Resilient Stitch: Wellbeing and Connection in Textile Art

by Claire Wellesley-Smith

Following on from her textile hit Slow Stitch , author Claire Wellesley-Smith considers the importance of connection and ideas around wellbeing when using textiles for individuals and communities, including practical ideas around ‘thinking-through-making’, using ‘resonant’ materials and extending the life of pieces using traditional and non-traditional methods. Contemporary textile artists using these themes in their work feature alongside personal work from Claire and examples from community-based textile projects. The book features some of the very best textile artists around, esteemed American fiber artists and the doyenne of textiles, Alice Kettle.

Resilient fabrics that can be manipulated, stressed, withstand tension and be made anew are recommended throughout the book, as well as techniques such as layering, patching, reinforcing, re-stitching and mending, plus ideas for the inclusion of everyday materials in your work. There's an exploration of ways to link your emotional health with your textile practice, and 'Community' suggests ways to make connections with others in your regular textile work. 'Landscape' has a range of suggestions and examples of immersing your work in the local landscape, a terrific way to find meaning in your work and a sense of place. Finally, there is a moving account of one textile community's creative response to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

The connection between wellbeing and the creation of textiles has never been stronger, and, as a leading exponent of this campaign, Claire is the perfect author to help you find more than just a finished textile at the end of a project.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Art, Fashion, Reference

128 pages, Hardcover

Published April 6, 2021

Reviews

[B. Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book from Claire Wellesley-Smith. Her first book, Slow Stitch, was revolutionary for my way of thinking about textiles. I have been eagerly waiting for more writing.

The book is gorgeous, the pictures are lovely. I also love to read about her thoughts on textiles and community engagement. I love that the "projects" in this aren't how-to's but instead ways of thinking about engaging with textiles. It makes a difference.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Claire's previous book Slow Stitch and liked it, so I picked this up when I saw it at the library. My sense of touch reminded me that I had read Slow Stitch, because the cover of that book and this one feel like fabric. Just that experience backs up a lot of her philosophy regarding fabric.
I liked knowing how her stitch journals are coming along, and how she goes back to indicate that something she was thinking about as she stitched has been resolved.

[Sophy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short but lovely book on the subject of resilience reflected in textile art.

Claire looks at the durability (or lack of) of different fabrics, how fabric can be reused and upcycled, and community projects and individual artists looking at the circle of use.

There are some great colour photographs illustrating examples of stitchwork, reusing, upcycling and change of use.

A nice crafting book that whiles away a few hours.

[Phoebe Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book lended by Immy lots of interesting textiles practices and lots of ideas about mending, stitching and memory to think about!

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this because I thought it might provide a framework for a year’s study for a group I convene for an embroiderers’ guild and I wasn’t disappointed. Each month we study an aspect of world embroidery and many of the embroideries we have examined fit within the framework of resilience elaborated here. It isn’t that the concepts are new, but it’s a shift of the kaleidoscope, a new perspective. By exploring aspects of resilience, including local sourcing, community connections and landscape we can better articulate value beyond the stitches and the textile surface.

While those looking for projects and patterns will be disappointed, this brings another way of thinking about and engaging with embroidery.

[Dania Ellingson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Wellesley-Smith's approach to textiles and the insights she offers on the way that textiles and the practice of making them can create connections across time and space. There's a binding that happens, and somehow we stitch more than just the fabric—we stitch community, heritage, place, and culture together too. She brings in many examples from her personal work as an educator, researcher, and textile artist herself, and it's fascinating to consider how much information textiles can hold for us.

The book read a bit slow for me but it was 100% worth the read just the same. I've requested her other book "Slow Stitch" through Libby and very much look forward to reading her insights there as well!

[Yellowoasis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love Claire Wellesley-Smith's books, they are always so inspiring and interesting. More please!

[Carolyn Halliday · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely book— more DIY than was of interest to me. My favorite parts were featured artists like Amy Messner and Alice Kettle

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book.
Learned the word: Solastagia

[Nicky Triggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is well written and includes interesting stitchers and ideas for stitch.

[Ariane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7 This is an introduction to me personally, about stitching and its use beyond a first purpose of wearing/decorating/labor use. I was glad to read and see examples of political resistance, recorded loss, community rising, and solution growing projects. I didn't understand or love everything shown or explained but it gave me space to think about each new idea or experience.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really good book on the subject in general, but I have to remember that the UK aesthetic for textile arts just isn't mine in general. I found this a bit thin on content and focused on lots of artists I've heard tons about before.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5