The Sewing Circle is a community program centered in the craft of sewing

and community quilting.​

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Workshops are broken into eight classes, which take place on Sundays from September to December 2024. These workshops are specifically designed for Black adults, especially those who find it difficult to learn new crafting skills due to limited access in their community, income barriers in class affordability or finding dedicated instructors. There is no fee to participate and supplies will be provided.
 

Along with gaining basic knowledge of sewing and how to operate a machine, our hope is that participants not only gain a level of comfortability with this crafting skill, but also develop their own artistic voice. The program will end in a culminating exhibition of final projects created by participants, including uniquely handmade quilts.

 

By exploring the important role that quilting has historically held in Black storytelling and community building, this program presents a "full circle" moment that relates directly to our mission: to celebrate culture, engage creativity and build community for Black Knoxville!

 

 

 

 

More About Our Instructor

Workshops are led by Sarah Carman, a seamstress and educator in Knoxville, TN. Sarah has practiced sewing for over 20 years, and has served as a seamstress for Walking Foot Designs and Marc Nelson Denim. In her personal time, she enjoys sewing quilts, backpacks, and clothes.

She has been a childcare provider and private tutor for many families over the last 15 years, working with a wide range of ages and children with disabilities. She has also worked for Knox County schools for 5 years as both a special education assistant and as a substitute teacher.

Combining her skills in education and sewing, Sarah has been the full time staff instructor for The Bottom's Sew It Sell it program since 2020. She also started a Sew It Sell It clubs at Green Magnet and Inskip Elementary with the support of The Bottom. Sarah has coordinated two community quilts that were raffled to support the work of First Aid Collective Knoxville. 

 

This project is being supported in whole or in part by the Tennessee Arts Commission, which offers a variety of distinct funding opportunities to encourage participation in arts activities in communities across all 95 counties in the state.

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