Richter, Agnes. Handmade jacket embroidered with autobiographical text, 1895. Prinzhorn Collection, Heidelberg University Hospital, Inv. No. 743. Discussed in Rosner, Isabella. “I plunge headlong into disaster: Unstitching Agnes Richter’s Jacket.” The Polyphony, 2 September 2021. Sammlung Prinzhorn Internet Archive The Polyphony
In every thread, a whisper. In every pattern, a pause. Across cultures and centuries, artists have turned to textiles not just for warmth or beauty, but as vessels of meaning—woven languages that speak through texture, rhythm, and repetition. This post explores the quiet radicalism of those who stitch, knot, and loop their messages into cloth.… Read More artists who weave messages into their work
Textiles are more than just practical objects—they are sensory, symbolic, and deeply personal. Across cultures and centuries, cloth has served not only to clothe the body but also to comfort the soul. From the stitched stories of traditional quilts to medicinal fabric treatments used in ancient practices, textiles have long been tools of healing and… Read More threaded with meaning: how textiles have been used for memory and healing through history
This post is inspired by the research and reflections of Denise Jones, as featured in “A Suffragette Detective Story” on Selvedge Magazine’s website. Her work continues to illuminate the legacy of textile protest with clarity and compassion. A Mended Resistance Fig 1: Cissie Wilcox, an embroidered panel (December, 1911). All images © Museum of London.… Read More hidden protest: suffragette embroidery in holloway prison
Sewing is an art that requires precision, patience, and fine motor skills. While many focus on the stitching process, one of the most challenging aspects of sewing is cutting fabric accurately. For those who are left-handed, have dyslexia, or dyspraxia, this fundamental step can present additional hurdles that often go unnoticed. The Left-Handed Struggle: Tools… Read More The Challenges of Cutting Fabric When Sewing: A Struggle for Left-handed Dyslexic, and Dyspraxic People
When I first learned that the earliest sewing machines were made left-handed, I was genuinely struck by this fascinating detail. For a tool that is so widely used and would go on to revolutionise the clothing and textile industry worldwide, the idea that its initial design might have unintentionally favoured left-handed users caught my imagination.… Read More The Left-Handed Origins of the Sewing Machine: A Surprising Tale
Sewing is often celebrated as a soothing and rewarding hobby, but for someone with dyslexia, it can present unique challenges that go beyond the usual frustrations of stitching and seam ripping. Recently, I decided to take on a seemingly simple project: sewing a zipped pouch. Despite my enthusiasm, the process didn’t go as planned. The… Read More The Trials and Triumphs of Sewing with Dyslexia: My Zipped Pouch Journey
Overcoming Challenges and Gaining Confidence Machine sewing is a rewarding activity that combines creativity and technical skill, but it can also be complex, especially when it comes to following instructions. For individuals with dyslexia, this process of understanding and remembering sewing instructions can be particularly challenging. Dyslexia affects how people process language and remember sequences,… Read More Creating a Strategy with Dyslexia: Successfully Following Instructions for Machine Sewing
Sewing has always fascinated me, despite the challenges that come with it. I have a few unique hurdles that make machine sewing an adventure of its own: I’m left-handed, I have dyslexia, dyspraxia, and a slight squint. All of these factors affect my coordination, spatial perception, and fine motor skills, which can make even the… Read More Navigating Sewing with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and Left-Handedness: A Journey of Patience and Perseverance
I’ve recently been inspired by a new project idea that combines two of my passions: historical archives and textiles. This project aims to bridge the past and the present by creating contemporary memory quilts and blankets, with a special focus on those who might benefit most from these comforting, nostalgic pieces—particularly the elderly and dementia… Read More Project: Historical Archives & Textiles – Creating Memory Quilts
Rachel Bakewell 