Fine Cell Work and the V&A

We are delighted that the charity is currently working in collaboration with the V&A to create a quilt for inclusion in their 2010 quilts exhibition.

The quilt is to be sewn and designed by inmates across the prison estate, supported and guided by V&A Textile Curator Sue Pritchard. It will incorporate embroidery and appliqué into the patchwork and make use of prison materials.

This project is an amazing one for FCW and we are delighted to be associated with the V&A, the world's greatest museum of Art & Design.

The stitchers are equally as thrilled and we are looking forward to some wonderful ideas. Here are some of the patchwork pieces that have been produced by our stitchers, they vary in their experience and interpretation of prison life - the reality and the fantasy - watch this space for more info in the coming months.

The men at Wandsworth have really taken this project to heart and come along to the fortnightly sessions with enthusiasm and vision. It has been really amazing to see how they have taken their ideas for the quilt and transferred them onto fabric.

From top to bottom here we see a fingerprint with D&A borders, the heavy hands of authority worked in crewel design, a reflection on the action of the probation board and in needlepoint a sketch of Fine Cell Work.

These are just a few of the designs and we shall be featuring more of them on the site in the coming months.

The men working on this commission have never been involved in anything like this before and it is our belief that having them involved in such an important and historical project will stay with them for years to come.