THE THREAD THAT CONNECTS US

The Grange Centre, Surrey, is a charity dedicated to supporting people with learning disabilities to lead independent, fulfilling lives. Embroidery has long been woven into the organisation’s identity. Between 1927 and 1970, The Grange was known as The School of Stitchery and Lace, and today that creative heritage continues through its thriving embroidery studio.

Over the years, The Grange has evolved to provide a comprehensive range of services, including residential care, supported living and skills-for-life training. Alongside this work, the embroidery studio produces personalised gifts, branded workwear and original textile artworks, offering valuable opportunities for creativity, skill development and employment.

The Thread That Connects Us celebrates the individual journeys, training and creative growth of members of the embroidery team. Focusing on the theme of self-portraiture, each participant was invited to express their personality, interests and artistic style through the medium of embroidery, creating works that are both deeply personal and technically accomplished.

The exhibition also highlights the blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary technology that underpins the studio’s practice. Hand-drawn portraits are digitised using Wilcom embroidery software, allowing artists to refine stitch types, textures and colour palettes before designs are transferred to embroidery machines for production. The resulting works reveal the unique character of each maker while demonstrating the remarkable possibilities of modern embroidery. 

Together,these portraits form a vibrant and inspiring celebration of creativity, individuality and connection.