My forthcoming exhibition Narrative Threads explores physical and emotional engagement with cloth, exploring tactility, memory and personal stories, mostly around old domestic textiles. I’m interested in looking at how we feel about old fabrics; tablecloths with stains and dusters with holes and how the role of the artist changes a piece of fabric from something ordinary to something very special.
I’m starting to gather a collection of cloth memories and would love if you could add yours to my collection. I want to create a piece using scraps of cloth printed or embroidered with your tactile memories of cloth. It can be from any time in your life; distant childhood or just yesterday.
Please leave a comment with your memory, the type of cloth that it refers to and your name. If you use the form below, your comment will be emailed to me and won’t appear on the website.
Ruth Singer 
What a lovely project Ruth. I wish I lived a bit nearer, I’d love to visit.
Hello Ruth Singer!
Did you know there is a charm gown at the British Museum: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3227483&partId=1 The funny thing is that it isn’t original but was commissioned from a Nigerian tailor who had never made one before! It has been subject to academic research, the introduction to which is available on the net: http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2801129?sid=21105829245293&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3737880
Thank you for leading me off on this tangent.
Best wishes,
Marielise
Thank you!
Thanks! Fingers crossed it may tour eventually but don’t hold your breath!
Oooo I hope so! Good luck with it, I’ll have to enjoy it “virtually”.
Amazing idea Ruth your work always has a beautiful sensitivity .Looking forward to seeing your Exibition of textile memories !
Thank you Karen!
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