Project Threadways

From hosting our annual symposium and offering hands-on workshops, to conducting oral history interviews and mapping the regional fibershed, every project brings us closer to preserving a cultural heritage that connects us to our past and inspires our future.⁠ ⁠ Join us in shaping a sustainable future for the textile arts. Your contribution fuels Project Threadways’ operations, advancing a mission that enriches lives, supports artisans, and preserves the stories woven into the fabric of America.⁠ ⁠ Donate at the link in bio.⁠ ⁠ Pictured: the Quartz Dress, an artisan-crafted garment from @alabamachanin Collection 72.

Poet Jason McCall kicked off the symposium with original verse inspired by our theme of Regeneration. It is an honor to share it with all of you.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ “A Season to Draw. A Season to Measure. A Season to Cut.”⁠ by Jason McCall⁠ ⁠ When the weather turns, there’s always my wife ⁠ needing me to feel the edge ⁠ of a sleeve or pair of pants. She wants⁠ ⁠ to know if my hands know anything⁠ about thickness, the choices⁠ communicated by fabric and weave.⁠ ⁠ I nod like a man in the Dark⁠ Ages listening to a Latin Mass⁠ I could never translate.⁠ ⁠ I’ve never had a full understanding of clothes⁠ because I’ve always been a slave ⁠ to percentages. 70% off⁠ ⁠ meant I could walk into 7th grade ⁠ with a Hilfiger polo that was sure ⁠ to get me a 10% chance of getting noticed⁠ ⁠ by my bus stop crush. ⁠ A silk shirt in 4th grade meant I had made it⁠ to being equal to my brother and cousins⁠ ⁠ who I’ve been chasing since my feet knew the earth.⁠ My hands never learned how to touch⁠ with care. My hands can’t match needle and thread.⁠ ⁠ My hands can’t wake up an instrument⁠ or put an infant to sleep. ⁠ My first tattoo came from a kiss⁠ ⁠ given by a hot iron.⁠ Only a laughing god would make a poet⁠ with clumsy hands.⁠ ⁠ This winter, my hands were good for nothing⁠ but carrying my grandfather to the grave⁠ and carrying my father home⁠ ⁠ after surgery and carrying a tally⁠ of how many hands I might have⁠ in my life who would be willing to carry me.⁠ ⁠ Every season brings a price. Every season⁠ brings a sale. Another rack of arms⁠ and legs to wear when we meet the sun⁠ ⁠ and wind. And every season leaves⁠ a new wrinkle. A wrinkle to be ⁠ met with the hiss⁠ ⁠ of a steamer. A wrinkle to be met with the kiss⁠ of a companion who will always⁠ be thankful for the textures of this world⁠ ⁠ even when the devotions⁠ of thanks are written in a tongue⁠ too rich for my common hands.⁠ ⁠ @jasonmccall4

Recordings of the 2026 Project Threadways Symposium are now available. ⁠ ⁠ Purchase at the link in bio to enjoy presentations from COMOCO’s Stephen Satterfield, textile artist Shradha Kochhar, fashion designer Marwan Pleasant, and many more.

What's next for The Maker Lab⁠ ⁠ After meeting a fundraising goal of $2.8 million in 2025, we're starting Phase Two of our capital campaign. This phase aims to raise $1.5 million to furnish and outfit the Maker Lab, a new headquarters and community space in downtown Florence. Funds raised in the months ahead will be directed toward:⁠ ⁠ - A fully equipped kitchen to service community events. ⁠ - ADA-accessible seating and tables.⁠ - Lighting for workshops and hands-on educational activities.⁠ - A showroom for sustainable, artisan-made pieces.⁠ - Event and exhibition spaces for storytelling around craft and community.⁠ ⁠ Please join us in this next chapter to expand access, deepen impact, and carry the work of artisan making forward for generations to come. Consider a donation at the link in bio.⁠ ⁠ Photos by @abrahamrowephotography and @rinneallen .

A special thank-you to our friends who generously donated goods for our silent auction. We are honored to share their talent, hospitality, and commitment to artisan-made craft.⁠ ⁠ The Bitter Southerner @bittersoutherner ⁠ E.M. Reitz @e.m.reitz ⁠ Hable Construction @hableland ⁠ The Hambidge Center @hambidgecenter ⁠ Heath Ceramics @heathceramics ⁠ Idyllwilde @idyllwilde ⁠ imogene + willie @imogeneandwillie ⁠ Renaissance Shoals Resort & Spa @renshoals ⁠ Rinne Allen @rinneallen ⁠ Rite of Passage @riteofpassageclothing ⁠ Robert Rausch @robertrausch ⁠ Southern Cultures @southerncultures ⁠ Zingerman’s @zingermanscommunity ⁠ Zkano @zkano_socks ⁠ ⁠ Onward.

Gratitude.⁠ ⁠ This past week, guests from near and far gathered in The Factory for the 2026 Project Threadways Symposium, three days of meals, presentations, conversations, and hands-on making connected by the theme of Regeneration. ⁠ ⁠ The theme reflects the core values of this community: slowness as care, sustainability as origin, and education as liberation. Regeneration reckons with the harms of industrialized and extractive systems, offering repair through circularity, agency, and authorship. ⁠ ⁠ Deepest thanks to all who made it possible to gather, dine, explore, and engage:⁠ ⁠ Presenters, who shared their work, stories, and reflections:⁠ Jason McCall @jasonmccall4 ⁠ Marcie Cohen Ferris @ferrismcf ⁠ Stephen Satterfield @isawstephen ⁠ Polly Leonard @selvedgemagazine ⁠ Libby O’Bryan @libbyobryan ⁠ Frederick Murphy @historybeforeus , Curtis Flowers, and Karen Curry⁠ Shradha Kochhar @shradhakochhar ⁠ Marwan Pleasant @_marlence ⁠ Kyle Tibbs Jones @kyletibbsjones ⁠ ⁠ Event partners, including Florence Arts and Museums @florencealmuseums and the Shoals Community Theatre @shoalscommunitytheatre .⁠ ⁠ Guests, for engaging with and furthering these conversations.⁠ ⁠ Grantors and organizational supporters, including:⁠ Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area @muscleshoalsnha ⁠ Alabama Humanities Alliance @alabamahumanities ⁠ Florence-Lauderdale CVB @visittheshoalsal ⁠ Caring Foundation @bcbsofalabama ⁠ ⁠ Lisa Donovan @lisamariedonovan , the inaugural Project Threadways Culinary Arts Resident, Fourth Planet BBQ @fourthplanetbbq , and Grassroots Wine @grassrootswine .⁠ ⁠ The Project Threadways team and board members.⁠ ⁠ The community of the Shoals, for believing in and championing this work.⁠ ⁠ Thank you for this opportunity to come together, make, question, and dream. Those who were not able to attend this year’s event can purchase a recording at the link in bio. Recordings will be available and shared later this week.⁠ ⁠ Mark your calendars for the next symposium, April 15-17, 2027. We’ll see you in our new home at The Maker Lab, in downtown Florence. ⁠ ⁠ Pictured: photo by @abrahamrowephotography

The Maker Lab is officially underway. ⁠ ⁠ In early April, Project Threadways gathered local community leaders in the Shoals to celebrate the beginning of construction at The Maker Lab, a new organizational headquarters, artisan studio, and community space in downtown Florence. First step: a roof, just completed last week.⁠ ⁠ This work is the result of a year-long capital campaign, which met a Phase One fundraising goal of $2.8 million in 2025. We are deeply grateful to the public agencies, private foundations, and individual donors who make this future possible, and to our partners and collaborators who champion Project Threadways’ mission. ⁠ ⁠ The Maker Lab will open its doors this fall (more soon). Mark your calendar for the Opening Gala on March 20, 2027.⁠ ⁠ Pictured: photos by @abrahamrowephotography ⁠ ⁠ Slide 1: Workers unload lumber to begin construction on the new Maker Lab.⁠ ⁠ Slide 2: (clockwise from left) a worker surveys the roof installation; Florence Mayor Ron Tyler (left) and City Council President Kaytrina Simmons (right) speak at the Maker Lab groundbreaking ceremony; friends and supporters gather to celebrate the start of construction.⁠ ⁠ Slide 3: (clockwise from top left) preliminary building plans for various elevations; an overhead view of the facade and roof; Natalie Chanin raises a glass at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Can't join us in person for the upcoming symposium?⁠ ⁠ We'll be recording the presentations of our incredible speakers for anyone to watch, hear, and enjoy.⁠ ⁠ Pre-order a video recording and find a list of presenters at the link in bio.

Only a few spots remain. ⁠ ⁠ The Los Poblanos Creative Retreat is an immersive craft experience at the Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Taking place July 13–17, the retreat extends across five days, with time for focused creative work and for experiencing the inn, farms, gardens, shops, and restaurants.⁠ ⁠ Co-hosted by longtime friends and creative collaborators Cathy Bailey of Heath Ceramics and Natalie Chanin, the retreat offers a structured exploration of creativity, craftsmanship, and material practice. Throughout the week, participants will engage in sketching, journaling, hand-stitching, textile exploration, and ceramic bead-making. No prior experience is necessary.⁠ ⁠ We would love to see you there. Register and view the full schedule of events at the link in bio.⁠ ⁠ Pictured:⁠ Slide 1: (clockwise from top left) A look at one of the terraces outside of Los Poblanos Inn; guests gathering at the swimming pool during the inn's early years; the farm's iconic silos; harvesting the farm's signature lavender crop, which goes into their artisan products.⁠ ⁠ Slide 2: (clockwise from top left) The tree-lined drive to the entrance of Los Poblanos; Western Dry Gin and Lavender Gin from their collection of botanical spirits; cows enjoy the farm's peaceful landscape; the dining room of Campo, the on-site restaurant.⁠ ⁠ All photos are courtesy of Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm.

It's almost time.⁠ ⁠ In a few days, the annual Project Threadways Symposium will take place in our hometown of Florence, AL.⁠ ⁠ Register by Thursday, April 16, to join us in person, or pre-order a recording of the presentations. Follow the link in bio for options.⁠ ⁠ Pictured: a 2025 symposium guest takes part in the “Sew Their Names Project” hosted by the Mt. Willing Quilters. Learn more at the link in bio.

Last Chance: Symposium.⁠ ⁠ The 2026 Project Threadways Symposium is less than two weeks away—April 24 and 25—and a few spots remain.⁠ ⁠ Register before this Thursday, April 16, to join us for two days of presentations, conversations, hands-on making, and meals exploring Regeneration—slowness as care, sustainability as origin, and education as liberation.⁠ ⁠ Please note that this year’s event will not be live-streamed; virtual registration gives access to recorded presentations.⁠ ⁠ Find ticket options and more information at the link in bio.

The Project Threadways Symposium is coming up on April 24 and 25. Join us in Florence, or pre-order a recording of the presentations. (Visit the link in bio for tickets.)⁠ ⁠ Here’s a look at the schedule of events:⁠ ⁠ ⁠ THURSDAY, APRIL 23⁠ 5:30 p.m. — Opening Reception with chef Lisa Donovan⁠ ⁠ ⁠ FRIDAY, APRIL 24⁠ 9 a.m. — Registration and Breakfast⁠ 9:30 a.m. — Welcome and opening with poet Jason McCall⁠ 10:15 a.m. — Marcie Cohen Ferris on the New Deal, WPA, and cotton stories⁠ 11 a.m. — Stephen Satterfield on reclaiming cotton at COMOCO⁠ 12 p.m. — Polly Leonard on 20 years of Regeneration stories at Selvedge⁠ 12:45 p.m. — Lunch⁠ 1:45 p.m. — Libby O’Bryan on rebuilding after a hurricane⁠ 3:15 p.m. — Break⁠ 5 p.m. — Echoes of the Forks of Cypress film screening and descendant panel at Shoals Theatre⁠ ⁠ ⁠ SATURDAY, APRIL 25⁠ 9 a.m. — Breakfast⁠ 9:30 a.m. — Shradha Kochhar on material memory and cotton legacies⁠ 10:30 a.m. — Beading workshop with Marwan Pleasant⁠ 12:30 p.m. — Lunch by chef Lisa Donovan⁠ 2 p.m. — Oral history presentation and panel⁠ 2:30 p.m. — Closing remarks with Kyle Tibbs Jones⁠ ⁠ ⁠ We hope you’ll join us.