Shoreham residents invited to ‘make history’ by contributing stitched square to community quilt

The project, co-ordinated by friends Tazzie Dixon and Alice Baddeley, aims to create a giant quilt comprising individual squares made by residents, designed to reflect their experience of the lockdown.

Tazzie, a keen sea swimmer, said the idea came about from a conversation she had with a friend she bumped into while heading for a swim one morning.

The 42-year-old said: “We just started talking about the lockdown and how its affecting us.

“I jokingly said we should do a tapestry like 1066 to document this time.

“Then my friend said, ‘you could make a quilt’, and I thought, that’s a good idea.”

She and Alice, 38, who met through the Shoreham Swimmers – a group which swims together every day of the year – created a Facebook group called ‘a stitch in our time’ to spread the idea.

Almost 290 people have already joined and many have started to submit their squares – which feature everything from rainbows and flowers to quotes and mini-portraits.

Tazzie, who describes herself as a basic sewer, said the project was for everyone and hopes to get local schools and care homes to take part.

She said it was ‘amazing’ to see people’s contributions so far and plans for the quilt to eventually be exhibited publicly in the area.

Tazzie said the project was a way to bring the community together, ‘creating something we could all be proud of’, as well as to remember this strange and scary period.

“We’ve lost the knack of making history,” she said. “We may never live through this again.”

The squares should measure 13cm by 13cm with a 1.5cm seam allowance. Completed squares can be dropped off at SOLD in Shoreham High Street by Thursday, July 30.

Search for A Stitch in Our Time on Facebook to find out more, or email [email protected]

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