A stitch in time ● To see more please search The Pendle Stitches on Facebook
Gemma Allen, from Barnoldswick, Lancashire, brought others together all through her love of sewing…
Dusting off my sewing machine, it was the fresh start that I needed. After becoming poorly a few years back, as my physical health improved, I needed to focus on my mental health.
So, watching Youtube videos, I totally immersed myself in the world of fabric.
Being able to sew gave me a huge sense of pride – even if it wasn’t perfect.
‘Can you have a look at it please? It’s not stitching right,’ my friend asked one day, handing over a sewing machine.
Buying it at a local charity shop, she’d been struggling.
After catching up over a brew, I got it working in no time.
‘Thank you!’ she squealed with delight. And at that exact moment, I knew that I wanted to help others become confident with sewing.
Only, I didn’t want to make it a business or benefit financially.
I wanted to build friendships and take pride in what we were all achieving collectively.
Sharing that concept around town, people said that they’d really love a sewing group.
So applying for a crowdfunding grant from Lancashire Council via Spacehive, on 7 February 2023, my volunteer-led sewing group, The Pendle Stitches, was born.
Offering workshops for those to learn how to sew, I’d done it.
Within the first month of launching our sewing group, I had an incredible response.
With sessions every other Tuesday, we have taught over 50 people to use a sewing machine and held sew-cials, too.
We are simply a non-profit volunteer-led community group, brought together by the love of sewing.
I still struggle with my health sometimes, but I’ve been able to set something up that runs alongside my abilities and at a pace I can manage.
A year on, we really have become a family – there for one another through thick and thin.
Volunteering was absolutely the best way for me.
It took away the pressure and gave me a higher sense of purpose.
Something I will continue for as long as I possibly can.
If you want to get involved, it could make you sew happy!