Sew beautiful: Celebrating new-found skills

A GROUP of women who took part in a sewing course in Jobstown in recent months celebrated their success by presenting handmade bunting to the centre where the classes were held last week.

The sewing class began in May and was a pilot project that came about after women in Jobstown asked for a class of this nature, and it was then held in the Jobstown Community Centre.

The group of women who took part ranged in age from 18 to 65 and found that they were dab hands at sewing – with three of the women going on to study textiles in a further education college.

To show their appreciation and the development of their skills, the women collaborated by creating a striking bunting for the community centre, which was unveiled in the facility last Thursday.

Emma Tobin, an adult and community educator from the South Dublin County Partnership, helped to deliver the programme and said the participants were proud of the bunting they created.

“The woman learned everything from the mechanics of a sewing machine and how to use it, down to clothing repairs and quilting,” Ms Tobin told The Echo.

“The course then resulted in three of the women going on to apply to do a textiles course in a further education college.

“It was initially a six-week course, but because of the success of it and how well it went, the feedback was that they wanted us to do another and to keep learning.

“The women came up with the idea for the Jobstown Community Centre bunting, and last week we had the unveiling of it.

“The bunting is proudly hung in the front of Jobstown Community Centre, and the women were very proud to bring their families in and show it off – it’s created a great buzz in the centre.”

While the community bunting was the main star of the show, the women also brought along their own individual pieces to show how their skills had grown and impressed many of the people there.

“The talent in Jobstown is incredible,” added Ms Tobin, “and all of the pieces were made independently by the women who were in the group.

“I was walking on air last week after seeing the pride in the women. I saw the progress from the women not even knowing how to use a sewing machine to what they achieved.

“To see what they did the other day, it was really impressive.

“And it wasn’t just about sewing, for some  it was about confidence-building, making friends and being part of the community.”

A sewing programme will be held in the community centre again in the New Year, and people who are interested in taking part can contact Ms Tobin on emma.tobin@sdcpartnership.ie.

The programme is a collaboration between the South Dublin County Partnership, a local sewing tutor and Jobstown Community Centre.