Threads connecting across time

Take part in Mary Linwood workshop for free in Loughborough 29th May

I’ve been thinking recently, as I often do, about how thread and stitch connects us across time and across cultures. One of the most striking things about Mary Linwood‘s story is how she went from fame to obscurity. She was a hugely successful and well-known artist in her day (1755-1845) but over her long life, society changed and by the late 19th century she was all but forgotten. It’s an honour to bring her story, her work, back into the limelight with the exhibition of her work due to open in September. For most historical makers of needlework, their names are completely forgotten, they were never recorded and their work never displayed in galleries and admired by thousands of visitors, like Mary Linwood’s was. As I was developing my project, I wanted to run a local stitch-based project, bringing together many women to work with thread to connect and share stories. I wanted something that was easy to make and doesn’t require stitch skills or knowledge. I wanted something symbolic where each contributor was named and recognised and each thread could represent women stitchers of the past whose names have not been remembered. I wanted this piece to be in the exhibition, alongside Mary Linwood’s work and alongside my own pieces. I created Connected Threads, making colourful, meaningful cords from wool thread. In each workshop 10 to 20 women collaborate to design and make cords, twisted by hand. Each length, up to 10 metres long, is added to the growing collection of cords made over the last six months.

I’m collecting the names of everyone who takes part and including them in the label for this giant skein of connected threads, which will be on a plinth in Leicester Museum & Art Gallery. The sessions are coming to an end over the next few weeks with sessions in Loughborough and Braunstone coming up. I would love to get as many contributions as possible and connect as many women as possible through this session. You can book the Loughborough session on 29th May, at Charnwood Arts, here. It’s free, and there are 2 sessions at 10am or 11am. 

Alongside this workshop you will also have the chance to see my Places and Traces exhibition which is in the same venue (closing after the workshop so it’s the last chance).