Community stitching

Over the years I have been involved in a number of projects where a group of knitters or stitchers have worked together on a project. Every time there has been a really sense of community while doing something together.

Back in my knitting days a good friend, Natalie Fergie, set up a Just Giving page p/hop (pennies per hour of pleasure) raising an amazing £68k for Medecins Sans Frontieres so far. Initially it was a way for knitters to make a donation when they had used a pattern that was free (often in Ravelry) - and many designers have donated patterns to the cause; it has now become a great way to say thank you for all sorts of things.

Moving on several years, and still knitting, I relocated to work in York in 2009 and began to look for other knitters. I found the ‘Blankettes’ a group of knitters who met in a pub to knit their mitred square blankets, based on the pattern by The Heathen Housewife. In 2014 York became one of the departure points for the Grand Depart of the Tour de France and someone had the brilliant idea of decorating the City Walls with banners made by local community groups. So, led by the amazingly creative Heather Chalkley, the Blankettes proceeded to make a banner, which hung from the City Walls. I am currently knitting a second mitred square blanket using up some of my yarn stash, probably for a care-leaver in York.

In 2017 I retired from full time work and and I am now more sewing than knitting, knitting is confined to train journeys (scarves) and TV watching (the blanket). So now most of my community stitching is sewing with, and for, other people. I blogged about making scrubs last month. For about a year now I have also been quilting with others - sewing bees are not a new thing, and groups making quilt blocks to share with each other is not new, a useful overview here. But the best of these groups are making quilts for people who really need them. There are a number of groups doing this - perhaps the most well known in the crafting community is the Linus project who distribute knitted, crocheted, and sewn blankets and quilts to those who are in need of a hug.

Through Instagram I found the Siblings Together Quilting Bee and the Postpals Bee. Each month the Queen Bee sends out a message with the design of block for the month, sometimes with requests for particular colours to be used. I love making these blocks, there is a such a variety (some shown in the collage), and as a new quilter they are generally blocks I have not made before. They are also an opportunity to use up scraps of fabric, as you usually only need to make one block. We send them to the Queen Bee who constructs a quilt which goes to someone in need of a hug. I am Queen Bee for Postpals in July, so watch this space for the block I plan to suggest.

Meanwhile Quilters Guild Region 14 will be making a quilt for Siblings Together using the Friendship Star block (right), instructions can be found on the Youngish Quilters Blog, if you would like to contribute, get in touch; low volume background, any colours for the star. Finished block 9.5 inches (including SA)

And speaking of the Quilters Guild, I write this as the Guild year comes to an end with the AGM earlier today. Linda Bilsborrow, a very talented quilter, has finished her term of office as president.

One of her last actions was to initiate another community sewing project, inviting members to make a house block for a Staying Home- staying safe quilt.

So it had to be done - another block to challenge me - Foundation Paper Pieced, the roof tiles went up the roof first time around !

Community stitching is so satisfying - especially in these strange times.