Meet the Renegade Stitcher Crafting Joy and Change with Every Thread

Stewart Francis Easton is a talented artist who describes himself as a 'renegade stitcher. ' Originally from Coventry, he now lives in London and is known for his unique approach to textile art. Stewart has a grey beard, wears glasses, and often sports a green wooly hat. He enjoys making large, colorful pieces of art using fabric and thread. For the past 15 years, Stewart has worked closely with Craftspace, an arts charity based in Birmingham. Craftspace has been supporting artists and bringing people together through craft for 40 years. They have organized over 500 exhibitions, featuring the work of 2,500 artists and attracting more than 2. 8 million visitors. Stewart admires Craftspace for their ability to connect with different communities and make everyone feel included. He believes that creating art together can bring joy and make the world a better place.

To celebrate Craftspace's 40th anniversary, Stewart was asked to create four giant quilts. Each quilt represents 10 objects, making a total of 40 objects for 40 years. These objects were chosen by the staff and include items like a sewing kit, a chocolate box, and a hand-carved wooden teaspoon made by a mental wellbeing group. Stewart's connection with Craftspace began in 2010 when he worked with young people to embroider graffiti tags. Later, he joined a project called Making Moves, where he collaborated with a Hispanic community group in Warwickshire. Together, they made a giant tablecloth by collecting drawings from the group, printing them onto fabric, and stitching them together. Stewart remembers these workshops as lively and full of laughter, with people of all ages working side by side. He also created an interactive quilt that plays sounds when touched, using special conductive thread.

Stewart is mostly self-taught in embroidery. He learned by buying a small book of stitches from a charity shop and practicing on his own. He prefers a freeform style, not following strict patterns, which is why he calls himself a renegade stitcher. Stewart uses embroidery as a way to relax and meditate, sometimes working for hours at a time. He has noticed that men who sew sometimes get more attention than women, which he thinks is unfair. He believes there should be more recognition for the work women do in embroidery. Stewart sells most of his art in the United States, but he hopes to do more in the UK. He is planning to start a design studio to create quilts, textiles, and hangings. Stewart also teaches illustration at Falmouth University and is grateful to Craftspace for supporting his career from the beginning. He wants to give back to the community and inspire others to enjoy the art of stitching.