I ran this embroidery project, during my time as Textile Workshop Manager at The Exchange to encourage volunteer makers to use a needle as a drawing tool, treating stitching as a form of mark-making.

The project emphasised process, intuition, and community interaction over a final design. Participants began with the basics, primarily using and exploring the posibilities of the running stitch and applique. Those who felt confident explored a broader library of stitches

Inspired by Japanese sashiko stitching, the project highlighted the meditative and expressive qualities of hand embroidery. The project culminated in an exhibition at The Exchange, celebrating each piece as a personal and collective record of individual processes - each stitch a testament to the thinking hand.