Textile project boosts women's wellbeing

Anurita Chandola said: "We get so busy in our daily lives that we forget we’re creative"

A new textile project is helping to boost the wellbeing of women with different health needs.

Interlaced Narratives: Weaving Tales Through Textiles showcases work by women with disabilities and those with conditions like cancer and mental health difficulties.

Bristol-based artist Anurita Chandola said she wanted her students to experience "creative healing".

"Seeing people smile at the end of the workshop is really powerful," she said.

The workshops, at The Vestibules on College Green in Bristol, have brought together women aged 19 to 72.

Mrs Chandola, who teaches wellbeing courses at Bristol School of Art, said she wanted to create textiles that have "meaning".

She explained that when people with different needs try to learn new skills, it can help them heal and "forget about what goes on in their life".

At the workshops, people talk about one thing that relates to their "story"

During the classes, each participant creates an intricate patch after learning techniques like hand embroidery, knitting and crochet.

These will then be sewn into one large patchwork piece to be displayed at The Vestibules on Friday.

Mrs Chandola said each piece tells the story of the person who made it.

“There’s a student that I have who has cancer and when she walks in the room, she forgets about what goes on in her life.

"Even to be in a safe space to be able to share their story, it’s about the connection they make in the group. Talking to each other makes a huge difference,” she said.

The project combines Mrs Chandola's wellbeing courses with her love for art

Throughout the week, people from the community can walk in and add their "story" to the patchwork.

Mrs Chandola said: "They might be a smoker and want to quit and crochet might help them quit smoking by keeping their hands busy and making them distracted."

She hopes the patchwork will be “infinite” as people can keep adding to it.

'Safe place'

Janice Ross Theis, who took part in the project, said: "The classes have helped me get over social isolation caused by Covid, and forget my arthritis pain for a few hours."

And Missy Ingleton said the classes had given her a "safe place to go each week".

"I have fun and am inspired to carry on with the textiles work at home, which keeps me busy and there is less time to worry about things," she said.

"Having been in hospital many times for mental health difficulties the classes provide me with stability that I desperately need in my life," she added.

Bristol School of Art helps run the course for free

Originally from India, Mrs Chandola has worked to empower women in remote locations across the world, including the Himalayas.

"I teach them art, how to make things by hand and I sell them here, to help them buy meals for themselves," she said.

She hopes the patchwork will go on to be displayed in different art galleries for people to continue sharing their stories.