As part of the recently-announced Past Futures Project, Stitch Department in Ryde is preparing to explore the history of Island high streets through a new community project that blends heritage crafts with local memories: Heritage Threads.
The team plans to tell the story of bygone shops, stores and buildings in Newport and Ryde through hand embroidery, goldwork, slow stitching, needlework, beading and patchwork.
Heritage crafts at the centre
Stitch Department will run twenty community workshops focused on these traditional skills.
Each session will take place in the sewing studio at Department in Ryde, a building the organisation describes as having “fascinating heritage” and a long history of hosting crafters and makers.
The workshops will be open to complete beginners as well as more experienced crafters.
Creating a collaborative artwork
Community-made pieces from the sessions will come together to form a single wall hanging.
The finished work will go on display in venues around Newport and Ryde.
The organisation explains that the project aims to bring people together, honour heritage craft, and encourage the sharing of memories about the Island’s historic shops.
They add that “shops are often a point of interest and conversation starters” and that these memories will be woven into the craft work created during the sessions.
Focusing on community and wellbeing
The Stitch Department says the workshops will support positive social connections in the Island’s rural community.
They also highlight the importance of heritage craft and its “evidenced connection to improved mental wellbeing”.
Workshops are free to book through the Department website and at the front desk.
This project is made possible thanks to Creative Island, HIWCF and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
