The Green Heart Sew Peace Project

Calling All Creatives To Join The Green Heart Sew Peace Project

This project launched on 14 February 2024 - because it's all about love!

The Green Heart Sew Peace Project is a community slow stitching initiative inspired by US slow stitcher Nancy Hays that can be taken up by community groups and individuals here in Gateshead. 

Taking the project out into the community

On Wednesday 6 March, we visited Peace of Mind to share the project with some of the women gathered there.

There was a lot of enthusiasm for opening up their sewing kits and creating their own hearts.

Many of the contributors took their hearts away to finish embroidering and embellishing - we can't wait to see the finished hearts placed out and about in the community for others to find.

What is slow stitching?

Slow stitching is hand sewing that involves using bits and pieces of salvaged fabric, ribbon, lace, buttons and embellishments to create upcycled pieces of fabric art/collage. No sewing experience is required. There are no rules and no right or wrong outcome. Each finished upcycled fabric heart patch is therefore a one of a kind design, a creative act of love and contemplation, given away freely with a note of encouragement to whoever may find it.

How do I get involved?

There will be pre-made fabric kits available for a donation* through all participating organisations:-

• Green Heart Shop, 231-233 High Street, Gateshead
• Peace of Mind (meets on a Wednesday at Whitehall Road Methodist Church, Gateshead)
• The Comfrey Project, Windmill Hills Centre, Chester Place, Gateshead NE8 1QB
• Bensham Grove Community Centre, Sidney Grove, Gateshead NE8 2XD

*All money raised will go to Peace of Mind, a local charity committed to supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Gateshead. Suggested donation £3.

More detailed guidelines:-

• Collect a Sew Peace fabric kit. Each unique fabric kit is made to help inspire your creativity, using a variety of fabrics, buttons, threads and ribbons from the Green Heart fabric stash.
• Tack the heart shape onto the fabric patch and then open your heart and mind to embroider, stitch, add buttons, ribbons etc. Remove the tacking stitches when you have finished if you desire.
• As you create your heart patch, allow each stitch to express a wish for love and peace for the person who will find it, for your community and for the world at large.
• Remember there is no right and wrong, no perfect outcome. Each Sew Peace patch is an act of love. Slow down. Breathe. Create whatever comes to mind. Experiment with different textures and stitches. Enjoy the process.
• Take a photo of your completed work to keep a record of your marvellous creations.
• Place the finished patch and the note of encouragement in a waterproof bag and attach this with string or ribbon in a public place for someone to find.
• Repeat the process as often as you like, encouraging others to join you in this project.

The words of encouragement to accompany the Green Heart Sew Peace patch:-

Please take me home, pass me on or leave me for someone else to find.
This Sew Peace patch has been handmade with love especially for you.
Know that we are all connected and you are never alone.
Sending peace and love to you and yours, and to all who inhabit our wonderful world.


Email helen@greenheartcollective.uk with any queries.