We kicked off the second round of our Back Stitch heritage textiles workshops last week, with costumer and textile artist Susan McInnes! We began by looking at 1940’s patchwork quilts (dated by the still attached newspaper prints used to make the quilt shapes) and moved on to make our very own using second hand fabric and hand stitching.
The 70 year old quilt was made by piecing fabric over paper shapes, and so particpants continued to make our own shapes from paper, cover them with fabric scraps and sew them into a pattern! They look fabulous!
The second week we machine sewed the fabric-scrap/paper shapes onto fabric backgrounds and made a cushion covers. These look brilliant in any home as you can create exactly the colour scheme that you want! They make great gifts, and use recycled materials.
In the next part of workshop, the class will be making a small quilt. Firstly, by learning to cut and sew strips/shapes of fabric together in different patterns, then these will all be joined together at the end to make a quilt front, then wadding and a backing fabric will be quilted together.
We will be upcycling old clothes that were destined to be thrown out – repairing, resizing, adding stitching, appliqués, beading and adding surface designs with bleach and fabric paints.
Cutting and re-sewing different items together to make new clothes, ready for the participants to wear or gift to others!
From a gents shirt Susan can help make a ladies off the shoulder top, a girls dress or skirt.
If a woollen jumper has shrunk in the way we can cut it up and make something new.
Last part of the class I will be teaching hand feltmaking using merino wool, starting with a smalll item to get used yo technique then move on to make a bag.
Come along every Monday from 6.15pm – 8.15pm, where Susan will be sharing skills ranging from hand and machine stitching and felting, all relating to the heritage of Broomhill!
Come on the day to the Broomhill Art Flat (to gain entry, press number “12” on the keypad to be buzzed into Broomhill Court),
12 Broomhill Court, Ann Street, Greenock, PA15 4ETThis series is part of our Heid O’ The Hill Heritage project based in Broomhill.
12 Broomhill Court, Ann Street, Greenock, PA15 4ETThis series is part of our Heid O’ The Hill Heritage project based in Broomhill.
Contact RIG Arts on 01475 649359 or email info@rigarts.org for more details.
The Broomhill Project 