That’s quite some quilt!

STITCH in time . . . some of the women with the spectacular wall hanging

A 20-Strong team of dedicated Saddleworth women have turned their hobby into a stunning piece of public art.

After 240 hours of painstaking work spread over six months, the Piecemakers’ Quilters and Textiles Group, have completed a magnificent 12ft x 8ft wall hanging, with commemorative plaque.

The idea came from chairman of Denshaw Community Association, Councillor Alan Roughley, who had seen some of the group’s work at Heights Church during the Saddleworth Festival two years ago.

Now the giant, brightly-coloured hanging, which takes centre stage at Denshaw’s village hall, is receiving acclaim from locals and visitors.

Councillor Roughley said: “We are hugely impressed by this magnificent work of art, and we are indebted to Saddleworth Round Table, whose generous grant covered the cost of materials.

“Together with a second hanging the quilters hope to begin shortly, it will mean our village hall will be resplendent for very many years.

The quilters’ secretary, Sue Lund, said the group was formed four years ago and that 20 members each designed a number of squares which they stitched together to make the complete hanging. It will be entered into a regional competition in Harrogate.

Mrs Angela Thompson, a former textile teacher, was responsible for the overall design. She said: “I wanted to make a real statement in this public space.”

It is estimated there are two million machine stitches in the piece.