I was introduced to signature quilts on a Fellowship to the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska in 2010. It was a genre of textiles I had never seen before, tactile surfaces covered in hand-sewn signatures.
Identity & belonging
Examining examples from this extensive collection and seeing the variety of outcomes, heralded for me a new approach to making and an opportunity to raise awareness of this overlooked form of female endeavour.
The earliest examples developed in the 1830’s as records of friendships and family when new settlers in the USA began moving west and document in thread, the stitched autographs of loved ones.
Over time, however, their purpose and function changed and they developed as a type of fundraiser, to raise money for a good cause, be it new church building or the war effort. They gained popularity in the late nineteenth century in the UK and, whilst not as plentiful or varied as their American counterparts, a substantial number have come to light in Britain.
In much of folk art the maker is unknown, and ironically, most of these cloths, despite all the signatures, follow this rule. On my return to Britain, I was eager to discover if historic examples existed in UK collections and at the same time explore ways to make signature cloths as a shared activity and commemorative community devise.
So, between 2010 and 2017 I created 14 new cloths, working with partner organisations and groups far and wide, from Blackpool and Rochdale in the northwest of England, to school groups back in Nebraska and artisans in India and Bangladesh.
“Signatures are personal and physical inscriptions, symbolic and romantic gestures, but also visual signs that are still used today as ‘information’ or ‘evidence’ for verification of someone’s identity.”
A Book of Signatures, Harb and Edwards 2010
Posts about my signature cloths
- Update from 2022-23
In 2022-2023, my work focused on how textiles connect, document, and empower communities. Alongside creating new pieces, I co-authored Crafting with a Purpose with Professor Fiona Hackney, exploring community workshops and well-being. I presented at conferences in Ghent and India, sharing research on mental health, construction, and ethical stitching practices. - Sew Near – Sew Far
Sew Near – Sew Far is a stitch-based artwork created as part of Meeting Point2, a year-long project by Arts & Heritage. Inspired by the Brontë sisters’ signatures, the piece invites local people to add their own sewn signatures during workshops. Featured in the Brontë Museum guide, the work celebrates the Brontë bicentenaries. - British Signature ClothsThis WWI fundraiser, made in North Wales and now held at Wrexham Museum, is part of a collection of signature cloths—tactile documents rich with sewn history. Since 2010, I’ve discovered examples in museums and private collections, highlighting community engagement. Please get in touch if you have information or images.