Pack up your troubles: Communal Stitching Project

Deborah-Burdett-Pack-up-your-troubles-black-thread-stitching-on-white-linen_1.jpg

Textile artist Deborah Burdett invites you to participate in a community art project.

Anyone can take part in this project. Participants are asked to stitch a single word—'a trouble'—onto a piece of linen that will be incorporated into a community stitching artwork entitled Pack up your troubles.  Many will recognise the iconic line from the British World War 1 marching song... 'Pack up your troubles in the old kit bag and smile, smile, smile…'

The completed slow stitched vintage kit bag will be on show as part of a larger group exhibition entitled Dispatches which will be held at the Incinerator Art Space from 24 August to 11 September 2022.  Anyone that is interested will be provided with a kit containing a cut piece of pure white linen with black wool thread from our esteemed Australian Tapestry Workshop, Melbourne. It’s up to you to choose your word, using any stitch, style and technique—with or without embellishment—as long as it's black and white.

Deborah has spent a decade in the arts health sector and is a great believer in the theory of 'craft as comfort'. The COVID years have provided multiple challenges to us all so participate, stitch away your troubles, and come and visit the exhibition in the final week to see the completed artwork.

Image: Deborah Burdett, Pack up your troubles, black thread stitching on white linen

How to Participate

You can participate from the comfort of your own home. All you have to do is contact Deborah via her instagram page @DeborahBurdettArt to request a stitching kit.

Or, you can join Deborah's stitching workshop on Monday 25 July at Chatswood Library.

Register for the workshop

When

  • Monday, 04 July 2022 | 12:00 AM - Wednesday, 24 August 2022 | 12:00 PM