Narrative Textiles

A quirky and engaging book about creating stories in stitch, from an up-and-coming young textile artist.

Bring your personal story to life in colorful, vibrant textile art.

In this gorgeous book, Ailish Henderson explains her working methods and how you can harness them in your own work to create unique, deeply personal textile art pieces. She encourages you to draw on your own personal memorabilia to create work that is meaningful to you—the intention is to capture a moment in time, a memory to treasure, a look on a face, a glance of love from a pet.

Along with work from the author, the book also showcases work from textile artists such as Mandy Pattullo, Bridget Harvey, Jenni Dutton, and the hugely popular Mr. X Stitch (Jamie Chalmers). It includes:

• Materials: where to source cloth, using found and recycled materials, curating vintage fabric, incorporating precious family pieces in your work.
• Processes: finding inspiration, creating mood boards, keeping sketchbooks, developing work from drawings, capturing character.
• Techniques: Screen printing, hand and machine stitching, appliqué, mixed-media collage.
• Subject matter: the narrative line, self-portraits, family snapshots, history, identity, travel, favorite animals, even famous faces.

Ailish Henderson is an artist, researcher, and teacher who primarily works in textiles. She exhibits widely, including at the Knitting and Stitching Show, and provides lectures and masterclasses to various organizations including the Embroiderers’ Guild and the WI. She is the former editor-in-chief for the Mr. X Stitch website and has published articles in many magazines including Embroidery, Selvedge, and Crafts. She lives in Kibblesworth, Tyne and Wear.