Pattern & Stitch with Jane McKeating

Outline of the workshop:

Inspired by items in Gawthorpe Textiles Collection, the workshop will focus on the reuse of patterned fabrics with simple hand stitch techniques. The examples in the collection of pieced work and stitched bandanas will act as inspiration, looking at how fabrics are pieced and stitched over, transforming them in very creative and individual ways, possibly acting as a reminder of people and places. The workshop will look at both abstract patternmaking and figurative detail to suit participants interests.

Participants can bring their own fabrics to reuse if you have some that you have been saving for sentimental reasons but don't quite know what to do with. It’s a lovely way of bringing new life into cloth.

The outcome will be a small cloth piece that you might display or use in any way to suit you.

About the tutor:

Janes images are decorative and playful. The tactile surfaces depict universal themes in everyday life telling visual stories of inconsequential events, often presented through sequences of images. Drawing is central to Janes creative practice and she moves between drawing, print and stitch to make work in different media at a variety of scales. Sketchbooks are in important part of her creative thinking process and the visual stories always start between the pages of her books which she uses daily.

Utilising print processes to translate drawn images onto a variety of cloths and papers, she works with them using a series of processes of addition and subtraction. This might include adding marks through stitch, or by erasing and distorting marks through removing warp or weft. The use of print enables images to be endlessly repeated, so frequently drawn characters and objects appear over time in many different guises and scales.

Jane is interested in the haptic qualities of stitch and cloth and her textiles emerge from an exploration of the relationship between touch and vision. Her synaesthesia impacts upon the use of colour and this is explored through the intensity of handstitched patternmaking, resulting in richly coloured and highly tactile surfaces.

Jane studied at Goldsmiths College, London where she studied Textiles graduating in 1983 and moving on to Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester School of Art) where she gained an MA in textiles in 1984. Since then, her work has taken many forms for exhibition and commission. Initially large-scale machine embroidered wall hung pieces, followed by collections of small rag books and textile and paper products. Most recently Jane has been making work utilising found cloths. Jane exhibits nationally and internationally and enjoys teaching workshops and giving talks about her practice.

Following 20 years of teaching Embroidery as a Senior Lecturer, leading the BA(Hons) Embroidery programme, and 10 years as Associate Head of Design at Manchester School of Art Jane is now pursuing a career as a fulltime artist.

Jane is a member of the 62 Group of Textile artists and The Textile Study Group. she works from her studio at her home in Stockport, in Greater Manchester and prints at Hotbed Press in Salford.

Jane jointly authored ‘Machine Stitch Perspectives’ (A and C Black 2010) and the companion volume ‘Hand Stitch Perspectives’ (Bloomsbury 2013) with Alice Kettle.

On the Day:

Please make sure to arrive between 9.45am and 9.55am for a prompt 10am start. One of our team will meet you at the building reception and send you through to our studio where the workshop will take place.

Refreshments:

A selection of hot and cold drinks will be available for you to drink during breaks and are included in the price of the workshop.

Please bring your own packed lunch, which can be eaten in the workshop room during the lunch break.

The Venue:

This workshop will take place at Gawthorpe Textiles Collection’s new venue at Northlight, converted textile mill in Brierfield, Lancashire. The address is

Gawthorpe Textiles Collection
Suite 226, Unit 2

Northlight House, Pendle Road

Brierfield, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 5FL

Free car parking is available on site,and we are just across the road from Brierfield train station. There is step-free access from the street or car park to our study area but please be aware there are areas of the car park which have significant slope to them.

You can find further details on our venue, including how to find us, on our website: www.gawthorpetextiles.org.uk

Room Accessibility:

The building and workshop room have step free access and wide doorways. There are accessible toilets on site close to the studio. If you have any further questions about accessibility, please get in touch with us before booking and we will be happy to discuss them.