The Piecemakers are a constituted group of women with a special interest in creating projects to enhance their crafty skills, share their skills with others and also to showcase the final work. We’ve worked on a number of projects together and been supported financially with grants. We have been meeting weekly for a few years now and have a base at The Crafty Owl in Elland.

Our latest exhibition is a textile response to the Ogham Celtic Tree Calendar and was due to be exhibited in the Halifax Minster in April 2020. The Covid 19 Pandemic brought this project to a grinding holt, a surprise after 3 years of work towards the date. Since March 2020, we have met online, the Zoom room is our newest studio meeting space. Many of the group live with one or less adults and the weekly meetings so the online group have given each of us

an opportunity to exchange ideas, gain support and stay in touch with one another. During 2020 the group was invited to join a local community project but were concerned due to the on and off restrictions. It was later in 2020 we revisited the idea of starting our own project, to create a patchwork piece of work to gift to one another in the group, marking the time we have spent during the restrictions to movement. Not everyone in the group could participate but most still meet each week to share news on the progress.

We are creating 12 pieces of 4”x4” squares of stitched work, each square contains the following singular letters and will create the name P I E C E M A K E R S. Each piece uses different stitching styles: Crewel, Applique, Embroidery, Cross stitch, Shadow work, Canvaswork and Patchwork to name just a few !

Our Artistic Lead, Annie, has been sending the materials and written instructions to each member through the post, explaining each speciality stitching style, then running the workshops online allowing the group to work together and ask questions.

The idea was that we would exchange the letters with one another and each have a piece of one another’s completed letters to make into a whole piece of work be that could be used to make a cushion, wall hanging or bag.

Quotes from members:

Jan Webster says :-

“Meeting up via Zoom has enabled us to keep our group together during the last twelve months. We have all benefitted from being part of an ongoing project and knowing that we have the support of everyone in the group. It is lovely to see everyone on a regular basis and share what we are stitching-the chat is good too!” The following are some of Jan’s work.

Myra Gannon says :-

“I look forward to our weekly "virtual" meetings, as well as learning a new embroidery skill, it is an opportunity to socialise and catch up with friends. We are working on a project which encourages creativity, gives me something to focus on and brings satisfaction as each piece is completed. It is very enjoyable and makes me happy.”

Tina Bower says :-

“Meeting each week on zoom has been a positive highlight experience. Seeing and speaking to fellow thread lovers has helped with lockdown mental wellbeing as well as a welcome change to just interacting with my family bubble. In addition we have supported each other when we have needed help and advice.”