Hello everyone, It’s been a while since I last shared anything here, and I wanted to take a moment to reach out personally. Over the past couple of weeks, life has brought me a series of personal challenges that required me to step back and focus on other priorities. Sometimes, despite our best intentions, we… Read More i’m back: a gradual return to writing and new beginnings
A snuffle mat is a sustainable DIY puzzle toy for dogs, crafted from fabric scraps and an old mat. It enhances mental stimulation by engaging their natural foraging instincts. The mat is easy to make and customisable, promoting zero-waste and providing a fun challenge for dogs during mealtime or training.… Read More how to make a snuffle mat for your dog using fabric scraps
Artist: George Frederic WattsDate: Circa 1848–1850Medium: Oil on canvasLocation: Tate Britain, LondonDimensions: 864 × 508 mm About the Painting Found Drowned portrays the lifeless body of a young woman washed up under a bridge in the River Thames. The setting is dark and desolate. The figure lies draped in wet, clinging fabric. A faint city… Read More found drowned (1848-1850) – george frederic watts
Aloe vera fabric is a sustainable textile that combines comfort and sustainability, featuring natural antibacterial and anti-allergenic properties. Its breathable design regulates temperature and is biodegradable, offering various applications for this innovative material.… Read More Sustainable materials spotlight: aloe vera fabric-benefits and where to buy
While workhouses were widespread across 19th-century Britain, each had its own unique history, shaped by the local economy, population, and industrial development. The Ashton-under-Lyne Union Workhouse, which served Gee Cross and the surrounding areas of Greater Manchester, was a prime example of how these institutions evolved alongside Britain’s textile-driven industrial age. From Fletcher Street to… Read More the ashton-under-lyne union workhouse: threads of history in gee cross and beyond
In 19th-century Britain, the word workhouse struck fear and shame into the hearts of the poor. Established under the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, these institutions were designed to deter people from seeking public assistance by offering a last resort: food and shelter in exchange for hard, monotonous labour. Though framed as charity, the… Read More inside the workhouse: harsh realities, silent stitches
Ayurvastra, is an ancient Indian textile tradition meaning “life cloth,” and is experiencing a revival as a natural remedy for wellness. Made from organic fibres and dyed with medicinal herbs, it promotes health and sustainability. Through traditional methods, Ayurvastra supports healing, complements conventional medicine, and underscores slow fashion values while benefiting artisan communities.… Read More ayurvastra: the healing fabric of ancient wisdom
In a world increasingly shaped by automation and fast fashion, the traditional arts of textile-making—spinning, dyeing, weaving, and embroidery—are often overshadowed. Yet, heritage textile techniques remain vital not only for their aesthetic and cultural value but also for what they can teach us about sustainability, craftsmanship, and community. Preserving and reinventing these practices is more… Read More weaving the past into the future: the significance of preserving & reinventing heritage textile techniques
From ancient civilizations to early industrial societies, textiles have served not just to clothe the body but to comfort, heal, and soothe. Long before synthetic softeners and antimicrobial coatings, communities around the world developed natural methods for treating fabrics to enhance their texture and even their medicinal properties. This article explores the fascinating historical approaches… Read More fabric treatments through time: historical approaches to fabric softening & medicinal textiles
Fig 1 Lorina Bulwer Textile Sampler Fig 2 Shoddy Exhibition Lorina Bulwer was an English woman who lived during the Victorian era and is remembered today not through conventional records or fame, but through a series of extraordinary, emotionally charged embroidered samplers. Created during her confinement in a workhouse in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, her needlework… Read More lorina bulwer: the embroidered outcry of a forgotten voice
Rachel Bakewell 