Clare Hunter

Welcome to Sewing Matters where you can read about, explore and discover the social, emotional and political significance of needlework. While writing my book Threads of Life I have come across many fascinating  forgotten, little known and overlooked  stories of sewing. It is these that I want to share with you and also invite you to tell your own.

For the last thirty years I have been involved with textiles as a community artist, exhibition curator and banner maker. In 1986
I set up NeedleWorks in Glasgow, working with people of all ages and cultures, using sewing as a way to celebrate local history, document community experiences and share personal concerns through the creation of wall hangings and banners.

I still undertake textile commissions and organise community sewing projects in Scotland. The most recent project has been Material Matters where  ten people stitched  small wall hangings to capture the stories of  textiles that were precious to them. On the website you can read  about the project and see images of the wall hangings.

You can also explore the themes of my book and learn more about my research and sewing experiences. Using my blog you can start or take part in conversations about why and how sewing matters to us all in our material world.

I hope you enjoy the discovery.