By Caroline Wilkinson

I run a weekly evening quilting class in K wing at HMP Wandsworth making quilts of all sizes and designs. I can’t quite believe that I have been there for almost ten years! Although there have been a number of changes, the class continues in much the same way in this Victorian prison built over 150 years ago. Another Quitlers Guild member, now helps to run the class with me, and I can now obtain keys at the prison gate, which is wonderful as it relieves us of the tedium of waiting at the gate to be collected by an officer. However, carrying keys is also a huge responsibility and a strict course in security had to be undertaken, before I could be allowed the keys.

The class meets in a small room off the landing on the wing and Ginny and I are now left with the men who have been through a sort of selection process before being admitted to the class. I do have a whistle on my belt if anything should happen. We have a maximum of twelve men some of whom have been with us for some time and have acquired really good sewing skills, and we try and use these men to teach newcomers; even with two of us it is difficult to get round the class and give the attention that it so desperately sought. Most of the men want attention not only to be taught a technique but also to have recognition for good work as not surprisingly a lot of them come from backgrounds where failure, lack of self esteem and poor achievement are commonplace. Ginny and I realise that part of our work is to help overcome these attitudes. We supply a small notebook with their basic sewing equipment so that the men can write down (if they have the literacy skills) a weekly record of what they have achieved. We can then write positive comments and encouraging remarks.

One man remarked recently that nobody had ever praised him before. We also try and give them a photograph of their finished work and several of them have built up quite a portfolio of images. Any “thank you” letters sent by clients who have commissioned or bought work are highly valued and kept carefully.
 

The money earned from their work is important too, as learning that quilts have economic value gives their work real meaning. We try to foster the belief that although the sewing skills they have gained in prison may not be put to good use on release other skills, for example working to deadlines, keeping records, team work, completing work to high standards, and learning to be responsible for projects and equipment are all useful life skills.

The evening class is used for preparation for the coming week’s work. All the hand sewing goes on ‘in cell’ so any cutting out has to be done in class. Scissors are kept on a ‘shadow’ board under lock and key. All our quilts are completely hand sewn and quilted. We have been known to ‘sandwich’ a king size quilt on the prison landing floor of the wing, carefully swept first, watched by lots of other men in their ‘association’ time. The whole procedure created quite a stir!

It is wonderful now that we are working on a number of commissions for large bed quilts. Working on a commission is something the men aspire to and presents a real challenge. We have to ensure that the stitcher has reached a certain standard and this does not come easily to some. Many hours (and of course they have them!) are spent perfecting their skills and we struggle with some men who find making small even stitches in a poor light really difficult. This year we are showing a quilt made by three men at the NEC in the group quilts category. It is a commission piece worked to the client’s colours and specification. It is a thirties design based on a traditional appliqué design and took two years to complete even in prison with time on their hands! We are proud of the men’s finished quilt and we have regular ‘show and tell’ sessions when a quilt is completed or a technique mastered!

Another exciting development has been a prison quilt commissioned by the V&A Museum for their major exhibition of quilts in March 2010. This has been a mammoth undertaking and drawn in the men from the other two Fine Cell Work groups operating in Wandsworth doing embroidery and needlepoint. We have co-opted many volunteer tutors and  have had a huge contribution from the prison workshop, overseen by FCW employee Hilda Sheppard. Sheppard is an embroidery specialist and provided expert tuition,  coordinating the whole project with fellow Guild member Linda le Pard.

We have also worked closely with the curator of textiles, Sue Prichard, who is responsible for the commission. Sue has been into the prison on many occasions and it has really given the men an idea of how to work with clients and to meet their strict requirements. The overall design for the quilt came from one of the men and the quilt shows many images in stitch which reflect their experiences and feelings of prison life as well as including some of Fine Cell Work’s flagship designs. Making the quilt has provided a steep learning curve for everyone involved and provided a remarkable social occasion, which for some has been as important as the stitching. One of the men said that friendship was hard to come by in prison but through the making of the quilt he has experienced true friendship.

We have certainly had some lively discussion and laughs and at the same time it has made the men aware of this prestigious exhibition of quilts in the most famous decorative arts museum in the world. They have come to have an understanding of the historical value of textiles and the enormous merit there is in high quality hand work. They hope their quilt will be a real legacy of the fine work in a prison for future generations to see and may help some people review their attitudes about what can be achieved in prison.
 

While working in Wandsworth I have been struck by the wealth of talent and creativity locked up in prison. I am constantly surprised by the resourcefulness and pride the men take in their work, which is usually regarded as women’s work. I often wonder what these men might have achieved with a better start in life.