STITCHING TOGETHER is an interfaith group formed in response to a ‘Together for the Common Good’ workshop held in the crypt of St. Mary’s Church Battersea on February 16, 2019. The goal was to take one action to help build bridges in the community. We decided to start a stitching group that provides the materials, the teaching and, thanks to Sacred Heart, a space to meet weekly.
STITCHING TOGETHER is where we stitch, talk and learn from one another so that anyone without any prior stitching skills can learn and those with expertise can help teach.
We’ve shared what we’ve learned through stitching - about kindness, touch, time, forgiveness, laughter and vulnerability
by Evalyn Lee
STITCHING TOGETHER is an interfaith group formed in response to a ‘Together for the Common Good’ workshop held in the crypt of St. Mary’s Church Battersea on February 16, 2019. The goal was to take one action to help build bridges in the community. We decided to start a stitching group that provides the materials, the teaching and, thanks to Sacred Heart, a space to meet weekly. We meet most Monday mornings from 10:30 to 12:30.
STITCHING TOGETHER is where we stitch, talk and learn from one another so that anyone without any prior stitching skills can learn and those with expertise can help teach. The group has grown to about 20 people who meet regularly and share tender memories of grandmothers, mothers, aunts and cousins who taught us how to knit, darn socks, or dye wool, and accompanies the creation of hats, scarves and celebratory blankets. Plus, we laugh a lot.
We’ve hosted a talk given to us by Battersea Welcomes Refugees and learned how to tie a scarf on World Hijab Day. We’ve shared what we’ve learned through stitching - about kindness, touch, time, forgiveness, laughter and vulnerability - with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association multi-faith monthly community talks.
What began with simple knitted and crocheted squares has expanded, as each of us learned how to lay out the squares to create blankets. When the piecing together of blankets became too onerous, we began to make scarves. Aided by the knitting powerhouse Sister Marie Louise and Sr Mary who have, along with the other Sisters turned in, almost weekly, the most wonderful and accomplished hats, scarves and muffs.
Once the pandemic hit, the group’s desire to help the local community grew even stronger. We shared ideas on WhatsApp and began to make small hearts and dementia muffs for the Meadbank Nursing Home which was hard hit by COVID. A blizzard of crocheted snowflakes and lavender sachets were donated, as well as scarves for carers, and, with the proceeds from our sales, we have bought toiletries for Meadbank residents who often arrive at the home with nothing. We’ve also donated to the Katherine Low Settlement and the St Vincent de Paul Society.
If you are interested in joining STITCHING TOGETHER, we’d love to have you with us. Please contact: Annabel Clarkson from Sacred Heart or Caroline Farrar or Evalyn Lee from St. Mary’s Battersea.
