There’s a definite buzz about sewing bees. We’ve become a national of menders, makers and quiet creators in the comfort of our own homes, harnessing the skills of generations past.
In Kirklees, this spirit of creativity, sustainability and upcycling is celebrated throughout June with more than 100 community events taking place.
Whether it’s mending, upcycling, screen printing or skills-sharing, the WOVEN Festival 2025 programme will showcase Kirklees’ extraordinary textile heritage.
Highlights of the month-long festival include learning rag-rugging with the National Coal Mining Museum, a giant floral display in Ravensthorpe and natural dyeing in Skelmanthorpe.
Enthusiasts and keen learners will be able to learn the basics of batik with Huddersfield textiles reuse and skills hub Thread Republic, engage in a lively discussion around industry and technology with the Red Shed Players at Tolson Museum, do textile patch screen printing with the West Yorkshire Print Workshop as well as taking part in clothes and skills swaps and stitch sessions across the district.
Crafting at Flockton During the festival, the Creative Piazza in Huddersfield will become a WOVEN hub and the Thread Republic team will be on hand to advise on activities in the town and beyond.The event will showcase the rich textile history of the area as well as explore cutting-edge developments in the industry.
WOVEN has offered micro-grants through the Growing Great Places crowdfunding platform to help bring some of these textile-related projects to life. Projects include supporting artists to run natural dye workshops and helping facilitate yarn bombing. In addition Arts Council England (ACE) funding is supporting Ashbrown, Birkby and Ravensthorpe communities to work with artists and the WOVEN team to make their community events happen.
To kick off the festival, WOVEN will be hosting a World Stitch Day on June 1 at Oakwell Hall, Batley, where community groups, stitchers and anyone passionate about textiles is invited to showcase stitch techniques from their cultural background and heritage.
Natalie Walton, WOVEN’s curator, says, ‘We’re so excited to see the diverse array of community events in this year’s programme. There’s so much to see and get involved in and it’s a real celebration of our fantastic community textile activity.’
Councillor Carole Pattison, leader of Kirklees Council and cabinet member for culture adds, ‘This is a whole month of exciting creativity and community connection, as WOVEN 2025 celebrates our local history and our diverse cultural tapestries with innovative spirit. I hope this will inspire a new generation of textile enthusiasts and a renewed connection with the history at the heart of these communities.’
June 1-30
woveninkirklees.co.uk/events/
