Local community hub and craftivist organisation, Significant Seams, has been busy with its fifth community quilt themed on the Changing Role of Women.
Patchwork workshops have been running throughout February and March as well as at the Assembly Hall on International Women's Day. The patches, made from donated recycled cottons and upholstery fabrics, respond to questions like, ‘How is your life different from your mother’s?’ ‘What do you think prevents women from achieving their dreams or ambitions?’ ‘What has surprised you about what you have achieved?’ Significant Seams patchworker Cynthia Wenden says: "Certainly in Waltham Forest we’re a very diverse borough because we have lots of women from different communities. And from different communities people have different ideas of how women’s roles have changed."
In recognition of this diversity, Significant Seams has involved students from its ESL Sew & Tell programme, funded by FaithAction’s Creative English Innovation and Sustainability Fund. Participants learn conversational English while picking up new sewing skills in making a patch for the quilt.
Once stitched together, the quilt will be displayed in the E17 Art Trail, representing the community of Walthamstow but telling a global story. Sharing stories and skills is what Significant Seams does best: an idea, a word, a needle and thread, a cup of tea and before long a community quilt is made.
Based on information supplied by Deborah Nash.
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