Textile history is complex, inventive and often driven by necessity, with the repurposing of cloth and clothing in Britain part of our collective narrative for many years. The first recorded patchwork quilt made in England was created in the early 1700’s and is on display in Levens Hall in Cumbria.
It was made using scraps of Indian imported cottons, many quilts and patchworks have subsequently been made using remnants of dress and furnishing fabric. The humble Suffolk puff adds to this story. The unusual name derives from its origins in Suffolk and the wool which in the 1600s was plentiful and internationally renowned. In the USA, these circles of colour are known as yo-yos and, like many textile processes, have been adapted and transformed over time.
Posts about my work in sustainability
- 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. - Safety Net
Dr. Lynn Setterington, a Manchester-based textile artist, launches Safety Net, a project raising mental health awareness in the construction industry. Featuring large-scale banners in Manchester and Salford, the installation, created with young people from 42 Street and Manchester School of Art students, highlights the sector’s mental health crisis, urging reflection and action. - The Global Quilt
Global Connections is a repurposed quilt created for the British Textile Biennial, exhibited at the Whitaker Gallery in Rawtenstall (Oct-Nov 2021). Made from over 1200 fabric circles, the quilt incorporates materials from 20 countries, crafted with local community groups in Rossendale and Manchester. It celebrates the global connectivity of cloth.