Last week I launched a brand-new creative adventure: Stitching Ashbourne!
Stitching Ashbourne is a community-led textile art project that invites people of all ages across Ashbourne to come together and help create a large-scale appliqué and embroidered artwork. At its heart, it’s about more than fabric and thread – it’s about celebrating what makes Ashbourne special, together.
Thanks to the support of Ashbourne Methodist Church and a wonderful team of volunteers, the project is already brimming with energy and enthusiasm. My hope is that everyone in Ashbourne will feel able to get involved, from experienced stitchers to those who have never sewn a single button, everyone is invited to be part of this creative journey.
The vision:
Over the next few months, we’ll be working towards creating a 2-metre-square artwork featuring some of Ashbourne’s most loved landmarks – from St Oswald’s Church to Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, via the Gingerbread Café and the beautifully refurbished Market Square.
Surrounding a centerpiece will be over 100 individually stitched squares, each created by local residents, schools, and community groups. Every square will tell its own story – a memory, a personal connection, or a celebration of what Ashbourne means to them.
Why Stitching Ashbourne matters:
Stitching Ashbourne is about more than the finished artwork. It’s about:
- Celebrating our local heritage and what makes Ashbourne unique.
- Bringing people together through creative workshops and shared stories.
- Encouraging creativity and showing that anyone can take part, no sewing skills required.
- Reigniting local pride in the place we call home.
The first steps:
I’ve been blown away by the enthusiasm, kindness, and creativity pouring in already. Here are some of the exciting things underway:
- Workshops are already booking up! Year 6 students from St Oswald’s Primary School will be stitching their story with a workshop being held in October. QEGS, House of Beer, and U3A are also on board, with Ashbourne Creative Stitchers and the Craft & Chat group keen to join too. The Methodist Church will also be hosting drop-in workshops – details to follow.
- Media buzz! I was interviewed on BBC Radio Derby last week, which aired over the weekend. The project has been warmly received on social media too, and press releases have been shared with the local papers.
- Venues & display plans – Ashbourne Town Hall have already asked to host the artwork once it’s complete, which is so exciting!
- Community support – Donations have started coming in through our crowdfunding page, and local business Curtains Up have kindly offered fabrics. I’m also thrilled to have a local amateur historian joining the planning team.
Word is spreading fast and the project is gathering real momentum. What began as a simple idea is quickly growing into something bigger, shaped by the enthusiasm and creativity of those already involved. It’s wonderful to see it capture people’s imagination – and I know many more will want to join as we go.
How you can join in
There are so many ways you can be part of Stitching Ashbourne:
Come along to a workshop – all materials are provided, and no experience is needed. Dates will be released soon. In the meantime, email me to have your name added to the workshop mailing list.
Schools and groups – if you’d like to host a session, I’d love to chat.
Venues – if you have a café, pub, or community space that could host a creative session, please get in touch.
Shape the design – tell us which landmarks feel special to you by filling in this short survey.
Support financially – every little helps us make this vision a reality. Donations can be made via our crowdfunding page.
Be part of the story!! This project is already inspiring people across Ashbourne and I’d love you to be part of it too. Whether you stitch, host, or support, every contribution matters. To get involved drop me a message at laura_burrill@outlook.com
Every Stitch A Story 