Phase 1: Call for submissions (November, 2024)

Submissions open for a piece of cloth. We are available to answer any questions throughout the month. Please note the submission deadline of Sunday November 24th at 8pm ET. 

Phase 2: Orientation (December, 2024)

After contributors are selected and confirmed, we will be organizing an online orientation for the project. Here we will have an opportunity to connect as a group, and provide a detailed overview of what to expect with the project. We will facilitate: 

• Group introductions
• An overview of the project brief 
• An overview of different sewing methods
• An introduction to gathering inspiration and creating a mood-board to design your quilt block, with notes about key considerations specific to the medium
• An opening of the WhatsApp or Discord group to keep connected
• An opening of the resource portal

This session will take place over Zoom on Thursday December 5th, 8pm ET. To ensure everyone’s privacy, it will not be recorded. 

Phase 3: Creation of quilt blocks (Mid-December 2024–Mid-January, 2025)

During this phase, you will be designing and creating your quilt blocks using either patchwork, appliqué, or paper piecing. To support time management during a busy season, we will provide a suggested timeline for folks to work to, links to resources specific to each phase of work (eg. inspiration, planning, sewing) and will offer both online and in-person drop-ins so the group can stay connected during this phase. 

Check-ins are drop-in and optional and will be held on: 
Thursday December 12th, 8pm ET via Zoom
Thursday January 9th, 8pm ET via Zoom
Thursday January 16th, 8pm ET via Zoom

And in-person drop in sessions will be helped on: 
Friday December 13th, 10am-12pm at The Public Studio
Friday January 10th, 10am-12pm at The Public Studio

At our studio at 58 Lansdowne Ave., in Toronto. We will have basic sewing supplies for people to use on-site, including: 

• Quilting ruler
• Cutting mat
• Rotary cutter
• Fabric scissors
• Pins
• Sewing machine (Bernina b37)

Final submissions (Due January 31st) can be mailed to The Public Studio in Toronto, or dropped off during designated times. 

Along with your final submission, you will be asked to submit an artist statement about the block(s) you created. We will be providing resources on how to do this in accessible ways. You can choose how you want to be credited for your work (full name, pseudonym, initiated, etc.). Quilt blocks will be photographed and the write-ups included in a (printed) zine that will accompany the quilt. A digital version of the zine will be available for download. 

Phase 4: Quilt assembly (February, 2025)

During this period, we’ll be arranging and assembling the quilt blocks, and laying out the zine. We’ll be updating the group via WhatsApp or Discord about our progress as we work. 

Phase 5: Quilting (March, 2025)

This quilt will be hand-tied. We chose this method because it’s the most accessible, and allows for many hands to participate at once. We’ll be holding a quilting session on Saturday March 1st from 10am-4pm at our studio, and invite all participants (and your friends) to support with the following: 

• Basting the quilt with quilting pins (supplied)
• Hand-tying the quilt (supplies and instructions provided)

Light refreshments (tea, juice, biscuits, etc.) will be provided. 

Phase 6: Exhibition and raffle (March-April, 2025)

The completed quilt will be displayed in our window-facing gallery at 58 Lansdowne, throughout April. During this time, an online raffle will be open. We will supply social media graphics to promote the raffle in your networks as well. 

Phase 7: Donation and quilt delivery (April, 2025)

Once the raffle winner is announced, we will ship the quilt and zine to them (or deliver if the winner is in Toronto), and donate all proceeds to Palestinian Youth Movement. We will produce a transparency report to all contributors as a part of our project wrap-up. 

“I am new to quilting. Can I sign-up?”
a piece of cloth is open to allied crafters of all skill levels; there is no need to have quilted before, but you should feel comfortable sewing or learning through online resources we’ll provide throughout the process. 

“Are quilting supplies expensive?”
Yes, but they don’t have to be! There’s definitely an industry around quilting and specialized quilting tools can get costly. We’ve made a comprehensive list of must-haves and nice-to-haves as a part of this call-out. Several of these items are things that we are happy to share with folks during our in-person drop-in sessions, and we definitely encourage you to tap into your friend networks to borrow, not buy. 

“How are you selecting contributors?”
We understand that we may find ourselves with more interested contributors than available blocks. In that case, we’ll be assembling the cohort in a way that we feel will allow people to grow and learn together; where everyone feels like they have something to gain from the experience, and something to contribute to it. 

“How do I make a block?”
For this project, we are limiting blocks to one of three different methods: patchwork (where you sew small pieces of fabric together to make a design), appliqué (where you cut and sew smaller pieces of fabric onto a larger piece to make an image), or what’s called “paper piecing” (a type of patchwork that uses a paper template that you make in advance). These techniques vary in difficulty, with appliqué being the most straight-forwarding, to paper-piecing being the most complex. We will give an overview of the pros and cons of each technique, along with examples, in our orientation meeting. 

“Can I screen print on my block?”
For individual blocks, we ask that contributors stick to patchwork, paper piecing or appliqué. We value the broad range of textile art, and look forward to exploring these (printing, dyeing, embroidery, etc.) in future community quilt projects. 

“Why do I have to stick to a colour scheme?”
We understand that creativity comes in all colours, but are proposing a colour scheme so that the quilt is unified and cohesive when it is all assembled. 

“I don’t have an idea for my block. Can I still participate?”
Yes! A part of our group process will be pulling together reference images to help inspire you!

“Can I make a block with a friend?”
Yes! You can make a block on your own, with a friend, partner, conspirator, or special kiddo in your life. 

“Winter can feel overwhelming. I want to do this, but am not sure if I can follow through.”
We totally appreciate the ebbs and flows of this time of year, and understand that everyone is holding a lot, both personally and politically. We do ask that you consider your capacity before signing up, and do your best not to bite off more than you can chew. That being said, if things do change, we ask that you inform us as soon as possible so we can figure out the best path forward for everyone involved, and the project as a whole. 

“Who is making the centre block?”
We are! The Public’s Erin and Sheila both have quilting experience, and will be constructing the centre block together. 

“What is The Public?”
The Public is an activist design studio founded in 2008. We specialize in projects like this, where many people come together to create. You can read more about us here. 

“How is this project being funded?”
It isn’t. We are working on this initiative off the sides of our desk. The Public is an independent small business. When we can, we use the modest profits from our design work to reinvest in self-initiated projects such as this one.  

“I want to attend in-person drop-ins. Is your space accessible to me?”
For more information on the accessibility of our space, please see here. We ask that folks mask in the space, and hang back if they are not feeling well. 

“There has been an increasing amount of criminalization and police violence against people who support Palestine, and I’ve heard of workplace hostility. I want to apply, but I am worried.”
We understand that not everyone is safe to speak out against injustice, and privacy is of huge concern in these moments. Please note that a piece of cloth does not involve direct action or public protest. 

Here is a breakdown of what to expect, so you can make an informed choice: 

Submissions: 

Submissions are handled through Tally. Privacy Documentation can be found here.

Submissions will be emailed to and reviewed by staff at The Public, and not shared beyond this group. We will email each submitter individually to either confirm participation in this round of the quilt project, or ask for your interest in a subsequent round. 

Meetings:

Online meetings are held via Zoom, and not recorded. For more on Zoom privacy, please see here. We ask that folks respect other people’s boundaries with respect to privacy.

In-person meetings are held at The Public Studio at 58 Lansdowne. This is a storefront with street-facing windows. 

Ongoing communication: 

In addition to email, we will either be using WhatsApp or Discord to communicate throughout the process. We understand that this platform does not offer the most privacy, but in our experience, it tends to be what people are willing to use the most. This will be a place for folks to share your work-in-progress, or ask each other for support. For more on WhatsApp privacy, please see here. For more on Discord privacy, please see here. 

Zine and crediting:

You can choose how you want to be credited for your work. You can use your name, a pseudonym, or initials.