February 2018

Hi everyone,

2018 has got off to a terrific start with many donations already being received and delivered as well as plans for some big events coming up. Thank you to everyone who has contributed. Please note that the next drop-in session, on 13th February, will be at the Manor Farm Centre (about 200m away from the Social Club at the bottom of St. Joseph’s street opposite John Smith’s) where we will be making lanterns.  You are welcome to bring your own materials and equipment if you would like to do something else.

 

What we’ve been up to

• We’ve had a big donation of wool from Penny, and some gorgeous fabric from Val, Lisa and Vanilla Interiors. Thank you.
• 16 personal effects bags went to Leonards Hospice
• 5 blankets and 4 twiddlemuffs were delivered to Highfields Care Home
• We’ve supported Days for Girls at the monthly workshop in Copmanthorpe.
• The 5m length of knitted poppies has been finished and has now gone to Selby Abbey in plenty of time for the end of WW1 commemorations. 1469 poppies were used to create the stunning piece of work. You may see some articles relating to it in various publications in our area. Please keep knitting and crocheting the poppies, though! We will be using them for our own piece of artwork in Tadcaster for the commemorations.

Days for Girls

This month Tadcrafters have sent 20 kits out to Kenya.We also Support the Days for Girls project in York run by Issy Sanderson. These workshop dates and venues for 2018 are now on our calendar.  Please go along to support this amazing project that makes such a difference to many women’s lives.  If you would like to be put on the mailing list for Days for Girls in York please contact Issy (see address below). We will be supporting the International Women’s Day event again at York Minster however if you intend to come along please note that the date has now changed to Monday 5th March.  You are all welcome to take part; you will need to register nearer the time.

Machine sewing lessons making Days for Girls kits.

Want to improve your sewing skills or not sure how to make a whole kit? I (Su) will be running machine sewing classes on Wednesday mornings starting on 7th March 10-12.30 at Rosemary House in Tadcaster (in conjunction with the WEA).  This means that the class will be free to people on means tested benefits and heavily subsidised for everyone else at £35 for 10 hours of tuition over 4 weeks (that’s only £3.50 per hour) with all materials supplied. The class is suitable for all abilities and will show you how to make a Days for Girls hygiene kit. The course will appear on www.wea.org.uk for enrolment shortly but in the meantime if you are interested and want more information please contact me.

 

Stalls and tombola

The winners of the beautiful hand turned quick unpicks were Edna, Anne D and the owner of ticket number 31. We don’t have any stalls planned in the near future but if you have any suitable items you would like to donate we would be happy to have them for future stalls. Age restricted products e.g. alcohol can be used for tombolas during the drop-in sessions.

 

Easyfundraising

Have you signed up to support Tadcrafters CIC with easyfundraising yet? It’s a really easy way to raise extra money for us when you shop online, without costing you anything. https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/tadcrafterscic/

 

Lantern Making

We have been lucky enough to secure funding from the CEF to enable us to run workshops for a lantern parade for the Festival of Light parade on 18th February 2018. We will be making the smaller cylindrical and pyramid lanterns like the ones we made for the bridge opening celebrations. Tony Wade and Charlie Wells (who you may remember from last year) will be making the big lanterns with different community groups too.   We have already made lanterns at Riverside School and at Rainbows.  See the calendar for the workshop times and dates, especially during half term in the lead up to the parade. For more information about the festival and parade see the posters in town, social media such as Tadcaster News and Tadcaster citizen or shared on the Tadcrafters page on Facebook.

 

Heart-shaped cushions

We are starting to make heart-shaped cushions (and soon also drain bags) for the breast care unit at St. James’ Hospital, Leeds. Made from pretty polyester/cotton fabrics and new stuffing, these provide reassurance and protection against bumps when out and about in the early days after surgery. Templates are available to collect from the drop-in sessions. Please email for instructions.

 

Collecting your old stuff

In addition to wanting your “gently worn” bras for Smalls for All, Lynne is now collecting Socks for Donkeys.  Please donate your unwanted clean socks and tights to protect donkeys in India from sunburn on their ears and to support dressings on their legs and feet. We collected 42 bras in January making a total of 1121 so far.

 

Next Projects

If you would like to develop a new activity or get involved in any of the current activities please don’t wait to be asked, just muck in. You can do as much or as little as you like.

 

• Bunting for end of WW1 centenary: We’ll be looking for donations of all shades of red, white and blue sheets and lightweight poly/cottons.

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• Men in Sheds We are hoping to develop some new activities for a series of workshops to encourage more men to take part, possibly in partnership with the “Men in Sheds” organisation. If you know of anyone who has making or doing skills that could be put to good use for worthy causes for example gardening, bike mending, and woodworking, please get in touch. Likewise if you know of an organisation, particularly in our local area, who would appreciate something doing with these sorts of skills please get in touch.  We are open to ideas

 

 

Wish list and current projects

Here is a list of current projects.  More information about each is on our website.. You don’t need to come to the drop-in sessions to contribute to our projects so if you would like to join in by making at home or with your friends/club that’s absolutely fine.

 

Knitting/crochet

• Twiddlemuffs Donated to York Hospital and other care homes or individuals with dementia. Follow the link for a pattern.

http://www.rdehospital.nhs.uk/docs/trust/pr/2015/Twiddlemuffs_Instructions_24-01-15.pdf, http://www.sath.nhs.uk/twiddlemuffs/HowTo.aspx

• Poppies for Tadcaster. We will be making a piece of artwork to be displayed in Tadcaster as part of the WW1 commemorations in November

Sewing

• Days for Girls You will need to attend a session to be given materials and templates etc but you can work at home afterwards to support. More information about how the kits help girls in developing countries attend school every week of the month, and the international Days for Girls organisation visit daysforgirls.org. The York branch of Days for Girls also run sessions. These are usually on Saturday mornings 9.30am-12pm. To confirm details contact the organiser, Issy Sanderson issyarts2@gmail.com.
• Hand sewing twiddlemuffs from the little jumpers from the knitted bunting
• Personal effects bags (email for instructions) These are used to give grieving relatives their loved-one’s belongings, as an alternative to an impersonal plastic carrier bag. We regularly give bags to St. Leonard’s Hospice.
• Heart shaped cushions for the breast care unit at St. James’ Hospital. Email for instructions.

Other

• “Gently worn” bras and new pants for Smalls for All
• Socks and tights (clean) for Donkeys

 

For pictures of the lovely things we make please have a look at the “What we do” page of the Tadcrafters website. You can see the full list of how you can get involved on the “join in” page. www.tadcrafters.org.uk

To be put on the mailing list (wherever you live) please contact tadcrafters@outlook.com

Join the Tadcrafters facebook page and chat on the facebook group or follow us on Twitter for more information.

Have a great February

Su Morgan and Lynne Howard, Directors Tadcrafters CIC

Calendar

ate	Event	Time	Location
Sat 10th Feb	Days for Girls	9.30-12.00	Upper Poppleton Church Hall
Sat 10th Feb	Big Lantern only Workshop	11am- 3pm	Stutton Village Hall
Tues 13th Feb	Lantern Workshop Drop-in session*	11am- 3pm 10am- 4pm other crafting*	Manor Farm Centre, St Joseph’s Street (opposite John Smith’s Brewery,  entrance round the back)
Thurs 15th Feb	Lantern Workshop	11am- 3pm	Manor Farm centre
Sun 18th Feb	Lantern-making workshop	11am- 3pm	Manor Farm centre
Sun 18th Feb	Tadcaster Festival of Light Parade	5.45pm  to set off at 6.30pm	Sainsbury’s Car Park
Mon 5th Mar	Days for Girls	tbc	York Minster
Weds 7th March	Sewing class (1st of 4)	10.00-12.30	Rosemary House
Tues 13th Mar	Drop-in session	10am- 4pm	Social Club
Tues 10th Apr	Drop-in session	10am- 4pm	Social Club
Sat 14th Apr	Days for Girls	9.30-12.00	Upper Poppleton Church Hall

* If you don’t wish to join in the lantern-making please bring your own materials and equipment

# Please contact Issy Sanderson if you wish to attend DfG sessions on issyarts2@gmail.com

 

 

Supported by funding from Selby District Council Community Engagement Forum