Celebrating Stitchcraft
Celebrating Stitchcraft. On from 14th June 2025 until 18th October 2025.
The display features the embroidery of talented textile artist, Darren Ball alongside selected items from the Olive Matthews Collection of dress and accessories. When Darren was given access to the Museum’s archive he found inspiration in a wide range of objects. These included a beautiful 1912 theatre coat attributed to designer Paul Poiret, a glittering pair of evening shoes, intricately decorated 19th century bags and purses plus a wonderfully quirky yellow knitted bathing suit from the 1920s. These and other pieces from the Matthews Collection are displayed alongside Darren’s vibrant, intricate and original works of art. They allow visitors to draw comparisons and find new and exciting connections between old and new.
Darren Ball trained in Fashion Textiles, specialising in hand knit. His embroidery reflects his love of textiles and the visual qualities present in fabric and thread. He uses a domestic sewing machine to appliqué and free embroider personal narratives or ideas, inspired by memorabilia or his collection of vintage ‘Stitchcraft’ magazines. He aims to draw and paint with textiles, his mark making is achieved through sewing, contrasting surface qualities and embellishment.