“An astonishing feat, this patchwork of history, culture, and politics . . . takes us from Saxon England to colonized African tribes, Palestinian villages, rural China and the cramped homes of American slaves.” ―Sunday Times (London)

Threads of Life is a chronicle of identity, protest, memory, power, and politics told through the stories of needlework. It’s human history told from a new, surprising perspective.

This is a globe-spanning history of sewing, embroidery, and the people who have used a needle and thread to make their voices heard. From the political propaganda of the Bayeux Tapestry to the pink pussyhats of the Women’s March, women and men have used the language of sewing to make their voices heard, even in the most desperate of circumstances.

Topics covered include:

The English royals
The Catholic Church
World War I soldiers coping with PTSD
Maps sewn by schoolgirls in the New World
The AIDS quilt
Hmong story clothes
And much more!

Clare Hunter, master of the craft, threads her own narrative as she takes us over centuries and across continents―from medieval France to contemporary Mexico and the United States, and from a POW camp in Singapore to a family attic in Scotland―to celebrate the age-old, universal, and underexplored beauty and power of sewing.

This is a thoughtful work of history and craft, full of little-known stories, and an evocative and moving book about the need we have to tell our story.

About the Author

Clare Hunter has sewn since she was a child. She has been a banner maker, community textile artist, and textile curator for over 20 years and established the community enterprise NeedleWorks in Glasgow. She was a recipient of a Creative Scotland Award in 2016. She lives near Stirling in Scotland.

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Store Description

Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia is a nonprofit dedicated to changing lives through the power of work. Every book purchased from our page helps fund job training programs, education, and employment opportunities for individuals facing barriers to work. From career coaching to skills development, we empower people in our community to build brighter futures. When you shop our books, you are not just finding your next great read, you are supporting a mission that has strengthened Central and Coastal Virginia since 1923. Give a book a second life and help someone start a new chapter of their own. Our mission is changing lives?helping people help themselves through the power of work. Through an earn while you learn approach, we provide hands-on experience, supportive services, and access to training that leads to real careers. Every purchase plays a role in advancing that mission and creating opportunities across the communities we serve.

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Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia
6301 Midlothian Tpke, Richmond, VA, 23225, U.S.A.

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