Meet the member’s behind Toowoomba’s Women’s Shed

From mammal pouches to mastectomy pillows, meet the makers behind Toowoomba’s Women’s Shed and see what community craft projects they are up to now.

EW HAPPY: Ricky Adams from Darling Heights State School loves the library bags and other items made for students at the Toowoomba Women's Shed Pictured with the founder Jean Turner (right). Picture: Nev Madsen

Not all heroes wear capes, but some of them certainly know how to make them.

Warm winter capes and joey pouches for aged care residents are just a few of the dozens of items members of the Toowoomba Women’s Shed have been making over the past several weeks.

Now, thanks to the donation of insulation panels from Metroll, these clever crafters will be able to create in comfort all year round.

What started as a small gathering of three sewers on Jean Turner’s daughter’s pagola in 2014 has turned into a full-time charity group with more than 60 active shed members putting their love of community and craft to good use twice a week on from 9am-3pm.

Ms Turner explained that her passion for saving scraps of fabric started when she wash volunteer for an op-shop.

“I hated seeing all the odds and ends going in the bin so I started saving them and eventual I needed to do something with all of it so that’s why I started up the Toowoomba Womens Shed,” she said.

“Now we make dozens of different craft items for hundreds of organisations including schools, hospitals, aged care centres, homeless refuges, soup kitchens, cancer treatment centres and even wildlife animal rescues.”

Cheryl West is a regular at the Toowoomba Women's Shed. Picture: Nev Madsen

The Women’s Shed even has two male members now and welcomes everyone, even those without much sewing experience.

“We have jobs and projects for all abilities from threading ribbons into our school library bags to creating complicated fiddle mats for people with dementia and children with ADHD – we can even teach people how to use the sewing machines and get them up to speed on the overlocker,” Ms Turner said.

“The most important thing in our shed is the camaraderie and sense of community – it’s not about being the best seamstress or crafts person.”

Lorraine Muller makes wildlife animal pouches at the Toowoomba Women's Shed Picture: Nev Madsen

Lorraine Muller has been sewing animal pouches for wildlife rescues ever since the summer bushfires struck last year.

Since becoming a member of the women’s shed 12 months ago, Ms Muller said the members had made thousands of pouches for Aussie creatures great and small right around the country.

“I originally came down to the shed to get my hands on some extra material to keep making pouches, but everyone here was so warm and welcoming I soon found myself coming in twice a week,” she said.

“It’s wonderful to be able to come and work together and find a shared purpose and passion again.”

To find out how you can get involved with the women’s shed or how you can make a donation of fabric and sewing materials head to their Facebook page.