Autobiographical Stitches
at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN
April 9 - 12, 2026
Open to All Skill Levels
Drawing, Textiles, Fibers, Embroidery
This workshop invites students to take inspiration from their daily life and personal history to create original embroidered works of art. Open to all skill levels, students will first learn foundational techniques by creating a "sampler" of embroidery stitches, including lettering, inspired by their own story and life experience. This workshop explores the creative use of diaristic writing, letters, emails, family photographs, personal drawings, and daily life documentation to translate complex content into textile works. Traditional stitches and embroidery basics will be covered, alongside discussions of contemporary fiber artists for inspiration. The workshop includes various writing exercises that invite reflection on one's own life story as a source of meaning. Students are encouraged to work with found, inherited, or vintage linen as their base, bringing an additional layer of meaning to this autobiographical art form.