Joanne Haywood: Make do and Mend brooches

Explore upcycling and traditional making skills from our past, specifically the 1940’s WWII period, where material uses were inventive and low tech, essentially producing luxury products from scrap materials. This course is developed from a commission the tutor is working on with LV21 and Making Space, entitled “Making More”. An Arts Council England funded pilot project, researching a new business model which focuses on the development of making skills at a local level in Kent/Medway and Hampshire/West Sussex Border.

Topics covered:
• Historical jewellery from the 1930’s-40’s, including examples of primary sources from the tutors own collection.
• Textile techniques such as crochet stitches, blanket stitches, French knots, knotting, binding, cutting and joining.
• Working with upcycled materials, leather, felt, wool and household objects.
• Learning the process of making your own brooches using variety of materials including, textiles, curtain rings and pins.
• The research and development of the “Making More” commission.

By the end of this course you should be able to:
• Have gained an understanding of an important part of our social history and why certain materials were chosen to make jewellery in the 1940’s.
• Work with wool, leather, felt and found objects to make your own vintage style brooches.
• Be confident in using a range of basic, low tech textiles techniques which you will be able to replicate at home at the kitchen table and share with friends.
• Developing your own ways of working.

Skills requirements:
The course is for all abilities, although experience in jewellery or textiles is an advantage.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, hand-outs and for health and safety information. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Through demonstration, practical and discussion you will be taught as a group and helped individually as required.
Handouts will accompany demonstrations. The course is structured to manage the work within the class.

Costs and materials:
Basic materials will be provided, however it would be an advantage to bring the following:
- Pen & note book
- Scraps/remnants of dk wool/yarn (preferably at least 40% wool)
- Scraps/remnants of embroidery silks or cotton threads

If you already have the following tools you may wish to bring them with you:
- Dress making and/or embroidery scissors
- Sewing needles
- Dress making pins
- Crochet hooks (especially 2mm)
- Jewellery pliers (for beading and making jewellery)
- A circle stencil
These will be provided in the session, to share between learners, but if you prefer to bring your own to work with please do bring them along.

What feedback will I get?
You will receive regular feedback from your tutor throughout the course, as and when appropriate. At the end of the course you and your tutor are asked to assess the progress you have made.

How will I be able to give my views on the course?
Please complete the evaluation form at the end of your course. These are monitored and help us to continually improve our courses.

How do I find out if I can get some support for my learning?
You may be interested in: education and careers advice; financial and childcare support; disability support; support for Deaf and hearing-impaired students; dyslexia support; English and maths support; counselling, and library services (supported learning centre). To find out what may be available to you, and how to apply, see page 278 of the 13/14 course guide, or visit www.citylit.ac.uk/students

Dates and price

Dates: 30 July - 31 July, 2014. 10:30 - 16:30

Venue: City Lit, KS - Keeley Street, London

Fees:
Full fee: £104
Senior fee: £73
Concession: £73