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Tapestry: Personal Threads

Telling our stories is a means of locating ourselves and of understanding who we are within the folds of a larger narrative.

A Brief History of Buffalo Plaid

I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but somehow, over these past few years, buffalo plaid moved its way from the rustic fringes to become the dominant plaid during the holiday season. It seems like it's just about everywhere.

The Perfectly Imperfect Embroidery of Banjara

Imperfection is a theme within Banjara textiles. To the casual observer, many of the embroidered designs look beautifully symmetrical, but upon closer inspection, there are often small areas of asymmetry or where a pattern briefly changes.

For Richer, Not Poorer: Marrying an English Lord

They were perfect for each other—he had a title, she had a fortune—and so they wed.

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Valentina’s Shawl to Knit

Olga Fedorova designed this Orenburg-style lace shawl in 1991. Her sister, Valentina, has been knitting the pattern from memory since then.

And He Called It Macaroni

If you’ve ever wondered at the meaning behind the lyrics of “Yankee Doodle,” it might surprise you to learn that the “macaroni” in the song referred not to a noodle, but to a rather odd fashion trend.

PieceWork Winter 2019 Calendar

Learn about upcoming textile exhibitions and events.

Like Disappearing Ink

Here’s the story of how Linda Ligon's son got lost in Tunis and discovered a not-quite-magical cloak.

PieceWork Fall 2020 Call for Submissions: Mend, Remake, and Renew

Submit your proposals for the Fall 2020 issue of PieceWork and help us explore global textile traditions of reuse and renewal.

From Guinevere to Sally Field: A History of Wimples

When European soldiers came back from the Crusades they brought back more than just spices and silks, they also brought back the hijab which was then modified into the wimple and became the must-have head wear for queens and nuns alike.