GAIN TEXTILEs SKILLS & MAKE FOR THE COMMUNITY

The Textile Workshop is both a space for learning about textile craft as well as giving back to the community through:

  • the creation of things the community can use and enjoy;

  • the making of things that we can sell to raise money for the Exchange community programme; and

  • the repairing of loved things so they don’t go to waste.

The Textile Workshop is currently working on a number of long-term projects in embroidery, repair and weaving. All of our projects will be made for The Exchange for community use by The Makers. and further will be made and sold to raise money for our community programme.

The Textile Workshop is open for one-off paid-for classes and courses, and on a regular basis is open to the Textiles Team, a group of volunteers who gain skills in embroidery, sewing and repair, and help us to create and mend beautiful and useful things.

Want to be part of this? You can join The Makers team. If you would like to get involved, register your interest by emailing sara@theexchangeerith.com

GET INVOLVED

We are currently registering interest from people who want to join The Textiles Team at The Exchange.

This will be a group of local people who gain skills in ceramics craft, whilst making things that we can use or sell to sustain our community programme.

The Team is supported by Exchange Textile Manager Sara Kelly.

This group is open to everyone, no matter what your experience. If you are interested in being a part of this group, email: sara@theexchangeerith.com

The Textiles Workshop is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 2 - 5pm.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Everyone that joins the Team starts with hand embroidery, working on their own design for a Sampler that will be exhibited at The Exchange in 2023.

Constructavist commission - woven wINDOW BLINDS

Artist Sara Kelly, was commissioned to work with the Textiles Team to design woven window blinds to be used at The Exchange. She was commissioned as part of The Constructavist Commission and the project takes place every Friday Afternoons in the Textiles Workshop.

Find out more here.

Tote Bags

As we introduce machine sewing into our workshop, we are learning to cut simple patterns and put together tote bags, using reclaimed or donated materials. Come and join this project on Wed or Thursday afternoons in the Textile Workshop from 2pm - 5pm.

Find out more here.

boro bags and Wall Hangings

This hand embroidery project, explores varied stitching techniques including applique and boro to create abstract designs that will then be hand stitched into small bags or framed for the wall. This project currently runs on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 2pm - 5pm.

Find out more here.

Repair and Rewear

The Textile Workshop has recently launched a repair service - Repair & Rewear. Drop in your loved garments to be mended by our community Volunteer Makers or learn the skills to do it yourself!

Find out more here.

 

TEXTILE WORKSHOP PARTNERS

HAND & LOCK

Hand & Lock are London’s premier embroidery house providing embellishment services to the Royal Family, top European design houses, the Royal Armed Forces, Savile Row and members of the public. Hand & Lock work with The Exchange to provide our Textiles Group with incredible embroidery learning experiences.

UNTIED WORKSHOPS

Sara Kelly

“Mending extends the life of clothing and the process of the craft strengthens the connection between our garments and ourselves. We hope to initiate a conversation about the culture of clothing and the waste left behind.”

Michelle & Ieva from Untied support The Exchange’s Textiles Group to skill up in creative mending and garment care, in support of the development of a Community Repair Service.

Sara is a tapestry weaver who was commissioned to deliver the Window Blinds Project as part of the Constuctavist Commission at The Exchange.
She creates tapestries and site-specific artworks and her work explores the intersection between craft and collaborative making to address her longstanding preoccupation with knowledge sharing and material cultures.

Sara has since been employed as the Textile Workshop Manager at The Exchange.

SARAH BATTEN

Sarah is a co-founder of The Exchange and a textiles enthusiast, with qualifications in embroidery, pattern-cutting, textile design and professional sewing skills, from the Royal School of Needlework and University of the Arts London.

Sarah supports the Textiles Group on a day-to-day basis, supported by the other Workshop Partners.