Making Connections - Seven Sisters Handweavers, woven stories and intertwined lives

Seven Sisters Handweavers is a network of handweavers, all graduates of the Diploma in Handweaving at the Handweavers Studio and Gallery, London. The group formed in 2022 and currently represent three cohorts of graduates from 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Working primarily as a group to support each other’s growth as handweavers, the group organise workshops and meetings in creative spaces and seek to share their weaving expertise within local communities.

Their individual work represents the diversity and creative breadth of contemporary handweaving, from designing and making furnishing and interior fabrics, weaving apparel, including scarves and clothing, making accessories from woven fabrics and art weaving.

The group work with a variety of materials such including wool, cotton, silk and here they have created handwoven pieces which complement both the past and present of the Borders Textile Towerhouse exhibition space as well as pointing to the possibilities of handweaving in the future.

For this exhibition, they explored the theme Making Connections. Through the art and craft of handweaving, connections with many other weavers across the world, weaving not only textile fabrics but often social fabric between various groups and countries are made.

Making Connections is also reflected in the area’s rich textile history with its brands adopted around the world. The theme was the inspiration for the weavers in this group, and each interpreted it in their own individual way.

The results can be seen in the exhibition with a variety of works such as wall hangings, scarfs, framed mixed media pieces and other works.