Join the stitching team behind the Manchester Tapestry Project, a citywide artwork celebrating the stories, people, and spirit of Manchester through collaborative textile design.
These welcoming stitching workshops are delivered by Manchester Histories with Dr Lisa Gold, who conceived the Manchester Tapestry Project, in partnership with the Whitworth.
This is a unique opportunity to make your mark, and contribute to a large-scale historical artwork, that will be exhibited in the newly refurbished Town Hall upon completion.
Timeline of the Project
The aim of the project is to co-create 30 large tapestry panels celebrating the rich stories, histories and heritage of Greater Manchester. These stitching workshops mark the next stage of the project, following the Research and Design phases.
From February to May 2026, community members took part in researching each of the 30 themes that make up the tapestry panels, spanning 1853 to the present day.
For example, one panel explores Northern Soul, dance, and the Manchester music scene, with researchers uncovering stories, notes, and source material which informed the final design. Other panels will delve into Manchester’s more complex histories, such as LGBTQ+ visibility and resistance, bringing overlooked stories to light.
Following the research phase, the design team worked incredibly hard over 6 months to translate these community stories into the visual design of the tapestry panels.
The next stage is for these panels to be stitched collaboratively, with participants being able to embroider simultaneously.
Join a Stitching Workshop
There are regular opportunities to take part at the Manchester Histories Hub, Manchester Central Library and the Whitworth Art Gallery. You can attend as many or as few sessions as you like, although regular participation is encouraged.
Manchester Central Library
Date and Time: Mondays, 1–4pm
Location: Manchester Histories Hub, Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD
Weekly Monday sessions begin on 5 October 2026. Current dates are available through to December, with further sessions continuing from January 2027.
Book Central Library stitching sessions → Eventbrite
The Whitworth Art Gallery
Dates and Times:
- Thursday evenings, 5–8pm from 8 October 2026
- Sunday afternoons, 1–4pm
11 October, 25 October, 8 November, 22 November, 6 December and 13 December 2026
Location: The Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER
Further sessions will continue from January 2027.
Book Whitworth stitching sessions → Eventbrite
Four tapestry panels will be available to be stitched at each session, each mounted in a specially designed wooden frame that allows stitchers to sit comfortably around the panel. Up to six people can work on each panel at a time. Once a panel has been completed, it will be swapped for a new one.
You’ll be provided with all the materials, tools and visual guides needed to embroider the design. To ensure consistency across the finished tapestry, we’ll be using a shared selection of embroidery stitches. There’ll be plenty of opportunity to practise these stitches on scrap fabric before working on the tapestry itself, and workshop assistants will be on hand throughout to demonstrate techniques and answer any questions.
Hot drinks and biscuits will be available at each workshop.
Commitment: Attendance every week is not mandatory, but regular participation is strongly encouraged. Please note that this is a collaborative project and another stitcher may pick up where you left off the following week.
Booking via Eventbrite is essential: there are limited spaces available in each workshop due to space constraints around each tapestry panel. Every person attending will need to have a ticket.
If you are no longer able to attend, please cancel your ticket to allow someone else to attend.
Who Can Take Part?
Whether you’ve stitched before and are a little rusty, are a complete beginner or an experienced embroiderer, you’re very welcome! We welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences to help celebrate the rich stories, histories and heritage of Greater Manchester through embroidery.
This is a unique opportunity to explore how history, craft, and storytelling can come together in a collaborative artwork that reflects the diverse people, places and communities of our region.
As one participant shared:
“We were all at different stages of expertise, but the workshops allowed us to work at our own pace and ability – learning new stitches before contributing directly to the tapestry.”
We always welcome new faces, so bring a friend, tell your family and help spread the word about the Manchester Tapestry Project!
Take on a Panel as a Group
There is also the option for stitching groups to take a panel to their location of choice to work on independently. For example, Megastitchers and Bolton Stitch and Textile Group have reached out to take panels on within their pre-existing stitching clubs.
Please contact Lisa at l.gold@mmu.ac.uk to explore the option to take on a panel as a group.
With Thanks to Our Supporters
Threads of a City: The Manchester Tapestry Project is generously supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, This is Us: Tracing Manchester’s Histories project, Manchester Histories, The Whitworth, Manchester City Council, The Granada Foundation, Behrens, Visage Textiles, Spinning Jenny, The Craft Cotton Co, Kimberleys Krafts and DeVere Yarns. We are grateful for their support in making this project possible.
Thanks to National Lottery Players.
