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April 17, 2019
Stitch in nine
With news that work is to start shortly in Galashiels on the new permanent home for the Great Tapestry of Scotland, it’s a reminder of the powerful story-telling potential of the simple stitch. The Renfrewshire Tapestry Group have been working for the past couple of years with over 300 local stitchers to tell the story of Paisley from the 16th century to the present day – appropriate given the town’s great industrial heritage of thread production. Second phase of the project will recount the history of nine villages across the Old County of Renfrewshire.
The Renfrewshire Tapestry Group (RTG) have been working with communities, schools and groups, since 2017 to create a series of Tapestry panels and stitched samplers depicting the Old County of Renfrewshire from the 16th century to the present day. To date, over 500 samplers have been created, 11 panels have been designed and a team of over 300 volunteer stitchers have been working to tell the story of Paisley and her people.
The project’s second phase is now poised ready to start within 9 rural communities in East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde. Entitled “Threads across the County (Rural Reams),” this phase of the project will tell the history and stories of the communities and people of Eaglesham, Neilston, Uplawmoor, Bishopton, Kilbarchan, rural- Linwood, Lochwinnoch, Kilmacolm and Quarriers Village. The research, story gathering, sampler stitching and panel designs will take place over 12 months from March 2019-February 2020.
Before we are able to take this exciting, life affirming and transformative project forward, we need to raise an additional £2000 pounds to secure our funding package, which includes monies from Leader, Awards for All, and a contribution from the Renfrewshire Tapestry Group.
We are inviting you to visit our Crowdfunding site to find out more about project, how you can help us to take it forward and help capture, conserve and celebrate the wonderful and unique history, heritage and stories that make the Old County of Renfrewshire. We plan to celebrate the past, present and the years to come. You can help secure the future of the project by making a financial contribution, which, however large or small, will make a huge contribution to the communities and individuals taking part in this project this coming year, and beyond.
You can also help us by sharing our campaign with as many people as you can who may be interested in the project and supporting it in some way.
If you would like to find out more about the Threads across the County (Rural Reams) project, the wider-project (Tapestry of the Old County of Renfrewshire) or any aspect of our crowdfunding campaign, please do not hesitate to get in touch.