Common Threads

with The Bare Project, 2024

A weaving project about women taking up space in the city.

Common Threads grew from a partnership with a Somali women’s group, who taught us alool weaving – a traditional weaving practice from the nomadic Somali diaspora. Through this work, we learned that many from this community do not feel safe in the city, yet during the weaving workshops we co-hosted, they had developed a different kind of ownership of public spaces around Sheffield. 

The pilot of Common Threads brought together this group, as well as 4 other weaving groups from across Sheffield to share different heritage textile practices and host intersectional discussions about women’s safety in the city. Together we learned mediaeval loom and wool spinning techniques, upcycling saris, as well as crochet practices from Hong Kong. Following these workshops we co-created a mini-festival where we wove a ‘front room’ in the city centre using alool weaving, in which we hosted cultural workshops.

“I walk by this bit everyday and I often don’t feel safe – but somehow with this gathering, I just feel so safe” (Participant).

This pilot happened on Sheffield Moor in September 2024. We hope that we can make this into an annual event in the city, as well as bring this work to other cities.