Wall hangings raise funds for needy
Clovelly Community Action Network (CAN) will have a Stitches for Soup Kitchens pop-up exhibition in December to raise funds to support Masiphumelele, Ocean View, Westlake and other needy communities.
The exhibition will take place at @Studio26, 26 Palmer Road Muizenberg, from tomorrow, Friday December 1, until Friday December 8.
The Clovelly CAN started in 2020 during lockdown – as part of the broader Cape Town Together (CTT) movement – in response to Covid-19 to help alleviate hunger in vulnerable communities (“Wall hangings to raise funds for feeding project,” Echo May 4).
According to Clovelly CAN member Melanie Farrell, the exhibition will include four wall hangings inspired by the seasons. They were created by the Clovelly CAN Stitch Project in January last year and will be on sale for R2500 each.
They are made from donated scraps of fabric, and those who made squares for the hangings came up with their own designs.
Also part of the exhibition will be the Go With the Flow wall hanging made from damaged shweshwe cloth that is outlined with the bodies of about 30 people. This wall hanging is also selling for R2500.
According to Ms Farrell, the cloth was donated to the Clovelly CAN Stitch Project after it was wrapped around a narrow board instead of a tube in the factory, causing the development of regular faded horizontal stripes across the width of the fabric, which also features crush marks after it was shoved into a washing machine to try to rid the cloth of the stripes.
Drawing inspiration from the Covid-19 lockdown quilted creations, the Clovelly mending group came up with an idea.
“We decided to trace the outlines of our body curves, with the help of others, onto the cloth and then stitch the lines with white cotton,” Ms Farrell said.
“CAN member Kyoko Kimura Morgan introduced us to the concept of sashiko embroidery while other members donated thread and white tracing pencils and hosted stitching sessions at their homes.
“The cloth was called Go With the Flow, and all participants, men or women, could choose their own body curve to trace and stitch the outlines with their stitch of choice.
“Sometimes we gathered as neighbours to trace, stitch, and chat. Other times, we gathered our individual family and friend groups to take part. We also stitched as individuals, allowing the repetitive stitching to let our minds wander creatively and therapeutically.”
For more information, email ClovellyCAN@gmail.com or visit Clovelly CAN’s Facebook or Instagram pages.
