Sewing Booklet

The Sewing Booklet is a series of sewing workshop projects launched and supported by Alice Ketlle with Refugee Action that came out of the Thread Bearing Witness Project. 

The Sewing Group consisted of 15 people, resident in the UK through two different refugee resettlement programmes, who live in various cities across England but met up online weekly during the pandemic. Some were complete beginners whilst others were fashion designers and tailors. The sessions were facilitated in 5 different languages with the help of interpreters. Step by step projects were devised by artist Kelly Qunizel and a booklet illustrating the finished works was created by illustrator Tobi Meuwissen and given to each of the participants as a record of their work. New friendships blossomed between group members, and they continue to meet and share their sewing know how. 

“We didn’t know what was possible until we tried; working together with Alice on this project has encouraged us to take risks, learn together and grow something new. It’s been one of the most rewarding projects to be part of and I’m looking forward to seeing how the sewing group develops.” 

Gurdeep Thiara Gateway Resettlement Language ad Groupwork Co-ordinator

January 2021