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:

This on-going and growing travelling show has its first showing on International Women's Day 2019
and its ultimate show on International Women's Day 2020 (venue still to be confirmed)!
this means you have the whole of 2019 to make as many pockets as you would like.
The sooner they arrive with me the more times they get shown.
Several dates are in the diary now,
so start sewing!

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.

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!

by Maria Newman (UK) - My Mother's Apron Pocket - plus the things she would keep in it.

by Alison Finch (UK) - 'Lucy Locket lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it.
There was not a penny in it, but a ribbon round it'

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.
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 9th March 2019
The last date is 8th March - International Women's Day 2020
so please get your pockets to me by the end of February if you would like to be part of this one.

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

A is for Appliqué - B is for Boro - C is for Crazy Patchwork