Is The Odyssey historically accurate?
Has this annoying thing happened to you? Having seen a film, your friend says, ‘Yeah, it was okay, but that scene when they got off the train? The film was set in 1981 but that class of loco went out of service in 1973.’ Or…
Is tapestry weaving just like paint-by-numbers?
Most of us tapestry weavers use a cartoon, ie a blueprint outlining the main colour areas, which sits behind the weaving so that we can keep track of the shapes. Often the lines in the cartoon are transferred onto the warp threads, making it look…
Tapestry Talking
Tapestry Talking: Understanding the Language of Handwoven Art with 326 works from around the world, Micala Sidore, 2026, Schiffer Publishing We tapestry weavers are always happy when a new book comes out promoting what we do. Ours is a field that is often misunderstood (it…
Mending as a metaphor
I completed a miniature tapestry recently about metaphorically healing, using the fabric of the tapestry as a stand-in for fabric that can be repaired. The focus was on two traditional Japanese techniques – boro, clothing mended over and over again using sashiko running stitches and…
Boro/Kintsugi
A few years ago, I mended an existing ragged prayer rug using gold linen thread to address the topic of Islamophobia. (Blog article qv: https://joannesoroka.co.uk/how-to-make-a-tapestry-about-islamophobia/) The idea was to highlight the mending process, not to hide it, in the same way that those who…
Last Chance to See…
After the buzz of the private view, things settled down with my fellow exhibitor, Fiona Hutchison, and I taking turns with the invigilation of our exhibition, Invisible Threads are the Strongest Ties. The opening (in some circles called a vernissage, French for varnishing*, so completely…
Collaborating on an exhibition
My friend and fellow tapestry weaver Fiona Hutchison and I are in the process of planning an exhibition which will open with a private view on the evening of the third of May. All exciting, of course, but as other artists have commented, making the…
Textiles at the Venice Biennale: part 2
As I said in Part 1, the Venice Biennale is thought of as the Olympics of the art world. It means that you can see art which would never normally cross your path. Where else can you see the work of artists from Uganda or…
Textiles in the Venice Biennale: part 1
Detail of Gõegõe In October 2022, I was thrilled to be able to visit the Venice Biennale for the first time. I spent only a short time there with a friend, so we had to pack three days full of gallery visits, taking only short…
What not to say to a tapestry weaver
No doubt every professional suffers the indignity of ignorant remarks, once people know what their calling is, from wanting a medical diagnosis at a drinks party to those who think they understand police procedure from watching television. Tapestry weavers are in the same boat. Whether…