Behind closed doors, the village’s knitters, stitchers, crocheters and spinners have been busy throughout the pandemic, and now they’re urging others to get crafty. Janet Hathiramani shares a new opportunity for post-lockdown creativity.
How was lockdown for you? Everyone has a story to tell. On the one hand there have been heart-warming tales of residents, community groups and local businesses finding ways of adapting to the ‘new normal’ and supporting each other through the long dark days. Some people have taken the down-time to reassess their lives and found the courage to branch out in brave new directions. Others have taken up new hobbies, started volunteering, made new friends or discovered a new appreciation of our wonderful village, its wildlife and its heritage.
But for many, the novelty of Zooming, baking sourdough bread and going to work in our pyjamas was soon outweighed by the exhaustion of home schooling and the loneliness of separation. For some it has been a deeply distressing time: businesses that had to close, workers who lost their income, and grieving families who lost loved ones.
To give the village a release-valve for the emotions that have built up over the past 18 months and an opportunity to start looking forward, Histon & Impington’s community of stitchers, crocheters, spinners and knitters has come up with a creative outlet that will give all of us the chance to give visual expression to some of the things that are hardest to put into words.
H I Lockdown Reflections is the chance for residents, both adults and children, to reflect on their own lockdown life and create a postcard or two to share some part of their experiences with our community. Drawing, writing, stitching, painting, poetry, photography, digital art, photography, collage, embroidery, printmaking – any media at all can be used, and the postcards will be exhibited in the foyer at the St Andrew’s Centre from Monday 25th to Friday 29th October.
Reflecting and creating
This opportunity is being organised by one of the village’s newest community groups – the creative group HI Fibrecrafters. The group was set up in February 2020, just before the pandemic closed us all down. The brainchild of Jane Barrett and Elaine Farrell, it has proved to be an invaluable link between the village’s textile makers – most of whom are hidden behind closed doors, modestly creating amazing work in their own homes.
Janet Hathiramani, a member of HI Fibrecrafters, explained: “The plan was for villagers to bring their fibre works-in-progress to regular meet ups, work on them, share skills and ideas. The first meet-up saw spinners, crocheters and knitters sharing tips and techniques and the group has some expert stitchers too.
“After just one further meet-up, lockdown 1 struck and the group has met via occasional Zoom meetings since then. But we weren’t idle. A number of us turned our needles, and our sewing machines, towards helping out by making scrubs and scrubs bags for the NHS, and making masks.”
The group is hoping that local residents – especially those who have been creating art, crafts and literary work during the pandemic, or have vowed to do so when it’s over – will now allow themselves a little time to process their post-lockdown in a creative way. Janet said: “We hope people will find a little time and space to create their postcards and then build on the positives they identify. Losing oneself in creativity can be a cathartic experience and I think the real value of the event will come from their reflecting and creating. It’s an opportunity for people to reflect on their own experiences of the lockdowns, to perhaps assist them to ‘put away’ the worst of those memories and to recall the many surprising positives.
“But there is value too in sharing our work with others and we are hoping for a wide audience at the exhibition – particularly as it will be half term week giving an opportunity for the younger members of our community to come along.”
“We’re also hoping to restart the HI Fibrecrafters in-person meet-ups soon and would love all those creative people in the village to join us – to share ideas, tips, and tea and friendship. Anyone interested in joining us can find meet up or Zoom details on the Facebook group HI Fibrecrafters.”
To take part in the H I Lockdown Reflections:
- Drawing, writing, stitching, painting, poetry, photography, digital art, photography, collage, embroidery, printmaking, any media at all can be used.
- Postcards should be A6 size (105mm x 148 mm) and at least 300gsm paper/card.
- Postcard/s can be handed in at the shop counter of the Post Office from 1st to 15th October.
- Sign your work or not as you wish but please write your name on the back.
- Postcards handed in inside a stamped self-addressed envelope will be posted back to their owners after the exhibition.
- The postcards will be exhibited in the foyer at The St Andrews Centre from Monday 25th to Friday 29th October which is open from 9.00am to 4.00pm daily.
- Email hilockdownreflections@gmail.com or follow the Facebook Page H I Reflections, to let us know you’ll be joining in, ask any questions and share your work.
- To find out more about the HI Fibrecrafters, email HIFibrecrafters@gmail.com