Today, Unit 24, Bury Street, was busy with three community activities. The Woodcarvers, previously reported, were back again. The Ock Poets gathered in the back room and discussed the work of Fleur Adcock as well as sharing their own work. Abingdon Carbon Cutters held a sewing repair cafe.
Throughout the morning, visitors brought in clothing for small repairs, such as patching, replacing zips and elastic, or adjusting hems. These services were aimed at minor fixes rather than larger projects. Observing the volunteers at work also helped visitors gain insight into sewing techniques, making them more confident in handling simple repairs themselves.
For those with more complex sewing needs, volunteers offered advice on whether specific items could be repaired, and the best approach to fixing them. I asked what was the most difficult thing they’d have to sew and one volunteer said replacing a zip in a multi-layered puffer jacket. Volunteers also provided guidance on simple tasks like sewing on buttons or hemming. For people looking to develop their sewing skills further, One Planet Abingdon offers courses on sewing machine use and other repair techniques. It all helps promote repair, reuse and alteration of clothing instead of disposal.
To find out more about Unit 24, if your community group might use it see https://abingdoncivicsociety.org.uk/activities/unit-24-community-space/.
