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The Stitching Ladies of Nayi Asha create and sell handbags to help support their families. My hope is that by taking time to "play" with fabric, they will feel free to tap into their creativity and begin to think of themselves as artists as well as seamstresses
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Today was all about fun.
I distributed different 4-inch fabric squares to the
stitching ladies and asked them to come up with a pleasing design. Sounds
simple enough for those of us who are quilters, but for the women of Nayi Asha,
the sewing cooperative that has been part of my life during my stay in India,
it’s not easy for them to think creatively.
The challenge left them giggling,
especially when I said they each should exchange (just grab) one square with
another person to create a more pleasing design. Oh, the banter exploded as they
offered advice to each other, and some tried to protect their own design from
pouching. To finish the project, I asked
them to find sashing material, sew the squares and sashing together and return
in a week with a perfect 14-inch square.
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Thanks to the generosity of my U.S. stitching friends, I was able to purchase
and give he Nayi Asha members new irons. |
Today’s exercise, besides the fun part, was meant to build
teamwork, improve stitching and pressing skills, but most importantly, tap into
their creativity. My plan is to take the squares and make a table runner. I’m
so looking forward to seeing their creations.
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The Stitching Ladies previously used irons that were heavy, clunky
and not suited to the fine detailing there handbags require when pressing. |
These women have never viewed themselves as artists. Women
of the villages work hard. The handbags they create are simply seen as a means
to add funds to the family’s coffers. Rarely do they get positive feedback.
My role is to help them tap into that available resource of
ideas and translate that to creations and help them build their business.
Through this process, I am hoping to boost their confidence.
Oh, just to let you know, I
finally gave the stitching ladies the new irons that I was able to purchase thanks to the generosity of my stitching friends and their friends.
Follow The Stitching Ladies of Nayi Asha on Facebook @stitchingbringsnewhope; or on Instagram at nayi.asha
