Stitched Soundscapes: Stitching to the Soul of Jazz

Today’s Experimental Thursday workshop was a soulful journey into sound, stitch and emotion – and what a beautiful gathering it was.

We began the session quietly, cupping warm mugs of tea while listening to Goodbye Pork Pie Hat – the haunting jazz ballad by Charles Mingus. The music filled the space with atmosphere, mood and memory, its rich tones and gentle melancholy setting the perfect tone for introspective creativity.

As the final notes lingered, Anita handed each participant a large sheet of paper and a pencil. The invitation? To draw what we heard. Not literal imagery, but intuitive responses — marks, lines, shapes and textures — letting the music flow through our hands without overthinking. Swirling rhythms, fractured melodies, and heavy silences became looping lines, jagged forms, and layered gestures on the page.

Once the initial mark-making was down, everyone was invited to develop their responses further — this time with colour. Using a mix of soft pastels, coloured pencils, watercolour paints and even inks, participants recorded the emotional landscape of the music. Deep indigo washes suggested melancholy and melody, bursts of rust or plum added rhythm and warmth, while watery greys and diffused tones hinted at atmosphere, breath and pause. Added oranges and yellows to bring in light.

This visual exploration became a deeply personal colour map — one that would go on to inform the thread choices and fabric layers in the stitched work to follow.

Then we moved onto fabric and stitch where the real translation began. Everyone was invited to choose from a palette of materials — or use their own, guided by a thoughtful list that helped translate sound into touch:

FABRICS

Each participant worked on a base of of their choice from cotton to velvet, adding texture through layers: sheer tulle or organza for echo and airiness, velvet and brushed cotton for soft, low tones, and even worn denim and muslin to evoke nostalgia. Scrim and cheesecloth brought in edges and tension — perfect for recreating the rise and fall of rhythm.

THREADS & YARNS

Colours played a key role in today’s creations. Some stitched with smoky greys and tea-stained creams, creating space and stillness. Others added deep midnight blues for melody, burnt umber for grounding rhythm, or a glint of metallic gold as a tribute line. From variegated threads to chunky perlé cotton and hand-dyed yarns, the variety gave voice to the textures of sound.

TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

Some stitched freely, drawing with thread using free-motion embroidery. Others preferred slow, deliberate hand stitching, using sashiko-style patterns or couching down textured yarns for depth. Tools on hand included fabric pencils for initial mapping,  pins for layering, and small glue sticks to hold fabrics temporarily in place.

For those who wanted to capture personal meaning, there was the chance to bring a small item or meaningful thread, or stitch in a subtle word or phrase that resonated with the music.

As the afternoon unfolded, each stitched piece took on its own character — abstract, emotional, and completely unique.  All brought in the warmth of memory or the ache of a final note. The studio hummed quietly with focused creativity, thread following sound in a gentle, meditative rhythm.

By the end of the session, each artist had begun a piece that captured more than just music — it held feeling, memory, movement and mood, translated into fabric with care.

It was a joy to witness.

Thank you to everyone who joined today — and to Charles Mingus, for the unforgettable inspiration.