Recording memories in stitch

‘This is my dad, aged seven, working in the local service station. His own father passed away when he was two years old and his mother was disabled. The five kids had to support the household’, reflects Stitch Club member Nancy Luna-Walker.

‘The sun and moon represent our Latino heritage and our last name Luna. The X’s represent love (as in XO). It was such a pleasure to hold him in my hands and heart as I worked on this piece.’

In the words of the famous song – memories are made of this. But what exactly is ‘this’?

We gather memories throughout our lives – from families, friends, education, travel and life experiences. Often brimming with emotions, we treasure tangible associations through photographs, videos, keepsakes and clothing.

Memories can act as a rich source of inspiration for textile artists to build emotion and meaning into their work.

Powerful personal quilts

Stitch Club is a vibrant online community where textile art enthusiasts gather to learn, create and share their creative journeys through expert-led workshops.

In this intimate glimpse into a workshop entitled Photo Memory Quilts, members transform cherished photographs and memories into deeply personal and powerful pieces of art under the guidance of acclaimed artist Lauren Austin.

Lauren specialises in making quilts that honour her ancestry, family and friends. She hand-dyes, prints and paints fabric, using collage, photo transfer and a variety of other techniques to make expressive images and artworks.

Under Lauren’s guidance, members transformed personal photos and treasured fabrics into intimate art quilts using her accessible collage method, bringing their stories to life through embroidery, beading and hand quilting.

Stitching stories

Lois Standish illustrates her story with photographs of her great grandmother and her two sons with fabrics from her stash, while Val Fisher focuses on her daughter’s love of the Anne Frank book, embellishing her artwork with fabric from cushion covers and her daughter’s dress.

Linda Langelaan pours her heart on the page as she traverses the emotions of becoming an empty nester using images and fabrics associated with her daughter.

Sue Partington recounts her voyage across the world as a babe in arms, and Nancy Luna-Walker reconnects with her father’s tough journey through life, adding a precious photo and metal charm that she combines with eco-dyed and found fabrics.

We might conclude from their stories and their artworks that the ‘this’ from the famous song is something our members discovered within their families and their hearts. We thank them for their honest sharing.

Lois Standish immortalises ancestors

Lauren’s Stitch Club workshop gave Lois Standish the impetus to revisit a stash of photos that she found after her mum’s death. She selected those of her great grandmother, her grandfather and his brother. She realised she knew little about them, except that her grandfather died from TB aged 30, and his father was a preacher.

Working intuitively, Lois chose accompanying fabrics in shades of blue and white from her own collection. The light blue napkins, used at the sides, had once been a wedding present to her mum. The background floral fabric came from an old pub curtain, and she’d completed the cross-stitch motifs many years earlier. She made the heart motif by melting fabrics together.

Lois added quilting to give the piece texture and incorporated a book charm as a symbol of her great grandfather’s role as a preacher.

Although Lauren had recommended using printer transfer paper, Lois didn’t have any, so she experimented with an alternative solution.

She transferred the photocopied image to fabric by wrapping it in clingfilm plastic wrap and placing it onto the fabric. Covering it with parchment paper, she ironed it on a high heat, causing the clingfilm to melt which adhered the image to the fabric.

Lois then covered each photo in thin acetate, which she stitched into the cloth as a protective layer.

Bringing a face to life

Lois Standish: There are no photos of my grandfather’s two sisters. I find it strange in today’s world of instant pictures that there’s nothing left, but it’s fuelled an interest to find out more, and I’ve gone on to do that since making this piece.

After hot ironing my great grandmother’s photocopied image onto the fabric, I hand coloured it with watercolour pencils. It was delightful to see this stony face come to life.

Lois Standish lives in Cardiff, UK, and has been a member of Stitch Club since April 2021.

Lois enjoys the Stitch Club workshops as they lead her on a creative journey to discover more about traditional and contemporary embroidery.

Instagram: @oakendoriginals
Facebook: oakendoriginals

Val Fisher collages Anne Frank’s story

Val Fisher was inspired to combine Lauren’s techniques with those from Sue Stone’s Say something with stitch workshop.

Val had visited Amsterdam twice but never managed to see Anne Frank’s house. When her daughter was younger, she’d often ask Val to read the story of Anne Frank to her. Val had always thought what a remarkable young person Anne was, and saw her story as a poignant reminder to value our freedom and to remember that not everyone is as fortunate as ourselves.

Stash busting

Val Fisher: I recently discovered some T-shirt transfer paper in a cupboard – I think my daughter must have bought it many years ago – so I used that to transfer the images.

The fabrics I used were from my stash. Most of it was used to make cushion covers for my children’s bedrooms when they were little. The small strip of fabric below the picture of Anne Frank was left over from the only dress I made for my daughter 27 years ago.

“I chose the fresh colours of pinks and greens as they remind me of spring, fresh beginnings and renewed hope in the world.”

Val Fisher, Stitch Club member

I wanted the images to portray that part of her life – also referencing her diary, where she was in hiding, her writing and to include a positive quote.

I played with the composition of my piece until I was happy and, like many textile artists, I enjoy using just the basic stitches – like running, cross and fly stitches – which have so much versatility.

The piece is now displayed in a large journaling book.

Val Fisher lives in Newcastle, Northumberland, UK, and has been a Stitch Club member since May 2020.

Although having stitched all her life, participating in one of Mandy Pattullo’s courses inspired Val to develop her techniques and skills. She then joined Stitch Club to continue her learning.

Linda Langelaan, sew lonely

Linda Langelaan has worked with textiles all her life, from making doll clothes, crocheting, knitting and embroidery, to mixed media projects and working with natural materials and dyes.

Her natural curiosity drives her to challenge herself constantly with new techniques and experiment with new materials – and Stitch Club has been the perfect way to keep up that momentum.

After watching Lauren’s workshop, Linda spent time researching her photo archive and asking her family for information. She decided to focus on the empty nest feelings she’d recently encountered when her daughter moved out to live with her boyfriend.

In the second week of her workshop, Lauren suggested annotating the back of the piece with handwriting to explain the reasoning behind the composition. Linda did this both in English and Dutch and felt that it made the work even more complete and personal.

As Linda worked on the piece, memories came flooding back. Searching for fabric offcuts led to finding other fabrics to include, which prompted yet more recollections.

“Although this started out as a workshop practice piece, it became a surprisingly special one – I hadn’t foreseen the emotions I would feel as I worked on it.”

Linda Langelaan, Stitch Club member

Linda Langelaan: The images are of happy memories spent with my daughter when we made a trip to Malaga. ​​I chose bright and sunny colours to match the photo.

I cut out the sun using reverse appliqué to reveal my daughter’s photo and appliquéd the sun onto the right hand side of the work.

The fabrics are mostly offcuts from things I’d sewed myself, including a bridesmaid dress and a baby playpen, and some yellow and white squared fabric from a summer dress. Both my mother and mother-in-law are no longer with us and my daughter is named after both of them, so I included two pieces of fabric that remind us of them.

I included a hem and labels from my daughter’s favourite jeans brand, Only. This inspired me to write in my notes on the back: (L) only, only, only. It referenced the Police song So Lonely – the sentiment I felt as I surveyed my empty nest.

The text on one of the labels states ‘Every girl deserves great jeans’, which reminded me of my pride in my daughter.

Two pieces of jewellery that my daughter wore as a teenager are also included. She was really pleased with the piece, particularly as I included her rabbit charm and memories of going to Paris.

Linda Langelaan lives in Amersfoort, Netherlands and has been a Stitch Club member since October 2020.

She teaches art to 12-18 year olds at a secondary school. Workshops, Instagram and Stitch Club provide her with inspiration for her own work and her classes.

Instagram: @lindart20

Sue Partington & the journey home

It was 1955 and Sue and her mother, Sylvia, were embarking on an eight-week sailing passage from Wellington, New Zealand to Southampton, England on the MS Ruahine.

Sue was two weeks off turning two and was to have her birthday party on board the ship. It was an exciting time; Sue was to meet members of her extended family for the first time when the ship docked in December.

The ship featured in Sue’s memory quilt is the SS Tamaroa, the one her pregnant mother had travelled to New Zealand on two years earlier. Her husband was flown there separately with the rest of his RAF squadron.

Treasured photos

Sue Partington: I chose some of the treasured childhood photos my mother had passed on to me, scanned them into Apple Photos on my home computer and sharpened them. I transferred the images onto fabric by printing them onto computer printer fabric made by June Tailor, Inc.

All of the fabrics and embellishments were things I already had in my stash. The tablecloth I used as a background was inherited from my husband’s family. Most of the rest, such as the broderie anglaise trimming, came from charity shop garments. I remember animal buttons from my childhood, but the bunny buttons I used were from cardigans I made for my own daughters.

“I have little from my own childhood – clothes were discarded, not stored for future generations, as we moved around different air bases in the world. Maybe that’s why I’m a hoarder now.”

Sue Partington, Stitch Club member

I called this piece ‘Coming Home’, using quotes, as England wasn’t a home to me at that stage. This work holds a strange nostalgia for a time and place that I have no memories of. I only knew about this because my mother talked about it often, despite the short time she lived in New Zealand.

The photo of my mother holding me is emotive; she looks so happy, carefree and loving. I plan to stitch this piece onto one of my existing cushion covers.

Sue Partington lives in Brighton, UK. She is a founding member of Stitch Club, joining in 2020.

She studied illustration and graphic design and went on to devise art and craft projects for children’s books. She also practises mural painting, making mosaic pieces and painting on canvas.

Nancy Luna-Walker & her dad’s story

A young boy’s face smiles out from the memory quilt; the eye can’t help being drawn to the joyous image. It’s a technique used, not only by textile artists, but the advertising industry, and adds a whole new element to any artwork.

When Nancy Luna-Walker’s grandfather passed away, leaving his wife disabled from diabetes, Nancy’s father was just two years old. The five children had to support the household.

The smiling boy in Nancy’s artwork is her father, aged seven years old. He worked at a service station and had multiple jobs growing up. He paid his way through college with the GI bill veteran’s assistance programme, and was his company’s top salesman throughout his career. He was so proud of the Cadillac that he drove across the country to make his sales calls.

Eco-dyeing & recycling

Nancy Luna-Walker: The sun and moon represent our family’s Latino heritage and surname, Luna. The X’s represent love, as in XO. I eco-dyed and printed the X’s on the fabric in the bottom right with oak galls and soy milk. I found the little metal charm in the sewing box I inherited from my mom.

I made a copy of my dad’s photograph using my Canon inkjet printer. Using the technique we learned in Cas Holmes’ Imperfect Memories Stitch Club workshop, I brushed over the printed photocopy with Golden soft gel matte medium and placed it face down on the fabric.

I used a roller to go over it firmly until the picture was securely attached to the fabric. I let it dry overnight and removed the paper the next day by gently spritzing it with water and using a soft sponge to rub it away.

“It was such a pleasure to hold my dad in my hands and heart as I worked on this piece.”

Nancy Luna-Walker, Stitch Club member

Most of my fabrics come from FabMo, a nonprofit in Sunnyvale, CA that rescues discontinued designer samples and donated fabrics, making them available to the public. I also inherited my mom’s stash; she was an avid sewist. I primarily use purchased DMC threads, but I like to look for unusual threads at estate sales or at locally owned thread shops when I travel.

I recently visited my sisters and it was fun sharing this piece with them and reminiscing about my dad. One sister said one of the best life lessons my dad taught her was to ‘stay the route’ so she was happy I’d included a road in my piece.

I’ve put this artwork in my studio since my dad always encouraged me to do big things in life.

Nancy Luna-Walker lives in Orinda, in San Francisco’s East Bay, California, USA. She has been a member of Stitch Club since October 2021.

Nancy enjoys experimenting with a variety of materials and her textiles are primarily sourced from designer samples rescued from landfills.

Instagram: @namoonwalker

Bring your memories to life in stitch this January

If you’re feeling inspired, you’re in luck. This January, we’ll be bringing you a unique and 100% FREE opportunity to:

• Immortalise your loved ones in stitch
• Learn textile artist Susie Vickery’s sketchy stitch technique to bring portraits to life
• Add emotion and memory to your work

Perhaps 2025 is the year to discover the joy of textile art for yourself? You don’t need hours of free time or years of experience – just a willingness to begin and a desire to create.

Sign up for the TextileArtist newsletter or follow us on Instagram and Facebook to be the first to find out more!

Key takeaways

1. Take a moment to connect with your innermost feelings. What stirs your emotions? What story, from your recent or more distant history, do you want to tell using fabric and thread?
2. Photos are a powerful representation of people, whether they feature family, friends or others. Look through any photos you own or have been given – is there anyone who calls to you to be represented? If you don’t have your own photos, ask friends and family, look in antique shops or online.
3. If your chosen subject has fabrics or ephemera associated with them, such as charms or labels, consider how you might include these in your work. Reflect on their history and your connections with them.
4. Take your time when building your composition. Move fabrics, images and ephemera around until you are happy. This is an emotive activity, so work intuitively, adding new elements that feel right as you work.

For more ideas on stitching your stories, take a look at The language of loss in stitch, which features the work of five Stitch Club members who tackled their grief and fear in their own touching and creative ways.