We wanted take a deeper dive into the beautiful designs that have recently emerged from our new workshop in a women's prison, so read on to learn more about the specific skills learnt and to hear a few words from the women themselves. 

The doors to our new workshop opened just four months ago, but as Workshop Supervisor Sophie says, the progress the women have made has been remarkable:

"It has been a joy to teach this group of women over the past four months, they have grown in confidence, pride and formed an enthusiastic small team in the workshop. We are really proud and amazed by what has been achieved in just a few months especially as some of the women have never sewn before."

Not only does the workshop provide purposeful, creative activity for women in prison, but we hope that it will also act as a pathway for the women - one has already expressed interest in joining Open The Gate upon her release.

Led by Sophie and and Fine Cell Work's Workshops Manager, Jordanne, the workshop runs twice weekly with a focus on skills-based learning and nurturing the women's own creativity and imagination. Using offcuts and repurposing fabric to create unique designs brimming with creative expression, the women have already shown incredible levels of artistry, which you can see in the first finished products and personal projects to emerge from the workshop. 

Small but meaningful, the new limited-edition Corduroy Scoop and Herringbone Linen Scoop Pouches are training production pieces that introduced the women to techniques such as zip insertion, sewing a curved line and quality control. Sewing with corduroy also served as an introduction to textured fabrics, giving the women confidence to work with a range of fabrics.

Working with fabric offcuts donated by our Patron Kit Kemp, the women have taken inspiration from the textile print and delicately embroidered the Hand-Embellished Zig-Zag Pouch with French knots and running stitch.

Marking the end of the women's initial training is the Applique Zipped Pouch. Creating this pouch not only taught the women new hand-embroidery skills with a mixture of applique and reverse applique, but it also gave them the freedom to show us who they are as individuals through their own creative ideas. Using offcuts and repurposed high-quality boiled wool, each of these pouches is a one-off work of art. 

“I particularly enjoyed the reverse applique as it was a new skill. I chose to use different stitches in each element, some were new ones I have learnt too so I enjoyed combining new skills with being creative.”

~A Fine Cell Work workshop stitcher

Many of the women have said how much they look forward to the workshops, with a sense of community and connection to the wider community being felt through participating. Here are a few quotes from the women: 

“It’s a great initiative to be involved with and such a positive use of time inside.”

“The best thing, apart from the stitching, is being part of a great group, learning together and being creative.”

“I now wake up looking forward to Mondays because we have Fine Cell Work."

“Being productive in prison is very satisfying.”

“I enjoy the challenge of learning new things.”

"It gives me a sense of achievement and purpose and makes me want to do my very best work and to the highest standards."

"I feel very happy with my progress"

"I find it very therapeutic, and I love seeing finished products"

"Being productive in prison is very satisfying."

"I wake up in a better mood when it's a Fine Cell Work day."

"Jordanne and Sophie are encouraging, supportive and helpful, and promote high standards."

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Shop all designs from the women's workshop here. Any purchase you make - and the thank you letters you write - will go a long way to encourage the women on their stitching journeys.

You can also support our work in prisons and post-release by making a donation or by leaving a legacy to Fine Cell Work.

There are many ways to get involved with Fine Cell Work. Our diverse community is made up of stitchers, post-release apprentices, volunteers, trustees and staff.

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