Dangerous Pockets Project

a community art collaboration​

in which you are enthusiastically invited to take part

facilitated by artist Paula MacGregor MA
inspired by a poem by Sharon Owens:

by Paula MacGregor (founder of the Dangerous Pockets Project) - 'Cute' remembering getting her first sewing machine on her 10th birthday.
by Jane Grice (UK) founder of WASTE NOT WANT NOT - ARTISANS and CRAFTERS facebook group - 'Sedition'
by Terri Potter (UK) - 'Transform' An artwork created in response to breast surgery experience.
 Picture
by Judith Rigg (UK) - a pair of denim pockets made from her old jeans, patched by fabrics from her stash. 
by Kay' (Seattle, USA) - 'I Am Loved'
by Christine (UK) - "I can & I do' - to encourage older folk to embrace crafting, no matter what they feel their ability is; it is great fun!
Dangerous Coats
​
Someone clever once said
Women were not allowed pockets
In case they carried leaflets
To spread sedition
Which means unrest
To you and me
A grandiose word
For common sense
Fairness
Kindness
Equality
So ladies, start sewing
Dangerous coats
Made of pockets & sedition

​by Sharon Owens
          What do you need to do?
  • ​make a pocket (or several pockets)  
  • you can create a new pocket - or use one cut from a garment, such as a jacket or jeans...
  • your pockets can be anything you want them to be, try thinking about adding words or embellishments
  • ​maybe your pocket will have a story to tell - or a point to make - maybe there will be something inside your pocket?
          Are there any guide lines?
  • please only use up-cycled materials (old clothing, bedding etc) or scraps from your stash.
  • please add either a couple of holes or tags on the back corners, or include a casing along the top of the back - so I can thread them all onto red cord.
  • Should you wish to add your name on the back of your pocket, that would be great - but you can stay anonymous if you would rather.
This is an on-going/growing project that will last throughout 2019 at least.
There will be shows and exhibitions along the way,
so the sooner you make your pocket the more times it gets to go out into the world.
The first date for a showing is in March 2019
so please get your pockets to me by the end of February if you would like to be part of this one.

    contact the Dangerous Pockets Project
 what happens next?
​send them to me and I will thread them onto long lengths of red cord and arrange to send them on a travelling exhibition. why a red cord - it is symbolic of the joining of women in a common goal.
please share this collaboration far and wide
it would also be great to see the creation of your pockets
​in progress and when complete.
​​we have a FaceBook page: Dangerous Pockets Project
do you belong to a group or a guild that could take part?
could you invite some friends for a sewing circle session?  
how ever you do it, please take it on board and run with it
​ have fun and enjoy making your pockets!
Oh and make sure you read the poem
'Dangerous Coats' by Sharon Owens
​which gave me the inspiration for this exciting project!
I have created an A-Z of textile techniques to help inspire you in the creation of your pockets
please click below if you would like to see it - and let me know if you can add anything to it!
click here for A-Z of textile techniques
Picture
A  is for Appliqué          -          B  is for Boro          -          C  is for Crazy Patchwork