StitchStory

StitchStory is an innovative community project to create a collective artwork using the medium of hand embroidery that portrays the history of Tewkesbury. It is a 6-metre central panel portraying the history of the town surrounded by a community border, has been made in local workshops reaching over 8,300 people. The town community were asked to take the time to add a stitch, so stitch by stitch the artwork grew. Stitching happened in schools, youth groups, businesses, at markets, the leisure centre, at sporting and community events, on the streets, in people's homes with so many people taking the time to add a stitch, to make their mark. It led to conversations and reminiscences that explored Tewkesbury’s history and helped people to identify what residents felt was important to record, what should be celebrated and remembered. These were embroidered by individuals to create the border. Some represent memories such as fish and chips by the river; landmarks of the town, others represent the communities and organisations that support us. The list is long and not exhaustive. These were then made into three companion banners to be displayed alongside the panel. With so much support from the town, the original concept of one piece of work has become a gallery of four! Watch the project in development https://youtu.be/E9ThILHaoBI?si=0sYdaWm7Yb62usQS