Resurgence

One of the many things we get asked at Inspirations Studios is how do we ensure the love of needle and thread will be passed onto the next generation? To be honest, we don’t always have as coherent an answer to this as we’d like, but the truth is it’s happening regardless!

While there are times the rumour mill makes it sound like the skill of hand stitching is becoming a dying art, the evidence we’re seeing around us couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, we’re actually seeing more of a renaissance taking place and in some areas that have taken even us by surprise.

Whilst we acknowledge we have the joy of operating within a ‘needlework bubble’ with our days filled with curating, publishing and distributing all things needle and thread, we’ve come to realise the passion we have for this art is being seen further and wider afield than we’ve noticed in quite a while.

A resurgence is defined as ‘an increase or revival after a period of little activity, popularity, or occurrence’ and indeed it would seem there’s been a resurgence of needle and thread outside our tribe’s bubble!

Instagram is filled with insta-worthy needle and thread images, many of which have been created by a generation that shall we say are ‘somewhat’ younger than us?! It takes but a weekly read of the newsletter from ‘frankie’ – a trendy, but somewhat sassy, Australian magazine – to notice the regular inclusion of needle and thread throughout.

Then there’s location scouting in the South Australian wine region of the Barossa Valley, only to find an exhibition featuring needle and thread used in surprising ways – from delicate embroidered coral that highlights the plight of our oceans’ health right through to immaculate Hardanger created from wire.

And did you know there are three separate categories for bunting in the Guinness World Records?! The longest bunting line, the longest knitted bunting line and the longest bunting line made with crochet. Out of interest, the overall winner stretched some 17.6 kilometres (11 miles).

All of these things speak to the resurgence we’re seeing around us and we, for one, couldn’t be happier that the rumour mill has been proven wrong and that our love of needle and thread is anything but a dying art!Have you noticed a resurgence of needle and thread in places you haven’t expected to see it? We’d love to hear all about it! Email us at news@inspirationsstudios.com