Manchester Craftivist’s talking about their Stitch-In for the Train project

10 Apr Manchester Craftivist’s talking about their Stitch-In for the Train project

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“I don’t get it, but I get it, if you know what I mean”

A passing father’s response to the stitch-in picnic at Piccadilly train station run, by the Craftivist collective on Sunday April 11^th.

Rebecca Aimée Lanyon Willmott of Craftivism Manchester and Kelly Joseph of Didsbury Green Threads, stitched their political threads together to plan the Manchester Crafting a Train of Bunting project. On April 11^th this event mirrored train stations across the country, wherefellow craftivists stitched, sipped tea and picnicked in peaceful protest against the proposed 31% rise in train fares over the next 4 years. The bunting panels will be fashioned into a petition-train which will be taken on a Fair Fare Railway Adventure on Saturday 16^th April.

Manchester Craftivists were armed with needles, threads, train biscuits and vintage cake stands cups and saucers borrowed from tea boutique Sugar Junction. With these tools we were ready to picnic at Piccadilly.

At first we were a bit wary about security issues of throwing a picnic in the middle of the station, such as issues of overcrowding and protesting in a public space.  But we boldly decided to throw our cheesecloth picnic blankets under Departures nevertheless. Security immediately gained an interest in our indoor picnic set-up and we were told at first not to give out any flyers. But we asserted our craftivist rights and they let us distribute after we explained we were in fact a peaceful protest. “You’re just having a pretty picnic, you’re not harming anyone.” Remarked Duke of National Rail in response to our pop up picnic. Duke even happily took a train shaped vegan cookie from our cake stand.

After laying out our tea party wonders, we began to stitch and sip. Our Craftivism and Green Thread regulars popped up soon after and we all enjoyed a marvellous warm afternoon, sipping tea and stitching under Departures. Members of the public were fascinated by the stitch-in and happily took a card to write to the government to voice their concerns over the rise in train fares.

Security even asked when we would be returning for another Piccadilly picnic.