Sew far, sew good for inspiring Torbay craft group

A tight-knit sewing group has been producing artistic delights since they formed in 2018, meeting weekly in both Goodrington and Brixham. Sew Crafty offers a variety of craft workshops for beginners of all ages, all included with the entry cost of just a couple of pounds. 

Organised by Laura Kortang, Alison Pelling and Glenda Ball, the size of the group is now at about 50 people in Brixham and 30 in Goodrington. 

“We’re not experts and we don’t claim to be, but we do understand what it’s like to be a beginner and that’s why it works,” explained Alison Pelling. 

“We really started back in 2015 as a Lottery-funded dress-making group, but when that ended, we didn’t want to stop creating things.”

After the Brixham group became too big, the ladies opened a second group in Goodrington. They hope that the sessions don’t just give people a chance to express their creative side, but also allow them to escape loneliness and be a part of the community. 

Alison said: “The group helps people connect with each other, particularly if they are new to the area or have suffered loss or difficulty of some kind which has prevented them from mixing socially for a while. Everyone needs friends and support at some time and we hope our group helps to bring people together. 

“A lot of people have said it's turned their lives around, in the sense of their mental health, making friends and feeling part of something. And that part of it is really important to us.”

Over the last few years, the group has produced some stunning pieces. One such piece was The Tree of Life in 2021.

“It was a collective project,” explained Alison. 

“We were all so fed up with the lockdown that we met up in the open air. Everybody was given a leaf to design and they came together on the tree. It was about positive thinking and starting fresh.”

Their latest collective project was aimed at mental health and positive thinking. Each group member was given a calico square and asked to depict something on it that made them smile. 

“When we had them all hanging up, people were just astounded at what had been achieved, it gave them confidence in themselves. That was a great project. We enjoyed that one. And now, we're planning one for next year.”

Rumour has it that the next project will be the most ambitious yet, creating an entire Sew Crafty Village from recycled materials. 

Alison added: “Working with your hands, it's accessing a different part of your brain. when you finish something that you're proud of, then it's really a wonderful thing.

“Needless to say there is a lot of chat, plenty of tea and delicious homemade cake to enjoy but mostly there are lots of laughs, something that we all need in our lives.”