100 Stitched Stories Project

The 100 Stitched Stories project launched in January 2023. Led by experienced textile artist, Fiona Doubleday, it is a collaboration with the Whiting Bay Memories Group as part of the growing “Story of Whiting Bay”: 

This project celebrates the story of 100 years of Whiting Bay Village Hall, which began 100 years ago with this letter.

School house
Whiting Bay
10th October 1922

Dear Mr Mackenzie,

At the initial meeting of the British Legion for this season held here this week it was the feeling of everyone that public feeling had reached a stage when something might be done to promote a scheme for a public hall, with recreation rooms and it was the unanimous decision that you were the person most admirably suited to act as a neutral chairman.

It was suggested that a public meeting might be convened say within a fortnight in the public hall. Please let me know what you think of this suggestion.

Yours sincerely,

William Carnegie
Chairman

(extract from the original letter).

Meetings of the Stitched Stories project take place on the first Monday of every month, and the next meeting is on Monday 5th June 11 am – 1pm at Whiting Bay Hall. Folk can bring some stitching or just come and find out about the project and have tea and cake.

The meetings are for everyone with an interest in the project, including visitors and holiday-makers, and zoom sessions can also be arranged. Short tutorials will be offered for anyone wishing to learn a new skill and ‘stitching buddies’ are glad to help. The project is about creating individual textile pictures, and the term “stitch” is used loosely to include, for example, embroidery, knitting, crochet, weaving, felting etc. You will be able to choose your subject from the memories collection of the history, stories, pictures of the hall, or a personal memory of your choice. Support will be offered in translating these stories into designs for your piece.

Featured image shows an original stitched textile by Fiona Doubleday.