The Work of Your Hands

Proposal for a Project of The Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Textiles, Toronto

Purpose:  To engage the Jewish community at large in creating SOMETHING TBD

                To introduce participants to the many types of needleworknd textile art that current POM                             members practise

                To provide in person teaching for participants interested in learning needlework

                To help participants form a personal connection to Judaic values and symbols through to work                     of their hands

                To allow participants to either make a Judaic themed item for their own use and/or participate in                 a group project

Method:  Individual projects and group projects will be designed by POM

                Participants will choose what they wish to make

                POM members will teach the skills necessary to complete the projects and will mentor the                         participants to completion of the projects

Techniques:  Embroidery, sewing, quilting, beading, weaving, needlepoint, knitting, crocheting, stamping,                      stenciling, collage etc.

Materials: Fabrics, notions, embroidery threads, yarns, knitting/crocheting needles, embroidery                                 hoops, beads, embellishments

Additional materials:  Sewing machines (for quilting), looms

Where:    TBD (preferable to have a room which can be dedicated to textile arts                                                                    exclusively for the duration?) or another location

When:    Specific dates, what duration, drop in sessions for stitch and shmooze???

Duration:  ????

Other considerations:  Zoom capability for participants who can't get out and perhaps home visits where both sides are amenable

Suggestions for group projects:

Banners, long (6 to 8 feetish long) and narrow (eighteenish inches wide), for the Hebrew months with art work to reflect each month's holidays

Banners to reflect Shabbat, life cycle, Jewish values (i.e. tzedakah, tikun olam, etc.)

Other group projects:  Charity Quilts (neo-natal quilts for preemies), knitting/crocheting for preemies, children (for distribution by JFCS, perhaps).