COMMON THREADS:
Common Threads is an informal friendship and support group for women from different cultural backgrounds who share a common interest in handwork, ranging from embroidery and patchwork to knitting and crochet. The group meets every Wednesday between 10.30 and 12.30pm at the Cameron Youth Centre on Planefield Road. Whether you are an experienced seamstress or have never picked up a needle before, the group are always happy to accept new attendees. Attendance can be on a drop in basis and costs only £2 with a creche available for those with pre school aged children. The group generally only meet during term time.
Individuals within the group take turns to demonstrate their own traditional handwork skills or suggest new projects to do as individuals or as a group.
We also make items to sell for fund-raising, or commissioned on request. Examples have included: Merkinch Community Centre ‘Welcome’ Banners, ‘Russia Highland Connection’ Banner, Merkinch Community Arts Project, contribution towards a national ‘Burns Banner’ run by the Scottish Poetry Library, Bunting for Abriachan Community Forrest classroom, Appliqued Umbrellas for The Other Side of Air, community exhibition, Heart Cushions for the Breast Surgery Unit at Raigmore Hospital (sponsored by local Rotary group), Bags, Aprons, Cushions, Decorations, Cards, Homeware Gifts and our flagship BABY QUILTS!
We also make items to sell for fund-raising, or commissioned on request. Examples have included: Merkinch Community Centre ‘Welcome’ Banners, ‘Russia Highland Connection’ Banner, Merkinch Community Arts Project, contribution towards a national ‘Burns Banner’ run by the Scottish Poetry Library, Bunting for Abriachan Community Forrest classroom, Appliqued Umbrellas for The Other Side of Air, community exhibition, Heart Cushions for the Breast Surgery Unit at Raigmore Hospital (sponsored by local Rotary group), bags, aprons, cushions, decorations, cards, homeware gifts and our flagship BABY QUILTS!
- “The Other Side of Air” a 2008 community exhibition
SKILL SHARING:
Jordanian embroidery, bead work, crochet, knitting, spinning, Shashiko, felting, seasonal decorations , fundraising crafts, children’s bags, applique, patchwork and Quilting are among the skill we have shared and led workshops on.
Nakshi Kantha
Is the traditional quilting form from Bangladesh, where layers of old saris and other fabrics are sewn together to create a quilt. Running stitches were worked in patterns to hold the layers together. The name comes from the Bengali words ‘naksha’ (drawing) and ‘kantha’ (stitch). The sewing threads were often unravelled from the ends of old saris, so it was a very cheap and ‘sustainable’ form of craft. Quite often nakshi kanthas were worked by more than one woman, so it was also a very companionable activity.Sashiko
Is a decorative form of quilting from Japan (although many of the patterns can be traced back to ancient Chinese designs). Unlike other forms of quilting, sashiko can also be worked onto single layers of fabric and is used to reinforce areas of clothing that will get intensive wear and tear. The most common form used white thread on indigo (blue). Sashiko literally means ‘little stabs’, as that is the form of running stitch used. Sometimes ‘kamon’ appliqué motifs are added, such as this plum blossom, entitled ‘mitsu ume’
Highland Multicultural Friends 