a few weeks back a friend and i went to a workshop run by social enterprise <a href=”http://www.finecellwork.co.uk/about_us/history”>fine cell work</a>. it was part of the london design festival and was held at tom dixons showroom in west london
fine cell work are amazing! volunteers go into prisons around the country teaching needlework to inmates. it’s probably the last thing you would expect prisoners to be in interested in, particularly the males, but 80% of the people who take part are men
Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self-esteem.
quote fcw on benefits
incredible work is produced by the prisoners for commission and for themselves. they’re allowed only 5 pins and 2 needles in their 2m square cells but this doesn’t stop them from making intricate and large-scale pieces, like double bed quilts or wall hangings
we were shown how to make something much less grand but still lovely – a pin cushion!
Heart blanket st in patchwk & flyer pic
although a pin cushion isn’t directly related to fashion, i was still inspired by the process and the techniques. quilting has always appealed to me, not so much making an actual quilt but the rows and rows of hand stitching that change the surface texture and appearance of fabric
inside quilted st pic
i love the slight irregularity and softness it creates, and also the mark of the hand
closeup & finished pic
here’s a close up detail of some quilting like stitches on some of my clothes
detail apron sq dress or grey jacket pic
Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self-esteem.
http://www.finecellwork.co.uk/prison_stories/facts_and_figures<br /><br /><a href=”http://www.mareechoie.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111024-110708.jpg”><img src=”http://www.mareechoie.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111024-110708.jpg” alt=”20111024-110708.jpg” /></a><br /><br /><a href=”http://www.mareechoie.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111024-111032.jpg”><img src=”http://www.mareechoie.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/20111024-111032.jpg” alt=”20111024-111032.jpg” /></a>
a few weeks back a friend and i went to a workshop run by social enterprise fine cell work. it was part of the london design festival in september and was held at tom dixons showroom in west london
in their own words “Fine Cell Work trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self esteem. This helps them to connect to society and to leave prison with the confidence and financial means to stop offending.”
one of the fine cell work volunteers and an ex-offender came along to show us how to make a pin cushion
although a pin cushion isn’t directly related to fashion, i was inspired by the process and the techniques. we used patchwork, applique and quilting to put it together
quilting in particular has always appealed to me, not so much making an actual quilt but the rows and rows of stitching that sandwich together the fabrics, changing the surface texture and appearance
i love the irregularity and softness it creates, and also the way it highlights the ‘mark’ of the hand, like the way impressionist painters would apply paint in thick raised brushstrokes giving the viewer a real sense of the artist in motion
you can see the result of some quilting inspiration in my clothing, here…
i can’t wait to use more of these techniques in my winter designs!
