"Cape of Gratitude" : Stitching the stories of nurses' uniforms (ages 10+)

“Cape of Gratitude”: Stitching the stories of nursing uniforms ( Ages 10+)

Join us in the Fitzrovia Chapel for an embroidery workshop and help create a "cape of gratitude" for the NHS' unsung heroes.

Workshop led by textile designer Nigel Cheney

Sunday 17th November, 9.30am.

the Fitzrovia Chapel

2 Pearson Square

London W1T 3BF

£10 + booking fee (all materials included)

As part of the Fitzrovia Chapel’s exhibition, In Uniform: Stories of Nurses and their Clothing, visitors of all ages are invited to a reflective craft workshop with the chance to contribute to a “Cape of Gratitude” to be displayed in the chapel!

In this two-hour workshop, participants will have the opportunity to acknowledge and thank nurses who are so much more than the uniforms they wear, by creating individual “thank you” postcards using fabric and thread. Using hand embroidery, an ancient method of stitching meaning into clothing, participants will make handmade gifts of thanks to contribute to the “cape of gratitude”. Taking inspiration from the stories of the real people behind the uniforms, you will have the chance to share your own thoughts, memories and comments sparked by the themes encountered in the exhibition.

The cape has been an iconic part of the nurse’s uniform and is a perfect vehicle to display your contributions to this commemorative art piece. By participating in this workshop you will be able to write your own message in stitch on a unique piece of printed cloth that will then be attached to a wearable piece of textile art and shown in the exhibition as part of an interactive costume display.

There will also be a very special textile artwork momento for you to take away and continue stitching!

This workshop is suitable for anyone over the age of ten able to safely hold a needle in their hands and is designed for everyone from the complete novice who needs help threading a needle to the most experienced of crafts people.

All materials provided.

The fee for the workshop is £10 plus booking fee. If cost is a barrier to your attending, please let us know ([email protected]).

The Fitzrovia Chapel is wheelchair accessible. For accessibility needs please contact us ([email protected]).

ABOUT NIGEL

Nigel Cheney is an embroiderer who lives and works in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

His work deals with memory and narrative through complex visual metaphors and plays upon literature, history and fables. His work explores the tensions between the handmade and digital technologies. Images are digitally manipulated and combined to develop compositions that are printed onto fabric before stitching onto previously loved textiles. He enjoys the contradictions between unwanted textiles and detailed hand stitch.

His work has exhibited widely throughout Europe, has won numerous awards and is in a number of International collections.

With extensive experience in Education and Industry he held the position of Lecturer in Embroidered Textiles at National College of Art and Design, Dublin,Ireland for over 20 years before retiring to live in his native Harborough 7 years ago.

Host or Publisher The Fitzrovia Chapel