By Callum Ludwig
A new regular group is starting up at the Warburton Community Space for crafty individuals.
A Sunday Circle (Mend, Make and Bake) will take place on the third Sunday every month going forward, with the first meeting in May.
Organiser Donna Fowler said the group is forming following the success of the Visible Mending Workshop she organised on 2 April.
“Everyone was really excited about mending things and getting together, so I decided to form a monthly group and extend an invitation to the entire community to come along for free,” she said.
“I looked around the group at the workshop and I was just so inspired by the women that attended and I thought they’ve all got really great skills that they can share with one another.”
Each gathering will start at 10am, with attendees encouraged to bring along a project their working on and an item to contribute to a potluck lunch.
Ms Fowler said bringing along some food each time should help make it a more social occasion too.
“A lot of people can’t actually even afford to go out and eat restaurants anymore so it’s something really low-key that doesn’t cost people anything, and we can all make a little community of craft people,” she said.
“I’ve spoken to AdventCare in Warburton to see if we can get some of their residents to come out too because I’d really like to reach out to elderly people in our community who perhaps are a little bit isolated but have amazing craft skills.”
All levels of abilities and experience are welcome and attendees are encouraged to ask others for any advice or assistance they may need.
Ms Fowler said at the last workshop attendees brought particular pieces that they really loved and didn’t want to get rid of.
“They wanted to continue using or wearing the clothes, just they needed to learn to mend them in a way that was fun and interesting, so rather than throwing them away because of a little hole, they were making something beautiful out of something that was broken,” she said.
“Sometimes you learn ways to do something a little bit different or in ways that are a little bit more effective. You can learn anything from a Youtube video but sometimes it’s easier with someone alongside you to show you.”
Melanie Bouck will be bringing along a number of sewing machines for group members to make use of.
Anyone interested in getting involved can join the Sunday Circle (Mend Make & Bake) public Facebook group.
