Rowan Bridgwood: embroidery, folklore, and reclaimed textiles

Rowan Bridgwood is an embroidery artist based in West Yorkshire whose work is inspired by landscape, folklore and the quiet beauty of reclaimed textiles. Through hand stitching, botanical influences and natural dyeing, she creates pieces that feel both deeply personal and connected to place.

Alongside her artistic practice, Rowan also co-runs Thread Collective, helping to create welcoming spaces for people to gather, make and slow down through craft.

Here, she shares more about her creative journey, working with reclaimed materials, and the projects and exhibitions she’s currently excited about.

Discovering embroidery as a mindful creative practice

For many years embroidery was purely a mindful hobby, a way to find a sense of quiet through the tactile nature of the craft. That personal practice eventually deepened into something more intentional, and in 2020, I transitioned into a practising artist.

This shift allowed me to focus more closely on the relationship between materials and memory, using reclaimed fabrics to explore the stories found within folklore and the natural world. In 2023, I moved to West Yorkshire, and the landscape here has naturally woven itself into my work. There is a calmer pace of life in this part of the country that mirrors the slow and repetitive nature of my stitching.

Exploring nature, folklore and heritage through textile art

I find that inspiration usually comes from the intersection of the landscape and the stories we tell about it. Living in West Yorkshire, it’s hard not to be influenced by the environment; from the gothic romances of the Brontes to the way the light hits the flowers on the beautiful moors that inspired them, to the older folklore of Britain and those slightly unsettling, mystical narratives that have been passed down through generations.

My work is often rooted in botanical elements, drawing from the textures and shapes of the natural world, but it’s rarely just about the plants themselves. There is almost always a layer of meaning and metaphor beneath the surface, which often manifests in a more figurative style.

Working with reclaimed fabrics and sustainable textile materials

Reclaimed materials are the foundation of what I create; they aren’t just a canvas for my stitches, but an active partner in the storytelling. Working with vintage linens, old remnants, and scrap fabrics means that before my needle even touches the cloth, a narrative is already present.

I am drawn to textiles that have a bit of soul to them, pieces that carry the imprint of a past life, a previous maker, or decades of use. It feels a very worthwhile thing for me to take something forgotten or discarded and transform it into a piece of contemporary art.

Creating botanical embroidery with plant-dyed threads

My favourite pieces to make right now are those created entirely with my own plant-dyed threads, focusing on botanical subjects that directly evoke the origins of the colours themselves. It’s joyful to work on a piece where I’ve had a hand in every single step of the creative journey, from growing and foraging the plants, to extracting the dyes and transforming the raw threads in the dye pot.

Designing and stitching these pieces feels holistic, as though I’m capturing the essence of the natural world and imparting it onto fabric.

Building a creative community through Thread Collective

Thread Collective grew very naturally out of a shared belief that textile art shouldn't just be a solitary practice, but a way to bring people together, foster mindfulness, and build community.

Our partnership began when I first met Hayley Mills-Styles at her own stitch social in Manchester, MCR Sew Social. I attended as a participant, but we connected over our shared passion for hand embroidery and socially engaged craft. She soon invited me to become a part of the events, and we spent a lot of time discussing how vital these inclusive, slower-paced spaces are for people’s wellbeing.

When Hayley later moved to Scarborough, I took over running the socials in Manchester.

Years later, when I moved to West Yorkshire, we reconnected. We realised we could create a stronger, more expansive community by joining forces once again to create Thread Collective. By combining our experience and skills we’ve now been able to expand our reach across Greater Manchester and Yorkshire. It’s a wonderful partnership because we completely align on the core philosophy behind the craft; we both believe that the simple, rhythmic act of making together creates an essential space for connection and quiet reflection.

Hosting relaxed craft socials and community stitch workshops

I love hosting our regular craft socials, as they form the very heart of what Thread Collective is about. These sessions are designed to be completely relaxed, informal spaces where people can bring their own textile projects, sit down with a cup of tea and slice of cake and simply create in the company of others.

There is no rigid structure or pressure to produce a masterpiece; it is entirely about the slow, comforting rhythm of making together.

The nature of our offerings has also deepened as our experience has grown. While the stitch social remains a core event, the evolution of Thread Collective has allowed us to look at new ways of engaging people. We are now able to blend these informal gatherings with more structured workshops, community-focused craft projects and visits, ensuring that whether someone is picking up a needle for the very first time or is an experienced maker looking for connection, there is an inclusive, welcoming space for them to slow down and create.

What’s next: hand-dyed threads and new creative projects

Looking ahead, a big focus for me is developing the hand-dyed side of my practice. Having experimented with natural dyes for a while now, I’ve recently started selling my own hand-dyed threads alongside my work at fairs, and I’m really keen to grow this side of things.

It is incredibly exciting, and a little nerve-wracking, to put something so raw and personal out into the world. Because the process is so deeply tied to my own garden and the local landscape, each batch of thread carries its own unique story and seasonal footprint. I am really looking forward to seeing how other makers interact with these materials, what they think of the organic palettes, and how they choose to interpret these unique, plant-derived colours in their own textile work.

Visit Rowan’s website and follow her on Instagram. Follow Thread Collective on Instagram also.

Rowan’s work can next be found at the Hebden Bridge Open Studios - 3rd to 5th July.

The schedule of Thread Collective regular socials is:

Leeds Social at Kapow Coffee - every first Tuesday of the month

Hebden Bridge Social at The Albert Pub - every second Wednesday of the month

Scarborough Social at Mandy Apple - every third Tuesday of the month

Manchester Social at Seesaw - every third Wednesday of the month