'Lyttelton Heart' brooch

This 'Lyttelton Heart' brooch is one of over one thousand made in response to the devastating 6.3 earthquake which hit Canterbury on 22 February 2011. The earthquake caused severe damage and resulted in the loss of 185 lives.

Lyttelton residents and members of Project Lyttelton got together one week after the earthquake to do something about the devastation in their town. On 1 March, Sue-Ellen Sandilands and Bettina Evans set up a drop-in space in the playground of Lyttelton Main School with tables and chairs, provisions, and a sign, "Join us, have a chat". They made little hearts from bits and pieces of felt and fabric, old woollen blankets, buttons, embroidery thread and wool, and handed them out to people passing by. They were simple to make, fun and beautiful, and full of symbolic meaning. Many people stopped by and started making hearts too. Jacinda Gilligan joined Sue-Ellen and Bettina, and these three women became the driving force behind what became known as 'Lyttel Stitches'.

It was such a success that they met every day for six weeks and became an important and much needed local hub of support, all the while making hearts and giving them to a huge variety of people. Hearts were pinned to the chests of locals walking past, Navy personnel, soldiers, police, St John's Ambulance workers, Salvation Army workers, Civil Defence workers, engineers, insurance assessors, journalists, demolition crews, politicians and celebrities. Prince William accepted one while at the Hagley Park memorial service.

Many people joined in the stitching - women, men and children. 'Stitching was a healing outlet...to create some beauty in the midst of chaos. When our hands were busy, it became possible to forget for a while the frightening, disorderly, terrifying reality around us'. It was also a way to be able to give a gift of love to those workers and businesses who helped improve life in Lyttelton.

This particular heart features the colours of Canterbury - red and black - from a Swanndri jacket donated to Lyttel Stitches.