Sarah Walker, Projects Officer at WHALE, has written a guest blog for Scottish Business in the Community detailing the huge donation of fabrics to Stich n’ Time by John Lewis.
“WHALE supports a busy women’s textile craft group named Stitch ‘n’ Time. The group started in 2009 when local women got together to create a banner celebrating the 100th anniversary of the suffragettes. The group enjoyed themselves so much that they decided to start a weekly class – and have not looked back since!
The idea behind our group is to make practical and beautiful items to help our community, while enjoying a weekly blether and several cups of tea. Since its beginnings, the group has been commissioned to make cot blankets for the Children and Families Centre, Roman Blinds for the Wester Hailes Health Agency, banners for WHALE Arts and the Wester Hailes Library, yards of bunting for local celebrations, costumes for a drama group performance – to name only a few!
We use off-cuts and scraps of fabric where possible to create these items for donation to our community. We also produce bespoke handmade products for sale with proceeds going back into Stitch ‘n’ Time.
Where possible we use recycled or donated materials to create these varied projects. In late October, Scottish Business in the Community contacted us to say that John Lewis wanted to make a donation of fabric to the group – the second donation this year! We couldn’t believe what we saw when it arrived – it was two huge trolleys full! We were simply blown away by the quality of the material John Lewis had given us, and the amount!
It has astounded us just how generous people and companies are, and we felt so fortunate to have received this brilliant donation from John Lewis. Our group were overjoyed to see what had been delivered and had so much fun going through it all. It made us all feel so good to be the recipients of such kindness – we truly appreciate it.
Discussions are now in full swing on what to do with it all – the fabrics, samples and curtain ends we have received will keep us busy and crafty for many months! Our first idea to get cracking on is reusable shopping bags and tote bags – suggested to help combat the new 5p carrier bag charge and encourage greener shopping! The fabric donated is just fabulous for this – it is already lined and ready to be worked with!
On behalf of all of the women who take part in our Stitch ‘n’ Time group, thank you so much to John Lewis for this amazing donation, and to Elaine Gorman, Business Connector at SBC who helped arrange it. As a community group we are so grateful for your help – thank you for your support.”
“Thanks to everyone who made this happen, the fabric is AMAZING! First bag already made and lots more plans hatching! Thank you to everyone who made this possible”
– D. Wright, Stitch ‘n’ Time tutor.
