Threads of Life

Clare Hunter starts her book with a description of the act of hand sewing. The rhythm of the writing beautifully evokes the process she is describing: calmly working one stitch at a time we are ready for the History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle.

I have always had the vague notion that I would like to see the Bayeaux Tapestry at some point. Her description of her visit has transformed this into a need. It is actually an embroidery worked in wool on linen fabric. Just four colours and four stitches are used to create a masterpiece. She shares some of the moments of jeopardy when the tapestry could have been lost forever and draws our attention its many darned and patched repairs. She is lost in admiration of the artistry and expertise of the embroiderers and wants to know out more about them. But there is nothing:

“Suddenly I am seized with fury at the injustice. All those hours of labour, all that deployment of a practised skill, women’s inventiveness and imagination, dismissed as if it did not matter. Nowhere is there conjecture about these women’s lives. There is no description of their working conditions, no enthrallment at their expertise.”

This provides the theme for the chapter titled ‘Unknown’.

Each of the 16 chapters has a single word title. ‘Captivity’ details how hand stitching was used by prisoners to record their experiences and affirm their existence when those in authority were intent on supressing them. The simple act of embroidering a signature records someone’s existence, a closer look at an embroidered picture reveals it is actually a record of a war crime. This is sewing as a dangerous act of defiance and at times makes for a harrowing read. ‘Community’ shows the value of sewing together; how disparate people coming together to create something tangible turns individuals into a network of long lasting friendships and bonds with a collective story to tell.

The book does not contain illustrations or photographs but Clare Hunter so vividly communicates the essence of each of the pieces they are not necessary. She does give a list of online sources where images can be found providing readily accessible visual references to accompany the thinking material her writing provokes.

I had the pleasure of joining a full house at 2019 Hay Festival to hear Clare Hunter and Kassia St Clare talk with Rosie Goldsmith about their books. One of the themes developed was how sewing has become invisible. As a teacher I try to promote and encourage as many people as possible to sew something – anything! This is my travel embroidery which prompted Clare to sign my book to ‘The Travel embroider’

You can view the Hay Player recording of the event on Hay Player – just £10 for a year long subscription to access inspiring and thought provoking film interviews with authors of very many different genres.