The Unspoken Word: a group project

The original idea for this project came from a friend of one of our members who exchanged stitched ‘inches’ with a friend whilst undergoing treatment for cancer. This exchange provided a valuable distraction, and quiet and positive support during a difficult time. On hearing about this, our group felt that we all have stages in our lives where something as small as an inch of stitch could inspire us and give us the ‘unspoken’ contact that we may all benefit from at times, and, with this in mind, we decided to take the idea forward.

Over the course of a year, each member created a one or two inch square of stitch each month and passed it on to another member within the group, giving a pound coin to our recognised cancer charity. The recipient responded as she felt fit, passing it onto another member the following month. All the responses were relayed in stitch and the accompanying thoughts recorded in each member’s own journal, which are displayed with the squares. The project proved to be quite thought provoking, if somewhat challenging. We soon realized that an inch or two of stitch can take as much thought process as a larger well executed piece.

Waiting in anticipation for a little square to come through the letterbox at the start of each month was exciting, as we didn't know whose square we were receiving, what it would look like, or how we would respond. Each of us chose different elements of the stitched square on inspire us: some chose to focus on the aspect of colour, others looked at the technique involved, while for others it was the content of the design that provided the inspiration. The resulting squares of stitch present a wide range of techniques and styles - 108 little treasures of stitch!

To complete the project that had started with a square provided by one of the original pair of stitchers, we asked the other to respond to the last of our squares and so bring the project to a satisfying close. We are very pleased that they have been involved with the project and we thank them for providing such beautiful creations to provide the cornerstones to our own contributions.

The charity chosen by the group is 'Maggie's', a charity that runs cancer caring centres providing support for people affected by cancer and their families, carers and friends, to empower people to live with, through and beyond cancer.

 © All text and images copyright of Odyssey Textile Artists                                                                         Updated 3 Mar 2011