The Story.......


Covid 19 was moving around the world. On March 23rd 2020, the UK was put into lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus.  The message to stay at home, was very clear.  

I was at home, as required, researching the history of quilting. . I read about the plight of 500 women who found themselves captive in Changhi prison, Singapore, in 1942, living in dire conditions.  They used sewing as a subterfuge to stay in contact with their families, sewing  ‘something of themselves’ into their squares. The result was three quilts, one British, one Australian and one Japanese.  https://changi.redcross.org.uk/  

The idea was born. 65 people, from across the UK, Europe and the Bahamas ( including 4 men, 1 10 year old boy, 5 NHS workers ) came together through friendship, family and word of mouth, to create a quilt. Our intended outcome was to display it and then raise funds for a charity supporting those who had suffered in lock down. 
Each person created either a 6 or 12 inch square. Some were expert and experienced quilters or makers, for others it was their first ever attempt at sewing.

This project was much more than creating a square for a quilt. At a time of lockdown, it had different meanings for each individual. Some were on their own finding isolation difficult: the project helped connect them to others with a common purpose.  Many commented on how the beautiful spring had helped whilst some just wanted to thank the NHS. Some chose material linking them to family who are no longer with us. Some  contributed poems and our centre square is a Haiku whose words summarise the project beautifully.

We met the end of May deadline and the quilt was put together in record time by a small group of expert quilters. It is now ready to fulfil its primary purpose of raising funds for charity, but it has become evident that it has a second purpose: to tell the stories of 65 people
Do you want to join us making a difference? We are raising money in aid of Refuge and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us.

More information about Refuge: Refuge opened the first refuge in West London in 1971. Since then we have grown to support almost 5,000 women and children every day, experiencing domestic and sexual violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage,stalking, trafficking, prostitution and so-called 'honour' based violence.