WraysburyStitch
This blog has information about our group's sewing for the Day for Girls charity, and, in the current pandemic, sewing mask for our own community
Stitch Blog
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Sunday, July 27, 2025
Our own community
Sunday, August 27, 2023
2023
We don't often publish on this blog, it's more used as a history of what we do and why.
However, you might like to see this article!
We had a visit from the editor of the Wraysbury.com website a few sessions ago and he posted a great report about what we do - it’s here if you want a look:
https://wraysbury.com/home/sweatshop-exposed-in-horton/?hilite=Stitch
Friday, September 16, 2022
2022 ripples
You may remember some years ago Briege, a friend of mine, took our first competed kits to Kisumu near Nairobi and they were distributed to pregnant and post natal mums there. She was there for a month as a volunteer midwife, working with a charity called Positive Aid. She hadn't known about the kits but once she saw them she was determined to take some with her . . . a little ripple!
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
16 - Post Covid (we hope)
In 2022 we have returned to meeting every month and have a good number of sewing machines and overlockers and people that can use them. we are very happy to teach new people too!
We have registered as a formal Day For Girls group - and have a new email address:
wraysburyuk@daysforgirls.org
Friday, April 9, 2021
15 - A mention in the D4G UK newsletter
The March D4G UK newsletter starts with
Welcome to the March 2021 Newsletter!
We want to begin this newsletter by saying that we hope you and your loved ones are all happy, healthy and safe. It has been an immensely challenging year for everybody, thank you for your continued support.
We have lots of exciting things happening behind the scenes, some of which you will find below and some of which you will find in the next newsletter. Our overall message is... please keep sewing! In months to come your kits will be put to good use. This newsletter is a big one, but we have lots to share with you all! Thank you to all that have contributed.
Thank you again for all of your support, dedication and service.
The newsletter continues here [click here for the link]. It's very interesting but the most exciting bit is one of the case studies . . .
We have had another very exciting distribution through the Wraysbury Stitch group!
After dedicating a portion of their group’s funds, and through some generous donations, the Wraysbury Stitch Group worked with an Enterprise in Kenya to deliver Days for Girls kits and health education to 67 girls.
Wraysbury Stich Group had an ongoing relationship with the Kisumu area of Kenya, and decided that they would send kits to a school sponsored by the Kisumu Children Charity: Tieng’re Primary School. Luckily, there is a Days for Girls Enterprise in Kisumu who were able to support this distribution.
When planning who would deliver the health education, Wraysbury Stich Group consulted with the Kisumu Children Charity. This was the fantastic feedback they received:
"I've had a look at that link and it looks amazing! I know that the school don't deliver anything like that because they don't have that level of material to work with or that level of nursing/OBGYN training. I would say that it really is worth it, not just because of the teaching that it will give to the girls but also because of the teaching it will give to the staff at the school to see what they could teach going forward. You would be doing more than giving the kits, you would be investing in school education for the benefit of the future girls coming through. The effects of that $130 will likely be multiplied many times over!
We are so thankful for the Wraysbury Stich Group for embracing the Impact Zones. Not only have you changed the lives of 67 girls in Tieng’re Primary School, you have also supported the Kisumu Enterprise. Double the impact!
Saturday, January 30, 2021
14 - How we started 2021
The kits we bought through the Days For Girls Enterprise Distribution team have been delivered and they sent us these photos
The UK Charity that provide uniforms for the children (amongst so many other things), KisumuChildren.org.uk, are going to let us know how it went from the staff's perspective - we have changed the lives of these 67 girls!!!!
Saturday, December 19, 2020
13 - How we finished 2020
2020 has been a funny year - we only managed a few meetings at the beginning of the year, and our distribution options changed (see https://wraysburystitch.blogspot.com/2020/07/11-new-distribution-guidelines.html)
But our lovely ladies have been working from home - sewing, cutting and overlocking as well as learning how to pack kits, measure knickers (!) and burrito folding knickers!!!
When people are able to travel safely, and ask for kits to take we will be ready!!!
But in the mean time ... (I am so excited about this)
"I've had a look at that link and it looks amazing! I know that the school don't deliver anything like that because they don't have that level of material to work with or that level of nursing/Obgyn training.
I would say that it really is worth it, not just because of the teaching that it will give to the girls but also because of the teaching it will give to the staff at the school to see what they could teach going forward. You would be doing more than giving the kits, you would be investing in school education for the benefit of the future girls coming through. The effects of that $130 will likely be multiplied many times over! Let me know what you decide to do and then if you do invest in the training, we'll also speak to the school afterwards to get their feedback on how they can then do the same for future girls"
So using the "teach a man to fish" philosophy I used $130 of the money to pay a distributor to do the training (for the girls and the staff) and I spent the rest of our £500 on the basic kits plus 2 extra liners and an extra pair of knickers for 67 girls.
Thursday, October 1, 2020
12 - New Distribution guidelines
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
11 - COVID19 Masks
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Prewash unwanted 100% cotton shirts and t-shirts at =>60 degrees C (making masks AND keeping stuff out of landfill: win win!)
MASK: Cut two @ 8" x 8"
NOSE STRIP CASING: Cut scraps to 8 inches x as long as is available (to be cut to length later)
BINDING: Cut strips to 2.5" x as long as is possible (to be cut to length later)
ELASTIC: cut to 8" lengths
NOSE STRIP CASING: fold the long ends in towards the middle about 1/4 inch, press, and fold again (see pic under the cat!). Stitch down the hems. Cross cut into strips 1.5" wide (now hemmed at both ends). Fold in half lengthwise and press.
BINDING: This is called double fold non bias binding. Fold fabric length ways and press. Open up and fold edges into the middle, press. Fold in half and press
MASKS: Place a t-shirt piece and a shirt piece right sides together. Put one folded nose strip casing, centred on the far edge, sandwiched between the two layers
Stitch top and bottomTurn inside out and press.Fold the mask in three even folds. If you want help there is a printable template on this PDF
Stitch the folds in place along the raw edges
Fold in one end of the binding (fold down two triangles like this then fold the point in
Line the binding up with one stitched edge and clip into place. Cut to a suitable length and fold the other end in the same way, and clip into place.
ELASTIC
I add the elastic like this (wrong elastic, just there to show the angle) so it emerges at the top and bottom. Just tuck the raw ends inside and make sure you stitch it down at the short ends. I found the 6" elastic was too short so I have been cutting it at 8" - people can make it shorter if they need to
Stitch all the open edges (as indicated in white) making sure the elastic is securely anchored
· These are not medical specification masks: they may be better than nothing but are not as good as the “real thing”. They will hopefully reduce the likelihood of you getting / spreading the disease but please proceed with caution· They should be changed regularly and washed with soap and water (or apparently soaked in neat Gin!). They can be machine washed, even boil washed – they have been made from t-shirts and fabrics pre-washed at 90o. To iron the creases back gently tug the sides apart and it should fall back into pleats for ironing (ironing is optional)· They are made using materials found (by University of Cambridge researchers) to be about 70% effective· We ran the idea past a medical professor who said the research was sound and suggested we use t-shirts and pillow cases as there are too many t-shirts going to land fill. I have used t-shirts and shirt fabric which is a closer weave than pillowcases.· Ideally there should be a strip of metal at the top. I have added a channel for the metal – a pipe cleaner, food ties or other bendy metal can be used so the mask can be pressed around the nose· They have NOT been made in a sterile environment. I think I am well but would suggest you wash these before using just in case
Keep safe!!Benta Hickley. WraysburyStitch@gmail.com
ADVICE ON USING THE MASK: Treat your mask like underwear.
1) Do not touch or adjust it (especially in public)
2) Do not borrow or lend.
3) Make sure it’s tight but comfortable.
4) Make sure it’s clean (daily or as needed).
5) Wear the right side out.
6) If there are holes in it, throw it away.
7) If it’s stained, throw it away.
8) If it’s damp, change it.
Saturday, August 1, 2020
10 - What next?
We have been donated some Heavy Flow Days For Girls Shields, and are making liners to fit them to make kits for the Positive Aid hospital (see page 6). The Charity have offered to help with transport logistics and costs ... we just need to get the kits ready!
We recently met a charity that supports children near Nariobi to attend school. The charity astonishingly enough, works in Kisumu!
KisumuChildren.org.uk asks people to sponsor a child by buying their school uniform - without uniform they cannot attend school, so the charity works to replace the uniform every year. The school they support is for children up to the age of 14. I had a long chat with Suzanne from the charity and they go to Kisumu every year! She was very interested in our kits (I always carry a 'pod' of a shield and a liner to show people!) and they are happy to take our kits out - some for their school girls and some for the Kisumu hospital in the Uranaga Rural Development Initiative (URDI)
We have emailed them to find out when they are next going, and how many kits they want for the school.
We have also been working with a volunteer who works in Greece with Syrian refugees. We had hoped to be able to supply them with sewing machines (hand crank) and the resources so they could make their own. Sadly water is so scarce that a washable product isn't going to be any help. They are finding out if the sewing machines would help, if not we will find another charity that can make use of the old Singers etc that we have collected
Thursday, July 2, 2020
9 - What can you do?
You can
- Join us at St Andrew's church Wraysbury 10-12 (generally*) on the last Saturday of the month
- Donate new fabric: (funky, colourful, pretty cotton fabric for bags, or pretty dark / medium fabric for liners,
- If you are planning a USA trip can you get us dark / medium flannel (brushed cotton) from WalMart)
- Book us to come and talk to your your workplace, club or church (We are happy to come and talk to groups (such as the WI) or for Corporate Team Days (and can supply references): We just ask for a donation towards fabric and other components of the kits.)
- Buy some Boomerang bags
- Take some boomerang bags to your workplace, club or church and sell them
- Donate knickers (dark, small sizes and full shape please)
- Donate flannels (dark and cheap)
- Donate hotel soaps
(*Sometimes the church needs the annex for a church event. We can add you to our mailing list or you can check our Facebook Page - look for "Stitch" and this logo )
Thursday, June 4, 2020
8 - What else are we doing?
So we make Boomerang Bags. These are great for beginners to work on as there are no strict quality regulations. We sell them at village churches and fairs and other events - people make a donation and have been very generous: this helps us fund the next purchase of approved fabric to make the next lot of kits!
Friday, May 29, 2020
7 - What else is being done
Here local women are given the equipment and the resources and the training to make kits - and these kits are then sold. Not to local ladies but to people like you and me. We buy the kits and this gives the makers a small income: they then deliver the kits to local schools or hospitals to help local girls and ladies who need the kits