of other events are spiralling off from this revived interest. Liberty have been supporting British design and craft more and more, reinstating a value in the handmade. They have commissioned 5 quilts all made using found fabrics by Katherine May for an exhibition 'Quilty Pleasures' 15 March - 12 April. Make a detour on your way to the V&A!
In the meantime check out Katherin'e Blog for some beautiful pictures of the making of her quilts.

Katherine and I spent an enjoyable evening at Selvedge's first film night at the Phoenix (London's oldest cinema) earlier this month. Sue Pritchard, curator of the V&A Quilts exhibition gave us an interesting insight into her 6 years of research, the stories and themes around the show:

The Domestic Landscape, Private Thoughts / Political Debates, Virtue + Virtuosity, Making a Living and Meeting the Past.

Sue Pritchard's presentation was followed by the film 'How to make an American Quilt', starring Winona Ryder, the characters share their stories and reflect upon their lives whilst making Winona's 'wedding quilt', which was touching and amusing!!

Selvedge have also dedicated their most recent issue (33) to Quilting. We have a few copies in stock. We are also stocking Emma Hardy's 'Quilting in no time' and keep an eye on our blog for more dates for Katherine May's popular patchwork quilting classes!

Last but not least the festival of quilts organised by our friends at Twisted Thread is well worth a visit, running 19 to 22 August.

MARCH + APRIL Workshops

Our classes are on a Sunday afternoon, 2 - 4.30pm.

Each class is £20 / £15 concessions and includes a kit suitable for that session and tea + biscuits.
* BOOKING ESSENTIAL *






INTRODUCTION TO PATCHWORK QUILTING
Sunday 7 March, 2 - 4.30pm

Katherine May will be passing on traditional skills whilst encouraging recycling, exploring poetic ideas and emotional attachments. Participants are encouraged to experiment with colour and pattern, share stories and memories and work together as a group.

Textile techniques and skills: step by step making of hand pieces patchwork, sewn by hand, creating your quilt 'sandwich' and basting, rocking stitch, tying/knotting the quilt, creative recycling.
Materials: Collected pre loved and vintage fabrics will be supplied but participants are encouraged to bring items they have at home, from textiles which hold special memories to those simply no longer used. Fabrications will provide a basic sewing kit and instructions/inspirations sheet for participants to take home and carry on developing their skills.

KNIT LARGE
Sunday 14th March, 2 - 4.30pm

Whatever your ability chunky knitting is fun and fast!
Barley Massey will show you how to use the 'Wool-n-Boat' GIANT knitting needles (30mm) and GIANT french knitting wheels which you may have see in Fabrications! Barley will also show you how to create your own chunky yarns from salvaged wool and materials. There will be a pick n mix selection of chunky yarns to create an accessory during the class.

INTERMEDIATE PATCHWORK QUILTING
Sunday 21st March, 2 - 4.30pm

For this session Katherine May will focus on developing your understanding of piecing patchwork, with the aim of participants starting their own patchwork quilt project in the session. Using a variety of traditional shapes such as; triangles and hexagons, you will experiment with creating patchwork patterns. The workshop will concentrate on each participant developing their personal project ideas and you will leave with patchwork samples to develop designs at home or you will start your patchwork during the session.
As always please bring your favourite textiles that you may wish to work with, but pre-loved textiles and a kit with materials and information booklet will be provided.

BEGINNERS KNITTING
Sunday 28th March, 2 - 4.30pm

Learn the basics - how to cast on, Knit + Purl stitch, introducing a new colour and casting off. If you are an improver we can also show you combinations of knit + purl stitches to create different textures.
This session will be run by Fabrications' Barley Massey

CROCHET
Sunday 18th April, 2 - 4.30pm

If you missed out on the February's session here is another of Rachael Matthew's popular classes!
A session for absolute beginners but also improvers. Crochet is a great 'free style' handicraft, an alternative or a means to enhance or join your knitting, Lovely 3d effects, lacey, flowery, borders....

INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED KNITTING
Sunday 25th April, 2- 4.30pm

This session is tailored to what YOU want to learn.
If you've knitted lots of scarves and want to try something new, this is the class for you!
Rachael Matthew's fun approach can guide you through reading patterns, increasing + decreasing, colour work, cable, 3d shapes....the decision is yours! and everyone in the class benefits from each others requests!