Celebrate the diverse work of people of color in the craft community and explore the personal, political, and creative potential of textile arts and crafts.
In early 2019, the craft community experienced a reckoning when crafters of color began sharing personal stories about exclusion and racial injustice in their field, pointing out the inequity and lack of visible diversity within the crafting world. Author Jen Hewett, who is one of a few prominent women of color in the fiber crafts community, now brings together this book as a direct response to the need to highlight the diverse voices of artists working in fiber arts and crafts.
Weaving together interviews, first-person essays, and artist profiles, This Long Thread explores the work and contributions of people of color across the fiber arts and crafts community, representing a wide spectrum of race, age, region, cultural identity, education, and economic class. These conversations explore techniques and materials, belonging, identity, pride of place, cultural misappropriation, privilege, the value (or undervaluing) of craft, community support structures, recognition or exclusion, intergenerational dialogue, and much more.
Be inspired by the work and stories of innovative people of color who are making exceptional contributions to the world of craft. The diverse range of textile artists and craftspeople featured include knitters, quilters, sewers, weavers, and more who are making inspiring and innovative work, yet who are often overlooked by mainstream media.
“With This Long Thread, Jen Hewett’s made a powerful contribution to the current cultural moment. By elegantly weaving together the words and work of women of color fiber artists, Hewett shows us how enriching and utterly essential a diversity of voices is to the modern craft movement.”—Nina and Sonya Montenegro, artists, authors, and menders, The Far Woods
“For those immersed in the word of fiber art, This Long Thread offers a multi-point perspective from female fiber artists of color whose voices we have been so desperately waiting to hear more of through a mix of interviews and personal essays. Jen shares a passion for the art and community with her fellow artists in a range of levels and all with fascinating stories to tell.”—Joy Cho, founder and creative director of Oh Joy!
“This Long Thread brings an intersectional perspective to craft and unearths the reality that for many women of color the meaning of craft is intertwined with our identities and is a vehicle for us to share our untold stories through art. I couldn’t recommend this book more.”—Leah Thomas, founder of Intersectional Environmentalist
“Jen Hewett delicately weaves the voices of women of color into a powerful crescendo of belonging, power, and inspiration.”—Tracee Stanley, author of Radiant Rest and Empowered Life Self-Inquiry Oracle and founder of Empowered Life Circle
“Stitching together vital voices in the modern craft community, this book will inspire readers from all walks of life to think about craft not just as a hobby, but as a vehicle through which to engage in community, tradition, innovation, and most importantly, unbridled self-expression.”—Justina Blakeney, artist, author, and founder of Jungalow
