Arts Thread

A Library in Thread is a woven interpretation of traditional folktales from all over the UK, translating story and atmosphere into cloth. Drawing from myth, legend and oral histories, it forms a visual archive where each textile acts as part of a wider narrative. Through structure and pattern, these stories are reimagined into contemporary woven outcomes. Drawing and material experimentation guided the development of two sub-collections, both capturing a different tone of folklore. Grounded in heritage and shaped by storytelling, the collection reinterprets cultural memory using weave as a way to hold and retell stories. The Dyer and The Herbalist traces a journey where locally foraged plant materials, wool and storytelling come together. Rooted in natural dyeing, it explores the transformation of leaf, bark and root into a subtle, evolving palette of colour. Accompanied by a self-authored fairy tale, the project connects narrative with material, shaping three sub-collections that reflect cycles of growth and change. Through gathering, dyeing and weaving, it values sustainable making and the quiet knowledge held within traditional craft. The outcome is a collection of textiles that feel both grounded and atmospheric, shaped by a strong sense of place and process. Photos credit: @zoeirv and @antoniacampos.photography, Dress by @diana_the_label