Creative Writing – The Language of Fabric – in Kendal

“Fabrics – man-made and natural – have changed, defined advanced and changed the world we live in” Kassia St Clair, The Golden Thread.

Using the Quaker Tapestry panels and items from our collection, we will uncover the real lives of individual people and discover how fabrics and clothing have been used as a form of protest against the societal norms of the day. The life of Kendal poet Isabella Lickbarrow (1784-1862) will be a further springboard for writing poetry and prose.

Did you know? Quakers who refused to practice ‘hat honour’, taking ones hat off in deference to others, were fined, imprisoned or beaten, with several dying from their injuries.

Would you like to know more about the Quaker Tapestry embroidered panels? During our creative writing workshops, led by tutor and writer-in-residence, Geraldine Green, you will delve into the stories and journeys behind the creation of these unique textile pieces.

Each workshop will comprise of a series of gentle writing prompts and variety of stimuli based around the Quaker Tapestry panels, enabling you to create new writing in a safe and supportive setting. There’ll be time to; engage with the tapestries on your own, enjoy quiet writing time and reflection, choose whether to sit in the historic Georgian building or in the Peace Garden.

You don’t need any previous creative writing experience and you can write in any genre you choose: poetry, prose, letters or a journal. For those of you who have done some writing before, this is an opportunity to discover a new source of inspiration and refresh your skills.

There’ll be an opportunity, for those who wish, to share what you’ve written during the session with the group and tutor, or you can just listen. Hand-outs for group discussion, relating to each workshop, will be provided by the tutor.

These workshops are linked but can be booked individually or as a whole.

What’s included?

There will be paper, pens and pencils available for you to use during the workshop or you can bring your own preferred writing tools with you.

Hot drinks and biscuits are ‘on-tap’ throughout the session, home cooked lunches and fancy coffees are available to buy from the on-site Garden Cafe and Takeaway.

FREE entry to the Quaker Tapestry Museum for all attendees on the day of the workshop.

With each yarn and stitch a story is told, of the sheep, the embroiderers and the lives of those depicted.

Quaker Tapestry Museum project ‘The Fabric of Kendal’, is kindly supported by Kendal Town Council and The Leaveners