Textiles Archive - WEA Creative

Textiles Courses

Yasmeen Begum’s reflections on Sew Good

Monday, February 8th, 2010

‘Just the Ticket’ was an extraordinary experience offered to learners in Blackburn. The group trips to Whitworth Art Galley (Manchester) and Lyme Park (Cheshire) were a great success. The learners were in environments outside the classroom and feedback given during the experiences and after the course were very positive.

The main activity at the Lyme Park workshop was making paper from paper pulp After observing a demonstration the ladies prepared the paper using the equipment. They all alternated and made different coloured paper and embellished it. Learners’ feedback included descriptions of the experience as a ‘playful’ , ‘therapeutic’, ‘fun’, ‘inspiring’, ’enjoyable’ and ’educational’.

Learners participating enthusiastically. The change of scene from inside a classroom to a different setting and being involved in a creative experience, where there were no restrictions on the nature of a design created, encouraged learners to create designs and produce items that one learner described she ‘didn’t know’ she ‘could do’.

The Art Gallery display was ‘breathtaking’ and the ladies could identify with the traditional designs and patterns in the fabrics and garments displayed from India. Some found it hard to describe in words just how amazed they were at seeing artefacts of historical significance. Many had not ever attended an Art Gallery before. This display was ‘thought-provoking’ and inspired the learners for designs for the workshop activities. The workshops were lead by enthusiastic staff who effectively demonstrated different techniques. Some design ideas and techniques will be developed and experimented on in a NCFE Level One Garment Making Course that some learners are already undertaking this Summer, and products made at the workshops will be presented in portfolios for accreditation.

The trip was well organised and information was given prior to going on the trips. Learners had a vague idea what activities we might be doing once we got to the venues. But I don’t think they anticipated that it would be such a memorable and inspiring experience.

We managed to use our time wisely. All learners arrived back in time to collect children from school which had been a concern for some parents. Ladies interacted very well on the trips considering some had never met before.

My personal conclusion to the trips is that it achieved the planned outcomes for the courses. WEA had effectively arranged for them to be ‘whisked away’ and have an extraordinary experience. I know the learners went home at the end of a day with taking more away with them than just their samples from the workshops.

It has been a privilege to have been able to supervise and participate as a tutor with the WEA.

A Stitch in Time at Quarry Bank Mill

Monday, February 1st, 2010

weaving on a hand loom

On Thursday, the second session of A Stitch in Time took place at Quarry Bank Mill. Fifteen women from Rochdale travelled to Styal via a GMPTE community transport minibus. The group was split in two with one group having a tour of all the mill machinery, while the other group tried their hand at carding, spinning and weaving on hand looms. After lunch the groups swapped. I nipped over in the afternoon to take a few photos and it was great to see all the women fully involved in each activity and enjoying themselves. Zubede Karim was the star of the afternoon. Elizabeth, the tutor, was really impressed by Zubede’s expert spinning technique and the speed and accuracy with which she wove her sample of cloth. Zubede mentioned that her grandmother had taught her a few weaving skills when she was a child. I would like to interview Zubede to find out more about this and put the film on the website.

Zubede Karim

To see more photos of the group click on Interactive, then Contributions and A Stitch in Time.

A Stitch in Time

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Quarry Bank Mill

One of today’s many tasks is to finalise the new ‘A Stitch in Time’ line. This is proving to be a very popular course with lots of requests form Learning Managers to set one up in their area. During this short four week course the lucky participants will draw inspiration for their designs from the stunning permanent Indian textile collection at Whitworth Art Gallery before committing their ideas to paper and fabric using water-based inks and a printing press. Our last workshop in this vein, as part of the Sew Good course, was very successful, so a big thank you to Wendy for organising it and Alan for running the workshop. When we run the course again, the next cohort may try producing colourful felted fabric for a change. The learners will also visit Quarry Bank Mill in Styal, to learn about the historical processes of spinning and weaving. They will take part in a weaving workshop, where they will produce a small sample of striped or checked fabric on handlooms. Back in the classroom, the learners will further enhance their samples with decorative embroidery and applique or by adding sequins and tiny mirrors. I can’t wait to see the finished items. If at all possible, I will try and get hold of some of the items produced during the Sew Good course and photograph them for the website. So watch this space.