Tapestry celebrates Blackhall Women’s Institute history

Blackhall’s Women’s Institute (WI) is creating a 16-panel tapestry celebrating the history of the WI both locally and nationally, thanks to support from believe housing’s community investment fund.

The project began taking shape over the summer under the guidance of project lead Elyse Watson, who has worked with the Blackhall WI on embroidery projects for the past two years.

Ms Watson said: “The WI in Blackhall would already meet every Thursday for their craft mornings.

“But a big part of this project was to offer a space for women to come and learn about embroidery.

“And they’ve all come on so much both in skill and confidence.”

The group meets every Thursday to work on individual panels, each telling a different part of the WI’s story.

Members range in experience from seasoned cross-stitchers to those who haven’t stitched since childhood.

The designs were mapped out with help from assistant Lynn Barlow, with input and ideas from the full group.

Ms Watson drew inspiration from the Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels.

She said: “it has it’s own building.

“It really opened doors for me as to how we can use embroidery to bring different stories to life.”

Barbara Chrisp of Calm CIC introduced Ms Watson to the tapestry and asked if she would lead a similar project for CALM, focused on East Durham.

Ms Watson said: “I took my experience from that project and inspiration from Galashiels to plan and direct the WI tapestry in Blackhall.”

The project aims not only to honour the WI’s legacy but to create a welcoming space where women can connect, share stories and develop new skills.

A £1,000 grant from believe housing funded the project, covering materials and supporting sessions with a tutor and assistant artist.

Anne-Marie Parkin, community investment co-ordinator at believe housing, said: “Celebrating local history is important to all of us at believe housing.

“So we were delighted to provide funding to this tapestry project in Blackhall that celebrates the history of the Women’s Institute in the town and beyond and gives women in the area a place to learn or rediscover embroidery.”

Once completed, the 16 individual panels will be stitched together to form a single tapestry.

It will serve as a lasting tribute to the Women’s Institute’s role in the community and the growing skill and confidence of the women who helped create it.